Now , Eglantine , what have you to tell us of your rosy namesakes on the earth ? '' From a group of Elves , whose rose-wreathed wands showed the flower they loved , came one bearing a tiny urn , and , answering the Queen , she said , -- `` Over hill and valley they are blooming fresh and fair as summer sun and dew can make them . No drooping stem or withered leaf tells of any evil thought within their fragrant bosoms , and thus from the fairest of their race have they gathered this sweet dew , as a token of their gratitude to one whose tenderness and care have kept them pure and happy ; and this , the loveliest of their sisters , have I brought to place among the Fairy flowers that never pass away . '' Eglantine laid the urn before the Queen , and placed the fragrant rose on the dewy moss beside the throne , while a murmur of approval went through the hall , as each elfin wand waved to the little Fairy who had toiled so well and faithfully , and could bring so fair a gift to their good Queen . Then came forth an Elf bearing a withered leaf , while her many-colored robe and the purple tulips in her hair told her name and charge . `` Dear Queen , '' she sadly said , `` I would gladly bring as pleasant tidings as my sister , but , alas ! my flowers are proud and wilful , and when I went to gather my little gift of colored leaves for royal garments , they bade me bring this withered blossom , and tell you they would serve no longer one who will not make them Queen over all the other flowers . They would yield neither dew nor honey , but proudly closed their leaves and bid me go . '' `` Your task has been too hard for you , '' said the Queen kindly , as she placed the drooping flower in the urn Eglantine had given , `` you will see how this dew from a sweet , pure heart will give new life and loveliness even to this poor faded one . So can you , dear Rainbow , by loving words and gentle teachings , bring back lost purity and peace to those whom pride and selfishness have blighted . Go once again to the proud flowers , and tell them when they are queen of their own hearts they will ask no fairer kingdom . Watch more tenderly than ever over them , see that they lack neither dew nor air , speak lovingly to them , and let no unkind word or deed of theirs anger you . Let them see by your patient love and care how much fairer they might be , and when next you come , you will be laden with gifts from humble , loving flowers . '' Thus they told what they had done , and received from their Queen some gentle chiding or loving word of praise . `` You will be weary of this , '' said little Rose-Leaf to Eva ; `` come now and see where we are taught to read the tales written on flower-leaves , and the sweet language of the birds , and all that can make a Fairy heart wiser and better . '' Then into a cheerful place they went , where were many groups of flowers , among whose leaves sat the child Elves , and learned from their flower-books all that Fairy hands had written there . Some studied how to watch the tender buds , when to spread them to the sunlight , and when to shelter them from rain ; how to guard the ripening seeds , and when to lay them in the warm earth or send them on the summer wind to far off hills and valleys , where other Fairy hands would tend and cherish them , till a sisterhood of happy flowers sprang up to beautify and gladden the lonely spot where they had fallen . Others learned to heal the wounded insects , whose frail limbs a breeze could shatter , and who , were it not for Fairy hands , would die ere half their happy summer life had gone . Some learned how by pleasant dreams to cheer and comfort mortal hearts , by whispered words of love to save from evil deeds those who had gone astray , to fill young hearts with gentle thoughts and pure affections , that no sin might mar the beauty of the human flower ; while others , like mortal children , learned the Fairy alphabet . Thus the Elves made loving friends by care and love , and no evil thing could harm them , for those they helped to cherish and protect ever watched to shield and save them .
XXXXX nodded to the gay little ones , as they peeped from among the leaves at the stranger , and then she listened to the Fairy lessons .
Eglantine Elf Elves Eva Queen Rainbow flower-books flower-leaves namesakes wands