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 . Eva nodded to the gay little ones , as they peeped from among the leaves at the stranger , and then she listened to the Fairy lessons . Several tiny Elves stood on a broad leaf while the teacher sat among the petals of a flower that bent beside them , and asked questions that none but Fairies would care to know . `` Twinkle , if there lay nine seeds within a flower-cup and the wind bore five away , how many would the blossom have ? '' `` Four , '' replied the little one . `` Rosebud , if a Cowslip opens three leaves in one day and four the next , how many rosy leaves will there be when the whole flower has bloomed ? '' `` Seven , '' sang the gay little Elf . `` Harebell , if a silkworm spin one yard of Fairy cloth in an hour , how many will it spin in a day ? '' `` Twelve , '' said the Fairy child . `` Primrose , where lies Violet Island ? '' `` In the Lake of Ripples . '' `` Lilla , you may bound Rose Land . '' `` On the north by Ferndale , south by Sunny Wave River , east by the hill of Morning Clouds , and west by the Evening Star . '' `` Now , little ones , '' said the teacher , `` you may go to your painting , that our visitor may see how we repair the flowers that earthly hands have injured . '' Then Eva saw how , on large , white leaves , the Fairies learned to imitate the lovely colors , and with tiny brushes to brighten the blush on the anemone 's cheek , to deepen the blue of the violet 's eye , and add new light to the golden cowslip . `` You have stayed long enough , '' said the Elves at length , `` we have many things to show you . Come now and see what is our dearest work . '' So Eva said farewell to the child Elves , and hastened with little Rose-Leaf to the gates . Here she saw many bands of Fairies , folded in dark mantles that mortals might not know them , who , with the child among them , flew away over hill and valley .
Some went to the cottages amid the hills , some to the sea-side to watch above the humble fisher folks ; but little XXXXX and many others went into the noisy city .
Elves Eva Ferndale Harebell Lilla Morning Rose-Leaf Rosebud anemone silkworm