Then , when she saw that no kindness could touch his heart , she said : -- `` Thistledown , we took you in , a friendless stranger , fed and clothed you , and made our home as pleasant to you as we could ; and in return for all our care , you have brought discontent and trouble to my subjects , grief and care to me . I can not let my peaceful kingdom be disturbed by you ; therefore go and seek another home . You may find other friends , but none will love you more than we , had you been worthy of it ; so farewell . '' And the doors of the once happy home he had disturbed were closed behind him . Then he was very angry , and determined to bring some great sorrow on the good Queen . So he sought out the idle , wilful bees , whom he had first made discontented , bidding them follow him , and win the honey the Queen had stored up for the winter . `` Let us feast and make merry in the pleasant summer-time , '' said Thistle ; `` winter is far off , why should we waste these lovely days , toiling to lay up the food we might enjoy now . Come , we will take what we have made , and think no more of what the Queen has said . '' So while the industrious bees were out among the flowers , he led the drones to the hive , and took possession of the honey , destroying and laying waste the home of the kind bees ; then , fearing that in their grief and anger they might harm him , Thistle flew away to seek new friends . After many wanderings , he came at length to a great forest , and here beside a still lake he stayed to rest . Delicate wood-flowers grew near him in the deep green moss , with drooping heads , as if they listened to the soft wind singing among the pines . Bright-eyed birds peeped at him from their nests , and many-colored insects danced above the cool , still lake . `` This is a pleasant place , '' said Thistle ; `` it shall be my home for a while . Come hither , blue dragon-fly , I would gladly make a friend of you , for I am all alone . '' The dragon-fly folded his shining wings beside the Elf , listened to the tale he told , promised to befriend the lonely one , and strove to make the forest a happy home to him . So here dwelt Thistle , and many kind friends gathered round him , for he spoke gently to them , and they knew nothing of the cruel deeds he had done ; and for a while he was happy and content . But at length he grew weary of the gentle birds , and wild-flowers , and sought new pleasure in destroying the beauty he was tired of ; and soon the friends who had so kindly welcomed him looked upon him as an evil spirit , and shrunk away as he approached . At length his friend the dragon-fly besought him to leave the quiet home he had disturbed . Then Thistle was very angry , and while the dragon-fly was sleeping among the flowers that hung over the lake , he led an ugly spider to the spot , and bade him weave his nets about the sleeping insect , and bind him fast . The cruel spider gladly obeyed the ungrateful Fairy ; and soon the poor fly could move neither leg nor wing .
Then XXXXX flew away through the wood , leaving sorrow and trouble behind him .
Elf Queen Thistle Thistledown days dragon-fly first toiling wild-flowers wood-flowers