Higher and higher rose the shadowy wall , slowly the flowers near her died , lingeringly the sunlight faded ; but at last they both were gone , and left her all alone behind the gloomy wall . Then the spirits gathered round her , whispering strange things in her ear , bidding her obey , for by her own will she had yielded up her heart to be their home , and she was now their slave . Then she could hear no more , but , sinking down among the withered flowers , wept sad and bitter tears , for her lost liberty and joy ; then through the gloom there shone a faint , soft light , and on her breast she saw her fairy flower , upon whose snow-white leaves her tears lay shining . Clearer and brighter grew the radiant light , till the evil spirits turned away to the dark shadow of the wall , and left the child alone . The light and perfume of the flower seemed to bring new strength to Annie , and she rose up , saying , as she bent to kiss the blossom on her breast , `` Dear flower , help and guide me now , and I will listen to your voice , and cheerfully obey my faithful fairy bell . '' Then in her dream she felt how hard the spirits tried to tempt and trouble her , and how , but for her flower , they would have led her back , and made all dark and dreary as before . Long and hard she struggled , and tears often fell ; but after each new trial , brighter shone her magic flower , and sweeter grew its breath , while the spirits lost still more their power to tempt her . Meanwhile , green , flowering vines crept up the high , dark wall , and hid its roughness from her sight ; and over these she watched most tenderly , for soon , wherever green leaves and flowers bloomed , the wall beneath grew weak , and fell apart . Thus little Annie worked and hoped , till one by one the evil spirits fled away , and in their place came shining forms , with gentle eyes and smiling lips , who gathered round her with such loving words , and brought such strength and joy to Annie 's heart , that nothing evil dared to enter in ; while slowly sank the gloomy wall , and , over wreaths of fragrant flowers , she passed out into the pleasant world again , the fairy gift no longer pale and drooping , but now shining like a star upon her breast . Then the low voice spoke again in Annie 's sleeping ear , saying , `` The dark , unlovely passions you have looked upon are in your heart ; watch well while they are few and weak , lest they should darken your whole life , and shut out love and happiness for ever . Remember well the lesson of the dream , dear child , and let the shining spirits make your heart their home . '' And with that voice sounding in her ear , little Annie woke to find it was a dream ; but like other dreams it did not pass away ; and as she sat alone , bathed in the rosy morning light , and watched the forest waken into life , she thought of the strange forms she had seen , and , looking down upon the flower on her breast , she silently resolved to strive , as she had striven in her dream , to bring back light and beauty to its faded leaves , by being what the Fairy hoped to render her , a patient , gentle little child . And as the thought came to her mind , the flower raised its drooping head , and , looking up into the earnest little face bent over it , seemed by its fragrant breath to answer Annie 's silent thought , and strengthen her for what might come . Meanwhile the forest was astir , birds sang their gay good-morrows from tree to tree , while leaf and flower turned to greet the sun , who rose up smiling on the world ; and so beneath the forest boughs and through the dewy fields went little Annie home , better and wiser for her dream . Autumn flowers were dead and gone , yellow leaves lay rustling on the ground , bleak winds went whistling through the naked trees , and cold , white Winter snow fell softly down ; yet now , when all without looked dark and dreary , on little Annie 's breast the fairy flower bloomed more beautiful than ever . The memory of her forest dream had never passed away , and through trial and temptation she had been true , and kept her resolution still unbroken ; seldom now did the warning bell sound in her ear , and seldom did the flower 's fragrance cease to float about her , or the fairy light to brighten all whereon it fell . So , through the long , cold Winter , little Annie dwelt like a sunbeam in her home , each day growing richer in the love of others , and happier in herself ; often was she tempted , but , remembering her dream , she listened only to the music of the fairy bell , and the unkind thought or feeling fled away , the smiling spirits of gentleness and love nestled in her heart , and all was bright again . So better and happier grew the child , fairer and sweeter grew the flower , till Spring came smiling over the earth , and woke the flowers , set free the streams , and welcomed back the birds ; then daily did the happy child sit among her flowers , longing for the gentle Elf to come again , that she might tell her gratitude for all the magic gift had done . At length , one day , as she sat singing in the sunny nook where all her fairest flowers bloomed , weary with gazing at the far-off sky for the little form she hoped would come , she bent to look with joyful love upon her bosom flower ; and as she looked , its folded leaves spread wide apart , and , rising slowly from the deep white cup , appeared the smiling face of the lovely Elf whose coming she had waited for so long . `` Dear Annie , look for me no longer ; I am here on your own breast , for you have learned to love my gift , and it has done its work most faithfully and well , '' the Fairy said , as she looked into the happy child 's bright face , and laid her little arms most tenderly about her neck .
`` And now have I brought another gift from Fairy-Land , as a fit reward for you , dear child , '' she said , when XXXXX had told all her gratitude and love ; then , touching the child with her shining wand , the Fairy bid her look and listen silently .
Annie Elf daily day good-morrows left morning nook sunbeam waken