When you have learned this , I will set you free . '' Then the Brownies bore him to a high , dark rock , and , entering a little door , led him to a small cell , dimly lighted by a crevice through which came a single gleam of sunlight ; and there , through long , long days , poor Thistle sat alone , and gazed with wistful eyes at the little opening , longing to be out on the green earth . No one came to him , but the silent Brownies who brought his daily food ; and with bitter tears he wept for Lily-Bell , mourning his cruelty and selfishness , seeking to do some kindly deed that might atone for his wrong-doing . A little vine that grew outside his prison rock came creeping up , and looked in through the crevice , as if to cheer the lonely Fairy , who welcomed it most gladly , and daily sprinkled its soft leaves with his small share of water , that the little vine might live , even if it darkened more and more his dim cell . The watchful Brownies saw this kind deed , and brought him fresh flowers , and many things , which Thistle gratefully received , though he never knew it was his kindness to the vine that gained for him these pleasures . Thus did poor Thistle strive to be more gentle and unselfish , and grew daily happier and better . Now while Thistledown was a captive in the lonely cell , Lily-Bell was seeking him far and wide , and sadly traced him by the sorrowing hearts he had left behind . She healed the drooping flowers , cheered the Queen Bee 's grief , brought back her discontented subjects , restored the home to peace and order , and left them blessing her . Thus she journeyed on , till she reached the forest where Thistledown had lost his freedom . She unbound the starving dragon-fly , and tended the wounded birds ; but though all learned to love her , none could tell where the Brownies had borne her friend , till a little wind came whispering by , and told her that a sweet voice had been heard , singing Fairy songs , deep in a moss-grown rock . Then Lily-Bell went seeking through the forest , listening for the voice . Long she looked and listened in vain ; when one day , as she was wandering through a lonely dell , she heard a faint , low sound of music , and soon a distant voice mournfully singing , -- `` Bright shines the summer sun , Soft is the summer air ; Gayly the wood-birds sing , Flowers are blooming fair . `` But , deep in the dark , cold rock , Sadly I dwell , Longing for thee , dear friend , Lily-Bell ! Lily-Bell ! '' `` Thistle , dear Thistle , where are you ? '' joyfully cried Lily-Bell , as she flew from rock to rock . But the voice was still , and she would have looked in vain , had she not seen a little vine , whose green leaves fluttering to and fro seemed beckoning her to come ; and as she stood among its flowers she sang , -- `` Through sunlight and summer air I have sought for thee long , Guided by birds and flowers , And now by thy song . `` Thistledown ! Thistledown ! O'er hill and dell Hither to comfort thee Comes Lily-Bell . ''
Then from the vine-leaves two little arms were stretched out to her , and XXXXX was found .
Brownies Lily-Bell Queen Thistledown daily day fro left wood-birds wrong-doing