Long live our King and Queen ! '' `` Have you a tale for us too , dear Violet-Eye ? '' said the Queen , as Zephyr ceased . The little Elf thus named looked from among the flower-leaves where she sat , and with a smile replied , `` As I was weaving garlands in the field , I heard a primrose tell this tale to her friend Golden-Rod . '' LITTLE BUD . IN a great forest , high up among the green boughs , lived Bird Brown-Breast , and his bright-eyed little mate . They were now very happy ; their home was done , the four blue eggs lay in the soft nest , and the little wife sat still and patient on them , while the husband sang , and told her charming tales , and brought her sweet berries and little worms . Things went smoothly on , till one day she found in the nest a little white egg , with a golden band about it . `` My friend , '' cried she , `` come and see ! Where can this fine egg have come from ? My four are here , and this also ; what think you of it ? '' The husband shook his head gravely , and said , `` Be not alarmed , my love ; it is doubtless some good Fairy who has given us this , and we shall find some gift within ; do not let us touch it , but do you sit carefully upon it , and we shall see in time what has been sent us . '' So they said nothing about it , and soon their home had four little chirping children ; and then the white egg opened , and , behold , a little maiden lay singing within . Then how amazed were they , and how they welcomed her , as she lay warm beneath the mother 's wing , and how the young birds did love her . Great joy was in the forest , and proud were the parents of their family , and still more of the little one who had come to them ; while all the neighbors flocked in , to see Dame Brown-Breast 's little child . And the tiny maiden talked to them , and sang so merrily , that they could have listened for ever . Soon she was the joy of the whole forest , dancing from tree to tree , making every nest her home , and none were ever so welcome as little Bud ; and so they lived right merrily in the green old forest . The father now had much to do to supply his family with food , and choice morsels did he bring little Bud . The wild fruits were her food , the fresh dew in the flower-cups her drink , while the green leaves served her for little robes ; and thus she found garments in the flowers of the field , and a happy home with Mother Brown-Breast ; and all in the wood , from the stately trees to the little mosses in the turf , were friends to the merry child . And each day she taught the young birds sweet songs , and as their gay music rang through the old forest , the stern , dark pines ceased their solemn waving , that they might hear the soft sounds stealing through the dim wood-paths , and mortal children came to listen , saying softly , `` Hear the flowers sing , and touch them not , for the Fairies are here . ''
Then came a band of sad little Elves to XXXXX , praying that they might hear the sweet music ; and when she took them by the hand , and spoke gently to them , they wept and said sadly , when she asked them whence they came , -- `` We dwelt once in Fairy-Land , and O how happy were we then !
Brown-Breast Bud Elf King Queen day primrose right stealing wood-paths