{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_57587/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_57587","id":"gutenberg_57587","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57587","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Children & Young Adult Reading","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy","Children's stories","Fairies -- Juvenile fiction"],"text":"Produced by Mary Glenn Krause, amsibert, David E. Brown,\nand the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at\nhttp://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images\ngenerously made available by The Internet Archive/American\nLibraries.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTRANSCRIBER\u2019S NOTES:\n\n\n  Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.\n\n  Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.\n\n  Inconsistencies in hyphenation and capitalization have been\n    standardized.\n\n\n\n\n  THE ELVES OF MOUNT FERN\n\n  KATHERINE CREIGHTON\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n  _The_\n  Elves of Mount Fern\n\n  BY\n\n  KATHERINE CREIGHTON\n\n  Author of \u201cNature Songs and Stories,\u201d\n  \u201cNature Sketches,\u201d etc., etc.\n\n  [Illustration]\n\n  _Publishers_ DORRANCE _Philadelphia_\n\n\n\n\n  Copyright 1922 Dorrance & Company Inc.\n  _All Rights Reserved_\n\n  Printed in the United States of America\n\n\n\n\n  To\n\n  lovers of fairies\n  everywhere\n\n  I dedicate this book\n\n  _and to_\n\n  the wonderful \u201clittle people\u201d\n  who helped Cinderella, Prince Prigio and countless\n  others overcome great difficulties\n  in the Giant World\n\n                                                  K. C.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\nChapter                                         Page\n\n  1  The Elves of Mount Fern                      11\n\n  2  The Lawn Party                               26\n\n  3  The Ball                                     41\n\n  4  Emily\u2019s Birthday                             57\n\n  5  The King of the Elves Visits Mount Fern      83\n\n\n\n\nTHE ELVES OF MOUNT FERN\n\n\n\n\nTHE ELVES\n\n\n\n\n1\n\nTHE ELVES OF MOUNT FERN\n\n\nThe Elves are the dearest and most mischievous little people in all the\nwide world.\n\nThey live in Elfland, and Elfland can be found in every corner of the\nglobe. They take up their abode on wooded hillsides, beside murmuring\nstreams, or in deep, leafy forests. In the dead of night, when all\nthe world is still, they steal forth from their dwellings and start\non their merry midnight rounds. They dance in the moonlight on soft\ndewy lawns under wide-spreading trees. They visit their neighbors and\nfriends among elves, and their neighbors and friends among men.\n\nThe Elves can see and not be seen; they can hear and not be heard; and\nare so light and nimble in their movements that they can float through\nthe air like a leaf in the wind.\n\nOnce upon a time there was a company of Elves that lived in a stone\nwall. They had left their home in the forest glade for a season in the\n_Giant World_, as they called our world--because it seemed so big to\nthem.\n\nWhile they were wandering about in search of a place to settle, they\ncame upon a hole in a stone wall that exactly suited them, it was so\nsnug and comfortable. The Elves were very much delighted and at once\ndecided to make their home there.\n\nThe wall belonged to Dr. Templeton. He liked privacy, and so he had\nthis high stone wall built all around his garden and grounds.\n\nBut Dr. Templeton\u2019s gardener was very lazy and careless, and when some\nstones fell out of the wall, he simply rolled them over the bank. That\nwas easier, he thought, than mending the wall; and, besides, the wall\nwas so very thick that a few stones more or less did not matter in the\nleast.\n\nThe Elves thought it was very fortunate for them that the gardener was\nso lazy and careless, and promised themselves a gay good time with a\nseason in the Giant World.\n\nThe members of this company of Elves were:\n\n_Captain Featherweight_, the head of the company.\n\n_Rainbow_, master of ceremonies.\n\n_Rhymo_, the poet-elf.\n\n_Tono_, the music-elf.\n\n_Lightning_, the messenger-elf.\n\n_Iris-Wing_, the flower-elf.\n\n_Touchstone_, the jester.\n\n_Owly_, the wise one.\n\n_Slumber_, the dream-elf.\n\nAfter the Elves had made a tour of all the grounds around Templeton\nHall, their Captain called them together to decide upon a name for\ntheir new home.\n\n\u201cLet us call our new home \u2018Scale-Cliff\u2019,\u201d said Tono, the music-elf.\n\n\u201cA very pretty idea,\u201d said Rainbow, \u201cbut don\u2019t you think \u2018Rocklight\u2019\nwould be prettier still?\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018Rocklight\u2019 won\u2019t do at all,\u201d said Slumber, the dream-elf, \u201cbecause\nit suggests wakefulness--so I propose that we call it \u2018Slumber-Nest\u2019\ninstead.\u201d\n\n\u201cCan\u2019t you think of anything but dreams and slumber?\u201d asked Iris-Wing,\nthe flower-elf. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t live in a place with a name like\n\u2018Slumber-Nest\u2019, and so I move that we call our new home \u2018Rose-Bower.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cPooh! pooh!\u201d said Owly, the wise one, \u201c\u2018Rose-Bower\u2019 suggests a garden,\nand a garden isn\u2019t a house, so I think you\u2019ll all agree with me that\n\u2018Stone-Wall-Gap\u2019 is much more appropriate.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe don\u2019t agree, Owly,\u201d said several of the Elves at once.\n\nBut here Captain Featherweight called the meeting to order, and ended\nall dispute by declaring that the name of the new home should be \u201cMount\nFern\u201d, because there was a fern growing just below, at the foot of the\nwall.\n\nAs a rule, the Elves lived in peace and harmony, and they adored their\nCaptain. His word was law, and when any disputes arose he always acted\nas judge.\n\nAfter the name of the new home had been decided upon, Captain\nFeatherweight gave each elf his work to do in its arrangement and\nfurnishing, and in a very short time it was all in perfect order and\nready to live in.\n\nThe Captain was very much pleased, and complimented his Elves on their\nability to do their work well and quickly.\n\n\u201cAnd since our house is now all in perfect order,\u201d said the Captain,\n\u201clet us have some music to celebrate the event. Tono, will you please\nsing something for us?\u201d\n\n\u201cWith pleasure,\u201d answered Tono. \u201cWhat would you like?\u201d\n\n\u201cI leave the selection entirely to you,\u201d said the Captain.\n\nThen Tono, who was leader of the elfin choir, played and sang:\n\n  \u201cTwinkle, twinkle, firefly bright,\n  Through the dark and cloudy night,\n  Floating gaily in the air,\n  Here and there, and ev\u2019rywhere.\n\n  \u201cHow your cheerful little gleam,\n  Joyful makes the darkness seem,\n  Where you flit no elf is sad,\n  Twinkle, twinkle, firefly glad.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t see why you should sing that now,\u201d said Owly. \u201cIt isn\u2019t the\nleast bit appropriate; the fireflies are not twinkling and won\u2019t be for\nsome time to come if we can judge by the look of the sky.\u201d\n\n\u201cIsn\u2019t that just like Owly?\u201d said Slumber.\n\n\u201cYou are always so literal, Owly,\u201d said Rhymo. \u201cDon\u2019t you know that\nfact hasn\u2019t half as much to do with music and poetry as fancy?\u201d\n\n\u201cJust the same,\u201d said Owly, \u201cI think \u2018Our New Home\u2019 would have been\nmuch more appropriate.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy can\u2019t you be more agreeable, Owly?\u201d asked the flower-elf.\n\u201cAnything is appropriate when you\u2019re happy, and besides, Captain\nFeatherweight left the choosing to Tono, and why shouldn\u2019t you?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe music was beautiful,\u201d said Captain Featherweight. \u201cI always love\nto hear about the gay little fireflies. But look at the pink in the\neast! That means that the King of Day is coming over the hills in his\nchariot. To rest! To rest.\u201d\n\nThen the Elves of Mount Fern lay down on their soft little beds of\nleaves and moss, and slumbered till starlight again.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe Elves always begin their _day_ in the evening instead of the\nmorning, so that what is early for them is late for us, and what is\nearly for us is late for them.\n\nEvery evening as soon as the stars peeped out of the sky, Captain\nFeatherweight always gave the command: \u201cRight! Left! Shoulder arms!\u201d\nThis simply meant, \u201cGet to work,\u201d and was the signal for every elf to\nbe about his business.\n\nAll night long the gay little Elves were as busy as bees, but no matter\nwhere they were or what they were doing, they always came back to Mount\nFern before sunrise, and rested till starlight again.\n\nThe next evening Captain Featherweight gave his usual command and every\nelf began to work.\n\nIris-Wing, the flower-elf, scampered lightly down the fern ladder and\nwent about his business in the garden. Although all the Elves loved the\nflowers, he was the one who took most care of them, and so the other\nElves called him \u201cIris-Wing, the flower-elf.\u201d\n\nAs he wandered about from flower to flower he whispered to each a word\nof good cheer. The tulips and daisies were all fast asleep and heard\nnot a word that he said, but the roses were as wide-awake as in broad\ndaylight, and they bowed to the flower-elf and said: \u201cWe\u2019re watching\nthe Queen of Night climbing over the tall stone chimneys of Templeton\nHall.\u201d\n\nWhile the roses were watching the moon, the flower-elf went on, and was\njust going to speak to the foxgloves when he heard two monster voices\nfrom the Giant World.\n\nAnd he listened, for he couldn\u2019t help listening, the voices were so\nloud and harsh; or so it seemed to him, although we would call them\nvery sweet voices.\n\nIt was Mary and Anna Templeton, the Doctor\u2019s daughters, who were\ntalking.\n\n\u201cMary,\u201d said Anna, \u201cI\u2019ve got an idea. I want to make a mattress and\npillows for Emily\u2019s doll, and some of the bird-houses are just bursting\nwith feathers. Let us fill the mattress and pillows with feathers from\nthe bluebirds\u2019 house.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, that will be perfectly lovely!\u201d said Mary.\n\n\u201cAnd let us have them ready for her birthday,\u201d continued Anna, \u201cand\nwe\u2019ll send a verse from the bluebirds something like this:\n\n  \u201cDear Emily:\n  Our feathers free,\n  Without a fee,\n  We all agree\n  To send to thee!\u201d\n\n\u201cWon\u2019t that be fun?\u201d laughed Mary, \u201cbut who\u2019ll get the feathers for us?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll get them myself,\u201d replied Anna. \u201cWith a long stepladder I can\neasily reach the bluebirds\u2019 house. This evening we\u2019ll make the cases,\nand then tomorrow afternoon right after school we\u2019ll get the feathers.\u201d\n\nThe flower-elf, who was getting more and more provoked every moment,\ncould stand the conversation no longer, and flew swiftly back to Mount\nFern in search of the dream-elf, to whom he repeated every word he had\nheard in the garden.\n\nThe dream-elf was very indignant at the thought of the bluebirds\u2019 house\nbeing robbed of its feathers by these monsters of the Giant World, and\nhe said to the flower-elf: \u201cShe shall _not_ rob the bluebirds\u2019 house,\nfor I\u2019ll beat on the drum of her ear and make her dream a horrible\ndream!\u201d\n\n\u201cYou surely will?\u201d urged the flower-elf.\n\n\u201cWithout fail,\u201d replied Slumber.\n\nThe flower-elf rubbed his hands and laughed gleefully, and then ran\nback to his work in the garden.\n\nHe spoke to the tall, pink foxgloves and told them that foxgloves were\nfavorites of fairies all over the world.\n\n\u201cWe are very proud to hear _you_ say so,\u201d replied the Foxgloves, \u201cfor\neveryone knows that fairies or elves are the favorites of children all\nover the world.\u201d\n\nThen the flower-elf bowed low, and passed on to the snapdragons, and\nasked them how _they_ did.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re impatient,\u201d said they, \u201cand can hardly wait for the morning. We\ndon\u2019t see why there should be any night when the day is so much finer.\u201d\n\n\u201cI really cannot agree with you,\u201d said Iris-Wing, \u201cfor we Elves love\nstarlight and moonlight much better than sunlight, and so do some\nflowers, some birds, and some insects.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, but more flowers, more birds, and more insects love day than love\nnight. We\u2019ve really no patience with people who don\u2019t love the sun. Of\nall living creatures we think the bee is the best, and she loves the\nsun.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd now, if you\u2019re done,\u201d said the flower-elf, \u201cI think I shall run,\nfor there\u2019s work to be done.\u201d\n\nWhen he had finished his work in the garden, Iris-Wing called at the\nbluebirds\u2019 house to tell him that hawks were abroad in the land. \u201cAnd\nthey\u2019re _human_,\u201d said he, \u201cbut fear not, we\u2019ll protect you.\u201d\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nAt twelve o\u2019clock that very night, the dream-elf flew through Anna\u2019s\nopen window, and beat on the drum of her ear. And she dreamed, and\ndreamed, and dreamed. She dreamed she was in a strange and far-off land\nwhere the air was filled with birds, and there was such a commotion\nthat it deafened her. She couldn\u2019t believe there were so many birds\nin all the world, and some of them were so large and fierce that they\nterrified her.\n\nAt last she saw some bluebirds coming toward her; and they grew, and\ngrew, and grew, until at last they were as big as cormorants. Then they\nthreatened her with their beaks and screamed at her:\n\n\u201cYou would take our feathers, would you? Flint-hearted girl! Cruel!\nCruel! Cruel!\u201d\n\nBut here General Grosbeak appeared on the scene, and commanded the\nchattering to cease.\n\n\u201cThis case,\u201d said he, \u201cmust be tried by King Crest and his Council.\u201d\n\nKing Crest, as you must know, was King of Birdland, and he and his\nCouncil settled the affairs of his Kingdom.\n\nSo King Crest and his Council called a meeting to decide what should\nbe done if the bluebirds\u2019 feathers were stolen, and after a long and\nangry debate it was decided that, in such an event, birds of all kinds\nshould in future avoid the grounds around Templeton Hall, and that\nthose who were already there should vacate their dwellings.\n\n\u201cI move an amendment,\u201d said Colonel Claw. \u201cI move that Screech-owls\nand English sparrows annoy the Doctor\u2019s family as much as possible,\nespecially Anna.\u201d\n\n\u201cColonel Claw, you\u2019ll be promoted,\u201d said the King. \u201cA very good idea!\nAll in favor of this amendment lift the right claw.\u201d\n\nAt this, every bird lifted the right claw, and the motion was carried.\n\nWhen the Council adjourned, all the birds passed Anna in single file,\nand each, as he passed her, pecked her on the arm or the face until she\nwas black and blue.\n\nAt this point, the dream-elf, thinking his work well done, hastened\nback to Mount Fern. On the way he met Tono floating about on the wings\nof song. Each elf related what he had done since they parted, and both\nlaughed heartily at the fun they had had with the Giant World.\n\n\u201cAnd now,\u201d said Slumber, the dream-elf, \u201cwon\u2019t you sing the Swan song\nbefore you retire?\u201d\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d said Tono, \u201cto so small an audience, but I\u2019ll drink your\nhealth in a glass of honeydew before we say good-night.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n2\n\nTHE LAWN PARTY\n\n\nEarly the next evening, Captain Featherweight commanded Iris-Wing to\ntake a pitcher-plant and go in search of honeydew for breakfast.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m tired of lilydew,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cget clover honeydew--and\nI prefer the red clover to the white.\u201d\n\nAt this command, the flower-elf hurried off in the direction of the\napple orchard, for it was only yesterday that he had seen fine red\nclover under the apple trees.\n\nAfter he had filled his pitcher-plant with the sweet red clover\nhoneydew, he went into the rose garden to see how the roses were\ngrowing. They were all doing beautifully, and especially the American\nBeauty Rose, who was very tall and stately.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m so glad to see you,\u201d said she to the flower-elf. \u201cI\u2019m feeling\nblue: it\u2019s not so very gay here, and we need something to cheer us up.\nCan\u2019t you persuade Captain Featherweight to give a ball and invite the\nflowers? I know he\u2019s very hospitable or I would not ask it.\u201d\n\n\u201cA request from you is a command as well as a compliment,\u201d said the\nflower-elf, \u201cand you honor us all in the asking.\u201d\n\nSo saying, Iris-Wing bowed low to the American Beauty Rose, and waved\nhis hand in adieu. But as the flower-elf was leaving the rose garden\nhe heard some one sobbing, and looking up, he saw that he was directly\nunder Anna\u2019s bedroom window. So up he flew and sat on the window ledge,\nfor he wanted to know if her dream had made her change her mind about\nthe bluebird feathers.\n\nBetween her sobs she was telling Mary her dream, and when she had\nfinished, she said:\n\n\u201cI hate the birds! I won\u2019t have them in the garden any longer! I\u2019ll get\nPapa to pull down all the bird houses and chain a cat to every tree!\nI\u2019m almost scared to death!\u201d\n\nThe flower-elf chuckled merrily to himself, and started back to Mount\nFern.\n\nWhen he reached the mulberry tree which stood in the middle of the\ngarden, he heard a \u201cCaw! Caw! Caw!\u201d and looking up, saw Colonel Claw\nperching on one of the lower branches. Colonel Claw belonged to the\nCrow family, and always dressed in black.\n\n\u201cGood morning, Colonel Claw,\u201d said Iris-Wing. \u201cWelcome to Templeton\nGarden! How long do you expect to stay here?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat depends on circumstances,\u201d said Colonel Claw. \u201cI\u2019m on duty here;\nI\u2019ve been sent to look after the interests of the bluebirds and to\nreport to General Grosbeak.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen you\u2019re doubly welcome, for our interests are the same,\u201d said\nIris-Wing. \u201cMay I offer you some honeydew? It\u2019s red clover.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, I thank you,\u201d said Colonel Claw, \u201cI prefer grasshoppers and\ncaterpillars when I\u2019m hungry.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I catch you some?\u201d asked the flower-elf.\n\n\u201cThank you, no,\u201d said Colonel Claw, \u201cit\u2019s my rule never to breakfast\nuntil five o\u2019clock, and I prefer them fresh.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you very hungry?\u201d asked the flower-elf.\n\n\u201cYes, _very_,\u201d said the Colonel, \u201cbut I belong to the army, and\ndiscipline must be maintained.\u201d\n\nThen Iris-Wing bowed low to Colonel Claw and bade him good evening,\nsaying that he hoped to see him soon at Mount Fern.\n\nWhen Iris-Wing reached Mount Fern he found that breakfast was ready,\nand so all the elves sat down and drank the red clover honeydew which\nhe had brought from the apple orchard, with some berries and nuts,\nwhich was their usual breakfast fare.\n\nWhile they sat at the table the flower-elf related all he had seen, and\nheard, and done that evening. He told the elves that Colonel Claw was\nin the neighborhood, and had taken up his abode in the mulberry tree.\nAnd when he repeated the conversation he had had with that gentleman,\nCaptain Featherweight commanded Lightning, the messenger-elf, to catch\nsome grasshoppers and caterpillars for Colonel Claw just in time for\nhis breakfast.\n\n\u201cGive him my compliments,\u201d said Captain Featherweight, \u201cand tell him\nthat I shall give myself the pleasure of calling upon him tomorrow\nevening.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I saw the American Beauty Rose,\u201d continued the flower-elf, \u201cand\nshe wants you to give a ball and invite the flowers. She needs to be\ncheered up. She said she was feeling blue, although she looked very red\nand rosy.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne thing at a time,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cfor I\u2019ve just decided to\nhave a lawn party for the Elves of Oakdale, and Lightning will carry\nthem the invitations this very evening.\u201d\n\n  \u201cCaptain Featherweight of Mount Fern presents his compliments to\n  Captain Acorn of Oakdale, and begs that Captain Acorn and his Company\n  will favor Captain Featherweight and his Company with their presence\n  at Mount Fern on Thursday next by the light of the moon.\u201d\n\nThis was the form of the invitation, and Lightning carried it at once\nto Oakdale.\n\n\u201cAnd what shall I say to the American Beauty Rose?\u201d asked the\nflower-elf, when Lightning had gone.\n\n\u201cMy best respects to the American Beauty,\u201d said Captain Featherweight,\n\u201cand tell her that it will give us much pleasure to entertain the\nflowers; and that the ball shall be given two weeks from to-night in\nhonor of the Queen of Flowers, which, as you know, is the rose.\u201d\n\nThen the flower-elf departed for the rose garden to carry Captain\nFeatherweight\u2019s invitation to the flowers, and before long Lightning\nwas seen in the distance hurrying back with Captain Acorn\u2019s reply,\nwhich ran thus:\n\n  \u201cCaptain Acorn of Oakdale presents his compliments to Captain\n  Featherweight of Mount Fern, and accepts with much pleasure for\n  himself and his Company the most kind invitation of Captain\n  Featherweight of Mount Fern.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd now,\u201d said the Captain, when he had read the reply, \u201cwe must\nprepare for our guests. The finest piece of lawn is under the great\nwhite oak tree, and there we will play skyball. Between now and\nThursday I want you to pull up and carry away all the tall blades of\ngrass, and beat down with our feet all the rough places, so that the\nlawn will be as smooth as velvet.\n\n\u201cAnd, Lightning!\u201d continued the Captain, \u201cwe shall need new balls and\nmallets for the occasion, so go to the Dwarfs of Cavedale, and tell\nthem to have them ready for Thursday next.\u201d\n\n\u201cOf what shall the Dwarfs make them?\u201d asked Lightning.\n\n\u201cThe balls shall be made of purest rubber, the mallet heads of finest\nivory, and the handles of blackest ebony.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd how large shall they be, noble Captain?\u201d\n\n\u201cLet the balls be as large as three times a sweet-pea seed, and the\nmallets as large as the stamens of the Tiger-Lily.\u201d\n\n\u201cIris-Wing, you shall have charge of collecting the nectar, as well as\nproviding the fans for the party.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what shall we use for fans?\u201d asked the flower-elf.\n\n\u201cI think,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cthe leaves of nasturtium.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd shall we have music?\u201d asked Tono.\n\n\u201cYes, after the game we\u2019ll have music, and you shall have charge of it,\nTono; I leave the selection entirely to you.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd Owly,\u201d continued the Captain, \u201cplease remember that you are\nnot responsible for the mistakes of our guests, for if I catch you\ncorrecting anyone, I\u2019ll send you to Doomdell.\u201d\n\nNow Doomdell is as bad for the elves as prison is for us, and Captain\nFeatherweight knew very well how to frighten Owly.\n\n\u201cAnd Rainbow, on account of your tact, I put you in charge of the whole\naffair. You must oversee the others and be sure that their work is well\ndone.\u201d\n\nThe Elves of Mount Fern were as busy as bees all that week, and when\nThursday evening came round they were ready for their guests.\n\nCaptain Featherweight was always prompt, and if he had anything to do,\nhe always got it done in time.\n\nWhen the moon was high in the sky the Elves of Oakdale arrived at Mount\nFern. And after the greetings were over, they all sat down on fresh\ngreen moss-mounds which had been brought in for the occasion.\n\nThen Rainbow, who was master of ceremonies, commanded Lightning to pass\naround some apple-blossom honeydew in bluebell cups; and after they had\npartaken of the sparkling nectar, Captain Featherweight, arm-in-arm\nwith Captain Acorn, led the way to Oaktree Lawn.\n\nWhen they were all assembled there, Lightning presented Captain Acorn\nwith the choicest of the mallets and balls, and the play began.\n\nIn Skyball the target is the face of the moon, and the player who comes\nnearest the mark, wins the game.\n\nCaptain Acorn, as guest, had first play.\n\nRainbow held his ball for him, and as soon as Captain Acorn called\nout \u201cready,\u201d Rainbow dropped the ball, which Captain Acorn with one\ntremendous swing sent whizzing off toward the moon. Lightning followed\nthe ball, and placed a stake where it fell.\n\nCaptain Featherweight played next, and he was followed by Okla of\nOakdale.\n\nThen it was Rainbow\u2019s turn, and he was followed by another of the Elves\nof Oakdale, and so on, until all the Elves of Oakdale, and all the\nElves of Mount Fern, had played.\n\nWhen the game was over they all flew off to look at the stakes, and it\nwas found that Captain Acorn\u2019s ball was nearest the moon.\n\nIt was a jolly game, and Captain Featherweight, who did not think it\npolite to win on his own grounds, was very glad that Captain Acorn was\nable to carry off the cup.\n\nIt was only a simple buttercup, but, although they grew in plenty\neverywhere, Captain Acorn was just as proud as if it had been made of\nsilver or gold, for the _honor_ was just as great.\n\nWhen the game was over Lightning gave each elf a fan, and while they\nwere resting and fanning themselves, he passed red clover honeydew in\nlily-cups.\n\nThen Tono and his orchestra played and sang some beautiful music. Their\nmusical instruments were blades of grass, wind-flowers, Canterbury\nbells, and trumpet honeysuckles.\n\nFirst they played and sang:\n\n_Moon and Stars_\n\n  \u201cSaid the moon to the stars: \u2018You are always the same,\n  And your lights are so tiny, I think them quite tame;\n  You just twinkle and twinkle in red, white and blue,\n  Have you noticed the wonderful things I can do?\n\n  \u201c\u2018Sometimes I\u2019m a crescent, a pale silver line,\n  An arc of a circle--I think it quite fine.\n  Then again I am round, with my face full of light,\n  And everyone thinks me a wonderful sight.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is really fine,\u201d said Captain Acorn. \u201cWon\u2019t you favor us with\nsomething else?\u201d\n\n\u201cWith pleasure,\u201d answered Tono, and then he and his orchestra played\nand sang _Three Crows_.\n\n  \u201cThree crows there were once who sat on a tree,\n  Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee!\n  Said one \u2018I should like to sail o\u2019er the sea,\u2019\n  Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee!\n  The other two looked so gloomy and blue,\n  Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee!\n  Said they: \u2018If you do, we\u2019ll surely go too,\u2019\n  Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee!\u201d\n\nI should have said they _tried_ to play _Three Crows_, for they had no\nsooner started than Colonel Claw, who was sitting on a branch of the\nmulberry tree and watching the whole performance, set up such a \u201cCaw!\ncaw! caw!\u201d that Tono was obliged to stop the music and try something\nelse.\n\nAfter that they sang about the silvery swans, and Colonel Claw became\nquite quiet and subdued, for it did not interest him in the least when\nthey sang of other people.\n\nThen Captain Acorn thanked Captain Featherweight for the game and the\nmusic and said it was now time to sing _Oh, Joy to be Elves!_ This was\nthe song that the elves always sang at parting.\n\n  \u201cOh, Joy to be Elves!\n    To float on a breeze,\n  And dance on the tops\n    Of the tallest of trees!\n  Oh, joy to be fairies,\n    And ride on a cloud,\n  Whether the wind\n    Blow softly or loud!\n\n  \u201cOh, joy to be Elves!\n    To roam o\u2019er the sky,\n  And race with the swiftest\n    Of birds when they fly!\n  Oh, joy to be fairies!\n    To sail o\u2019er the sea,\n  And care not a clover,\n    What happens to be!\n\n  \u201cOh, joy to be Elves!\n    The world is all ours:\n  The hills and the valleys,\n    The fruits and the flowers!\n  The moonlight and starlight,\n    The clouds in the sky,\n  Oh, joy to be fairies!\n    Good-bye! Good-bye!\u201d\n\nThen Captain Acorn and his Company bade adieu to the Elves of Mount\nFern, saying that they hoped to see them soon at Oakdale.\n\nThus ended the lawn party.\n\n\n\n\n3\n\nTHE BALL\n\n\nThe next evening, at starlight, Captain Featherweight said it was time\nto begin preparations for the ball.\n\n\u201cThe ballroom shall be the soft velvet lawn under the Linden tree, and\nwe\u2019ll dance by the light of the pale silver moon. But we\u2019ll have to\nprovide ourselves with fireflies too, in case a cloud should cover up\nthe moon.\n\n\u201cSo, Owly, you will please be diligent in catching fireflies between\nnow and next Thursday evening, for I want thousands of them. So many\nfireflies, tied by gossamer threads to the lower branches of the Linden\ntree, will make us quite independent of the moon.\n\n\u201cAnd Lightning,\u201d continued the Captain, \u201cit shall be your duty to\nprovide seats for the ladies, and I know of none more comfortable than\nfresh green moss-mounds. And we\u2019ll arrange them in a circle around the\nLinden tree.\n\n\u201cAnd Tono, you will of course have charge of the music, and I want you\nto invite the butterflies to accompany the orchestra.\u201d\n\n  \u201cThe butterflies\u2019 soft minstrelsy\n    Shall tune our hearts to sweet accord,\n  But beetles, wasps, and bumblebees,\n    We cannot have, they\u2019re much too forward.\n\n  \u201cOur berries, fruits, and honeydew\n    Would disappear by magic sure,\n  If we these creatures should invite--\n    Their very names I can\u2019t endure!\n\n  \u201cThe flowers we\u2019ll invite this time,\n    And by the fireflies\u2019 light we\u2019ll see\n  Their various shades of every hue,\n    And all their gorgeous broidery\u201d\n\nsaid Rhymo, who never lost an opportunity to make poetry.\n\n\u201cAren\u2019t you a little late with the last verse?\u201d asked Owly. \u201cWe\u2019ve\nalready invited the flowers. If you _must_ make poetry, why not try to\nmake it in time?\u201d\n\n\u201cGood poetry is always in time,\u201d said Rhymo. \u201cJust ask Captain\nFeatherweight if that isn\u2019t so.\u201d\n\nBut the Captain was far too busy to pay much attention to Rhymo and\nOwly. He was thinking about the girdles.\n\nThere is nothing an elf prizes so much as a girdle, and Captain\nFeatherweight decided to have special girdles made just for the ball in\nhonor of the flowers.\n\n\u201cRainbow,\u201d said he, \u201cand you too, Iris-Wing, shall have charge of\ndesigning the girdles.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd see that each one is appropriate,\u201d said Touchstone, \u201cand since\nOwly is so very wise, let his girdle be made of Solomon\u2019s-Seal.\u201d\n\nThis pleased the other elves so much that they asked the Captain to\nallow Touchstone to help in designing all the girdles.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think any one as silly as Touchstone should have charge of\nanything,\u201d said Owly.\n\n\u201cHave a care,\u201d said Touchstone, \u201cor your girdle shall be made of\nNettles instead of Solomon\u2019s-Seal.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m bored,\u201d said Owly, \u201cand I\u2019ll just run away until the girdle\nquestion is settled.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what shall the dream-elf\u2019s be made of?\u201d asked Iris-Wing.\n\n\u201cOh, of Eyebright and Wake-Robin,\u201d said Touchstone.\n\n\u201cAnd Rhymo\u2019s shall be made of Laurel leaves,\u201d said Rainbow.\n\n\u201cWhy not of Poet-Asters?\u201d asked Touchstone.\n\nBut the other elves paid no attention to this joke, and Touchstone\ncontinued: \u201cWhen it comes to my turn, I want to decide for myself.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd Lightning, our swift-footed messenger\u2019s girdle shall be made of\nthe common Speedwell,\u201d said Iris-Wing.\n\n\u201cAnd Tono\u2019s shall be made of the Bluebells of Scotland,\u201d said Rainbow.\n\n\u201cAnd mine,\u201d said Touchstone, \u201cshall be made of the Jewel-weed, for a\njester is always a jewel.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd Rainbow\u2019s,\u201d said the flower-elf, \u201cshall be made of the blue\nForget-Me-Not, for he will always be remembered on account of his\nsweetness and tact.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd Iris-Wing\u2019s shall be made of the elves\u2019 favorite flower, the tall\npink Foxglove,\u201d said Rainbow.\n\n\u201cAnd now for our Captain\u2019s! Three cheers for the kindest of Captains!\nHis girdle shall be made of roses--to show that his Company loves him!\u201d\n\n\u201cRainbow,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cI appoint you Master of Ceremonies. You\nshall have charge of everything, and if any disputes arise, you must\nsettle them.\n\n\u201cRight! Left! Shoulder arms!\u201d\n\nThis, as you know, meant, \u201cGet to work.\u201d\n\nAt this command every elf scampered off in high glee.\n\nRainbow, Iris-Wing, and Touchstone went at once to Cavedale to talk\nwith the Dwarfs about the girdles for the ball. And they decided that\nthey should all be of finely wrought silver, except the Captain\u2019s which\nshould be made of pure gold.\n\nOwly went in search of fireflies and brought home hundreds of them\nthat first night, for an elf can fly faster than fireflies, and has no\ntrouble in catching them if they can only be found.\n\nLightning went in search of moss-mounds, and flew back and forth\nso swiftly between Mount Fern and the soft woodsy dells where the\nmoss-mounds grow that the very first evening he had almost enough for\nthe ball.\n\nBut when he showed them to Rainbow, he found that some of them were not\nfresh enough, or fine enough, or high enough, or low enough, or large\nenough, or small enough, or firm enough, or soft enough; and he had to\nthrow half of them away, and go in quest of more. Rainbow was very\nparticular, and perfection was his law of life.\n\nSo the preparations went on, and when Thursday evening came around the\nbusy little elves had everything in readiness. And when the hour of the\nball drew nigh, they were waiting to receive their guests.\n\nThe Elves of Mount Fern looked beautiful that summer evening. All were\nelegantly dressed, and each was looking his very best, for the Dwarfs\nhad taken great pains with the girdles.\n\nCaptain Featherweight was dressed in purple and gold, because, as he\nsaid to the other elves, kings and queens from time immemorial had\nalways dressed in purple and gold; and as he was the representative in\nTempleton Gardens of the King and Queen of the elves, it was only right\nthat he should dress to honor his rank.\n\nRainbow was dressed in pale blue, and with his girdle of Forget-Me-Not\nand a white lace collar he looked more like a flower than an elf.\n\nRhymo, the poet-elf, was dressed in white and green--and of course his\ngirdle of Laurel leaves, which the three elves had designed and the\nDwarfs of Cavedale had wrought.\n\nSlumber, the dream-elf, was dressed in silvery grey, and in addition to\nhis girdle of Eyebright and Wake-Robin, he wore a Poppy in his hair,\nfor the Poppy, as you know, is the emblem of forgetfulness. But it was\nonly a silver Poppy, not a real Poppy of course, for the ball was in\nhonor of the flowers, and _all_ the flowers were expected to join in\nthe dance.\n\nThe Linden tree was a magnificent sight that summer evening, with its\nmyriads of tiny fireflies twinkling like little stars. It was like\ngiant candelabra in the centre of a ballroom, only far more beautiful.\nAnd the lawn underneath was as smooth as the smoothest velvet, and at\nregular intervals there were soft comfortable seats of fresh green\nmoss-mounds.\n\nRhymo saw the flowers coming and burst forth into verse:\n\n  \u201cAt last the gala night appeared,\n  The moon was bright, the air was clear,\n  And just at twelve from far and near,\n  The flowers in couples did appear.\u201d\n\nCaptain Featherweight was radiant in his golden girdle of roses. When\nthe flowers appeared he and the other elves greeted them graciously,\nand led each one to a comfortable seat made of soft green moss-mounds.\n\nThen Rainbow gave a signal to Tono and the music began.\n\nThe opening music was _Welcome to Mount Fern!_\n\n  \u201cO welcome to Mount Fern,\n    Ye flowers bright and gay,\n  Your presence would brighten\n    The rosiest day;\n  Your smiles and your sunshine\n    Great happiness bring,\n  So mortals and fairies\n    Your praises do sing!\u201d\n\nTono had composed the music and Rhymo the words, just for the occasion,\nand the beautiful flowers bowed their heads in grateful acknowledgment\nof the compliment that had been paid them.\n\nWhen the opening music had ceased, Captain Featherweight declared that\nit was now time to open the ball, and with a very low bow he offered\nhis arm to the American Beauty Rose, led her to the centre of the lawn,\nand the dance began.\n\n\u201cHow beautiful you are to-night,\u201d said the Captain.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s because I\u2019m happy to be in such good company,\u201d said the\nAmerican Beauty. \u201cBut I\u2019m not always so happy, and lately I\u2019ve been\nfeeling quite blue. What _do_ you think Doctor Templeton is going to do\nwith the Roses? Why, only a week ago, I heard him telling his wife that\nhe thought it looked more dignified to have nothing but _lawn_ in the\nfront of the house, and that he thought he would move the Rose garden\nto the back of the house near the shrubbery. I don\u2019t know when I have\nfelt so humiliated! I really don\u2019t think I could stand it! Why, when I\nlived at White Oaks, I was the pride of the family, and was given the\nmost prominent part of the garden, in front of the parlor window. And\nevery morning early, and many times through the day, Mrs. Chesterton\ncame to see me. And she called me \u2018Queenie\u2019 and \u2018Beauty,\u2019 and said I\nwas a joy and delight.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd so you are,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cfor everyone knows that the Rose\nis the queen of all flowers.\u201d\n\nThese kind words quite cheered up the American Beauty, and she blushed\na deeper crimson as she and the Captain glided away over the soft\nvelvet lawn.\n\nRhymo was dancing with a Pansy.\n\n\u201cLook at that Daffodil over there,\u201d said he, \u201csee how gloomy he looks,\nand the Amaranth is trying to cheer him up. I\u2019ll make a verse about\nhim--if you are fond of poetry?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, very,\u201d said the Pansy.\n\n\u201cThen listen to this,\u201d said Rhymo, \u201cand remember it, for it is worth\nremembering:\n\n  \u201cA Daffodil walked past in gloom,\n    And a friar\u2019s coat his form encased;\n  He boasted Mediterranean birth,\n    The lawn with solemn mien he paced.\n\n  \u201cThe Amaranth took him by the hand,\n    And whispered words of faith and cheer:\n  \u2018Another glorious world awaits\n    The spirits of our departed dear\u2019.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s beautiful,\u201d said the Pansy, \u201cbut I don\u2019t know anyone more\nsorrowful than the Hyacinth, and if I were Captain Featherweight I\nwouldn\u2019t invite either him or the Daffodil to a dance. Isn\u2019t he afraid\nthey\u2019ll spoil his party?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe couldn\u2019t leave them out, you know,\u201d said Rhymo, \u201cbecause all the\nflowers were invited; and besides, they won\u2019t hurt anyone. And even if\nthey should, Tono\u2019s music would soon cheer one up again. Shall I put\nthe Hyacinth into verse for you?\u201d\n\n\u201cPlease do,\u201d said the Pansy.\n\n  \u201cThe Hyacinth and Poppy next,\n    Went walking side by side,\n  The Hyacinth was sorrowful,\n    His grief he could not hide.\n\n  \u201cThe Poppy soothed him as a child,\n    Told him his griefs were vain:\n  \u2018Forget your sorrows, Sir,\u2019 she said,\n    \u2018Their ev\u2019ry pang disdain.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cI declare I feel blue,\u201d said the Pansy. \u201cCan\u2019t you think of anything\nmore cheerful than grief and sorrow, Rhymo?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, indeed,\u201d said the poet-elf. \u201cAll the flowers are more cheerful\nthan the Daffodil and Hyacinth, and we\u2019ll not think of them any more.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook at that vain Narcissus,\u201d said the Pansy, \u201che always makes me\nangry.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll put him into verse too if you\u2019ll be kind enough to listen,\u201d said\nthe poet-elf.\n\n\u201cYes, indeed,\u201d said the Pansy, who was very good-natured.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re an angel,\u201d said Rhymo, \u201cyou are so appreciative.\u201d\n\n  \u201cOn the arm of a vain Narcissus, next,\n    Was seen a Violet hanging low,\n  Her modesty did but enhance\n    His egotism all aglow.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s fine,\u201d said the Pansy, \u201cbut suppose you lead me to a seat and\nfinish your verses afterwards, for I\u2019m beginning to feel a little\ntired.\u201d\n\nWhen they were seated comfortably on one of the fresh green\nmoss-mounds, a Tulip and a Lily-of-the-Valley waltzed past them, and\nRhymo burst again into verse:\n\n  \u201cThe Tulip did appropriate\n    The Lily-of-the-Valley sweet,\n  With manly stride and bow profound,\n    He led her to a vacant seat.\u201d\n\n\u201cKeep right on with your poetry,\u201d said the Pansy. \u201cDon\u2019t stop to give\ncomments, but make a verse as each couple passes us.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re the most delightful partner I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d said the poet-elf,\n\u201cyou\u2019re so sympathetic.\u201d\n\n  \u201cThe beautiful Forget-Me-Not\n    Was lover, true and tried,\n  Of dainty Daisy innocent,--\n    And he walked by her side.\n\n  \u201cA red Rose danced with a Lily fair,\n    And he said as he whispered in her ear,\n  \u2018My pure sweet Lily, you are my queen,\n    I love you, dear. I love you, dear!\u2019\n\n  \u201cThe gorgeous Sunflower, bold and brave,\n  Approached the shy, white Cyclamen--\u201d\n\nBut here the poet-elf looked hard at the Pansy, and saw that she was\nfainting; so he brought her a drink of water, in an acorn cup, and\nbegged her pardon a thousand times.\n\n\u201cAnd please don\u2019t tell Captain Featherweight about the poetry,\u201d\nimplored Rhymo, \u201cfor if he thinks I\u2019ve bored you, he\u2019ll send me to\nDoomdell.\u201d\n\nThen Rainbow came along and asked the Pansy for the favor of a dance;\nand Rhymo, who saw no one without a partner, sat on a moss-mound and\nwatched the dancers.\n\nThe music was grand, and the flap! flap! of the butterflies\u2019 wings beat\ntime with the strains of the orchestra.\n\nThe Elves were happy and so were their guests, for Captain\nFeatherweight was a charming host, and even the Daffodil and Hyacinth\nwere enjoying themselves.\n\nThe flowers were truly beautiful, and were so light and airy in their\nmovements that it was a delight to watch them. And they danced until\nthe morning light dimmed the glow of the fireflies; and then all the\nflowers, led by the American Beauty Rose, thanked Captain Featherweight\nfor the honor he had done them, curtsied low to him and all his\ncompany, and bade them adieu.\n\nThus ended the ball.\n\n\n\n\n4\n\nEMILY\u2019S BIRTHDAY\n\n\nAt starlight the next evening the Elves of Mount Fern were up and about\ntheir business as usual.\n\n\u201cI think,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cthat we\u2019ll stay here for a long time. I\nlike the neighborhood. I like the trees and the garden and the birds;\nand I think we\u2019re just as well off here as anywhere else for the\npresent. I\u2019m fond of Colonel Claw, too; he\u2019s a good fellow even if he\nis a crow.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpeaking of angels makes them appear,\u201d said Touchstone, \u201cfor here he\ncomes.\u201d\n\nWhen Colonel Claw arrived at Mount Fern he was cordially welcomed by\nall the Elves.\n\n\u201cHave a perch,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cand make yourself at home.\u201d\n\nRainbow thought of everything, and as soon as he knew that Colonel Claw\nwas in the neighborhood he had the branch of a tree brought in and\nfixed in one of the cracks of the wall, for it isn\u2019t good form for a\ncrow to sit on a chair or a moss-mound.\n\n\u201cI just dropped in to see if you intended to celebrate Emily\u2019s birthday\nin any way,\u201d said Colonel Claw. \u201cIt is only a week from today, and as\nthe bluebirds\u2019 house is still undisturbed I thought it would not be\namiss to call a council of the birds in the neighborhood, and see if\nthey would be willing to serenade her.\u201d\n\n\u201cA capital idea,\u201d said Captain Featherweight, \u201cfor nothing adds so much\nto a festive occasion as good music. And I don\u2019t know any music more\ndelightful than a bird chorus.\n\n\u201cI thought myself of engaging the insect choir to serenade her, but\nbefore deciding that, I wished to consult you. I want the choir to\nperform in the evening, and I wondered if the insects would be safe\nfrom the Night-Hawks and Whippoorwills.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey surely will for that one evening,\u201d said Colonel Claw, \u201cfor\nI\u2019ll send a carrier-pigeon with a note to General Grosbeak this very\nevening.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow will this do?\u201d\n\n  \u201cColonel Claw presents his compliments to General Grosbeak. He begs\n  to state that Emily Templeton\u2019s birthday is a week from today, and\n  craves his kind permission to issue a proclamation to Night-Hawks,\n  Whippoorwills, and other insect-destroyers to stay away from\n  Templeton Gardens on the evening of that day, as it is hoped that the\n  insect choir will take part in the celebration of Emily\u2019s birthday.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is excellent,\u201d said Captain Featherweight, \u201cbut do you think he\nwill grant your request?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019ll know,\u201d said Colonel Claw, \u201cthat I wouldn\u2019t have asked this for\nEmily if anything had happened to the bluebirds\u2019 house.\u201d\n\nThen Colonel Claw departed, saying that he hoped to be able soon to\nshow Captain Featherweight General Grosbeak\u2019s reply.\n\nAfter he had gone, the Captain called his elves together to decide what\nthey should give Emily for a birthday present.\n\n\u201cI move that we give her a violin, so that she can have music wherever\nshe goes,\u201d said Tono.\n\n\u201cA violin isn\u2019t music,\u201d said Owly, \u201cand how could she have music\nwherever she goes when she can\u2019t even play a note? You\u2019re so\nunpractical, Tono. Let\u2019s hear a suggestion from some one else.\u201d\n\n\u201cI suggest a book of poems,\u201d said Rhymo, \u201cand I\u2019ll add some of my own.\nA book never gets out of tune, and is a constant source of delight.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat depends entirely on the book,\u201d said Owly, who didn\u2019t at all\napprove of Rhymo\u2019s suggestion.\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t you think a bouquet would be nicer than anything else?\u201d asked\nthe flower-elf.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Owly, \u201cbecause the house will be full of them anyway.\nThat would be like carrying fish to a fisherman. Can no one think of\nanything more suitable and appropriate?\u201d\n\n\u201cI can,\u201d said Slumber, \u201cfor I dreamed only last night that Emily wanted\na necklace.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe best suggestion I have heard,\u201d said the Captain. \u201cA necklace is\njust the thing, and I\u2019ll send Lightning this very evening to the Dwarfs\nof Cavedale to ask them to have it ready for her birthday.\n\n\u201cAnd Tono, you will please compose some music for the occasion, and\nRhymo will make some verses to suit the music. Or perhaps it would be\nbetter the other way around, but I leave that entirely to you.\n\n\u201cWith the insect choir, the bird chorus, the elfin choir and orchestra,\nEmily\u2019s birthday will be very well celebrated.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I make a verse to accompany the necklace?\u201d asked Rhymo.\n\n\u201cNot a bad idea,\u201d said the Captain.\n\n\u201cShall I engage the insect choir?\u201d asked Lightning.\n\n\u201cThat is my business,\u201d said Tono. \u201cAnything that has to do with music,\nyou will please leave to me. I\u2019ll attend to that this very evening.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot at all,\u201d said Captain Featherweight, \u201cnot unless we hear from\nColonel Claw. How would you like to have the insect choir devoured in\nthe midst of the serenade?\u201d\n\nThen the music-elf bowed low to the Captain in token of obedience, and\nsaid: \u201cYour word is law, noble Captain.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight! Left! Shoulder arms!\u201d called the Captain.\n\nAt this command every elf scampered off and went to work. Iris-Wing\nwent into the orchard to see if the bees that had been working there\nduring the day had done their work well. But the flower-elf did not\nthink so, and he called at the honey-bees\u2019 hive to say that he was not\nquite satisfied.\n\nThe bees were very indignant that the quality of their work should be\nquestioned, until the flower-elf explained that the elves had charge\nof the growing of plants, and that he was responsible for Templeton\nGrounds.\n\n\u201cCaptain Featherweight,\u201d said he, \u201cis very strict, and if I don\u2019t make\na good report I\u2019ll lose my place and be sent to Doomdell.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe understand,\u201d said the bees, \u201cand accept your apology.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd then, of course, it may perhaps be barely possible,\u201d suggested a\nsister bee, \u201cthat the work of the dying honey-bee was somewhat at fault.\n\n  \u201cThe honey-bees were humming\n    In a smiling orchard gay,\n  They were working hard for honey,\n    And were up since break of day.\n\n  \u201cMany trips to many blossoms\n    Helped to fill the honey-sacs,\n  And the richly powdered stamens\n    Showered gold upon their backs.\n\n  \u201cSaid one sister to another:\n    \u2018Why is it you linger so?\n  Who will feed you in the winter,\n    When the food supply is low?\u2019\n\n  \u201c\u2018I\u2019ll report you at the Homestead,\n    And the Sisters shall decide,\n  At the Council of the Bee Bread,--\n    If you\u2019ll longer there reside.\u2019\n\n  \u201c\u2018I don\u2019t care for Queen or Council,\n    I don\u2019t care for hive or bees,\n  I am weary carrying honey\n    To the Homestead from the trees.\n\n  \u201c\u2018Cant you see my wings are shattered,\n    And my flight is growing slow?\n  I am all in rags and tatters,\n    And am ready now to go\n\n  \u201c\u2018To the land of blessed perfume,\n    To the haven of the blest,\n  Where all toil and care are ended,\n    And the honey-bees have rest!\u2019\u201d\n\nThese verses made the flower-elf very thoughtful--so thoughtful that he\nflew straight into Rainbow, who was flying in another direction.\n\n\u201cExcuse _me_!\u201d exclaimed Rainbow; which meant, of course, \u201cExcuse\n_you_!\u201d\n\nAnd when Iris-Wing recited the story of the dying honey-bee, Rainbow\nalmost shed a tear--a thing that had never been heard of among the\nElves of Mount Fern.\n\nThen Iris-Wing passed on to the veranda where the Doctor\u2019s daughters,\nMary and Anna, were shelling peas for the cook. He felt very indignant\nwhenever he thought of the bluebird feathers, even though they were\nsafe in the nest, for he felt sure that Anna still had the _will_ to\nrob the birds. He wore his invisible cap, and could see and not be seen.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m tired shelling peas,\u201d said Anna, \u201cand I don\u2019t see why the cook\ncan\u2019t shell them herself.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know Mother told us that she wouldn\u2019t have time tomorrow,\u201d said\nMary, \u201cand I think it is fun anyway. The poor peas have never seen the\nlight except through a thick veil. They are really prisoners and we are\nhelping to set them free.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are always thinking of such queer things, Mary, that I don\u2019t\nbelieve you feel about anything as other people do.\u201d\n\nBut Anna soon went to work with a will, and in a short time the peas\nwere all shelled.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll take them into the kitchen,\u201d said Mary, \u201cand while I\u2019m gone,\nsuppose you go after the clothes that we\u2019re making for Emily\u2019s doll.\u201d\n\nIn a short time they were both on the veranda again, and very busily\nengaged in sewing for Emily\u2019s birthday.\n\n\u201cWhat are we going to do for feathers for the mattress and pillows?\u201d\nasked Mary.\n\n\u201cWhy, haven\u2019t I told you?\u201d asked Anna. \u201cI asked Mother about it, and\nshe said she had a pillow which she didn\u2019t need and that we might have\nit for Emily\u2019s doll. If I\u2019d only asked her in the first place, I don\u2019t\nbelieve I would have had that horrible dream.\u201d\n\nWhen the flower-elf heard this, he departed, for he had a great many\nthings to attend to that evening.\n\nHe wanted to see how the wildflowers were growing in the woods\nnearby, for it occurred to him that although Emily might have all the\ncultivated flowers that she wished for on her birthday, a bouquet of\nwildflowers could not be amiss. So off he started in search of them,\nand when he was quite sure that he knew exactly where all the different\nkinds grew, he flew back to Mount Fern.\n\nWhen he arrived there, he found that all the other elves were at home\nand were listening to General Grosbeak\u2019s reply, which Colonel Claw had\njust brought over. It ran thus:\n\n  \u201cGeneral Grosbeak presents his compliments to Colonel Claw, and begs\n  to state that it will give him much pleasure to issue an order to\n  all insect-destroyers to avoid the grounds of Templeton Hall on the\n  evening of Emily\u2019s birthday.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd now, Tono,\u201d said Captain Featherweight, \u201cyou have my full\npermission to go ahead and do your best for Emily\u2019s birthday.\n\n\u201cAnd Lightning, you may go now to the Dwarfs of Cavedale and tell them\nto have the necklace ready for a week from to-night. And let it be\nwrought of fine filigree gold,--in a dainty design of lilies and roses.\u201d\n\nAfter the Captain had given commands to all the elves as to what the\nduty of each should be for the following week, they all ran away and\nbegan to make plans for their work.\n\n\u201cTono,\u201d said Rhymo, \u201cI want your advice. You know I have to make a\nverse to accompany the necklace; how would this do?\n\n  \u201cA necklace by the elves designed\n  Of rose and lily intertwined,\n  And by the Dwarfs of Cavedale wrought:\n  A birthday gift to you we\u2019ve brought.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt may be all right,\u201d said Tono, \u201cbut if I were you I\u2019d make several,\nand then let the Captain decide which he likes best.\u201d\n\n\u201cA very fine idea,\u201d said Rhymo, who liked nothing better than making\nverses, \u201cand I\u2019ll compose something bright and gay, for we must not\nforget it\u2019s for a festive occasion.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll just go now,\u201d said Tono, \u201cand see that all the musical\ninstruments are in perfect tune.\u201d\n\nWhen Rhymo was left alone he busied himself with making verses that\nshould be both happy and pleasing, trying first one rhyme and then\nanother, and wondering which would please Emily most. For Captain\nFeatherweight had told him that the object of birthday parties was to\nmake the owner of the birthday glad and happy!\n\nWhen the verses were finished he brought them to Tono, who was busy\nselecting the insect choir and testing their voices so that there\nshould be no discordant note. This was the insects\u2019 first lesson from\nTono, and after a careful practice he dismissed them, saying, that the\nnext rehearsal should be the following evening at the same place and\nhour.\n\nAs soon as the insects were gone, the elfin choir appeared, accompanied\nby the elfin orchestra with their wind instruments, stringed\ninstruments, cymbals and drums. And Tono took the verses which\nRhymo had made and set them to music, and never before in all their\nexperience had the elfin choir and orchestra received such a drilling\nand training.\n\nAnd at the same place and hour every night for a week, the elfin\nmusicians came to the practice.\n\nEvery elf was busily engaged in doing his best for Emily\u2019s birthday,\nfor if the Elves of Mount Fern undertook to do work, they always aimed\nat perfection.\n\nLightning was busy in all sorts of ways, for whenever there was a\nmessage to send or an errand to run, the Captain always called on\nLightning.\n\nRainbow was a kind of court of last appeal before the time came for\nthe final rehearsal on the eve of Emily\u2019s birthday, when Captain\nFeatherweight was to judge of everything.\n\nColonel Claw, too, was busy all that week selecting the sweetest\nsingers for the bird chorus; for although he did not sing himself, but\nonly conversed, he was very particular as to the birds he should ask to\ntake part in the celebration.\n\nSo he invited the musical Blackbird, but as he is a very great mimic,\nColonel Claw warned him to be on his guard against imitating the rough\nand hoarse notes of other birds. He also invited the Bobolink, the Song\nSparrow, the Vesper Sparrow, the Wood Pewee, the Indigo Bunting, the\nRobin, the Purple Finch, the Vireo, the Meadow Lark, the Veery, the\nHermit Thrush, the Bluebird, and all the Warblers who might serve as a\nbackground or accompaniment.\n\nThe Cedar Bird was Colonel Claw\u2019s great problem, because, as he said,\n\u201cHis voice is inferior.\u201d\n\nBut he knew the Cedar Bird would be very much hurt if he did not\ninvite him, and he knew too that Dr. Templeton and all his family were\nparticularly fond of the Cedar Bird family. And so Colonel Claw was\npuzzled and perplexed, and he carried his difficulty to Rainbow and\nlaid the case before him.\n\nRainbow advised Colonel Claw to invite the Cedar Bird, \u201cFor,\u201d said he,\n\u201cit is to be such a gay and festive occasion that there should be no\nsad hearts in Templeton Garden. But tell him to be sure to sing softly,\nsoftly.\u201d\n\n\u201cDear sir, kind sir,\u201d said Colonel Claw, \u201cyou are always so amiable,\nand your counsel so admirable, that I take your advice; your wish is my\nlaw.\u201d\n\nAnd so Colonel Claw invited the Cedar Bird, and _he_ kept saying\n\u201csoftly,\u201d \u201csoftly,\u201d so that there should be no mistake as to what was\nrequired of him.\n\nAnd all the birds entered into the spirit of the celebration, and came\neach day in joyous throngs to the practice. They were greatly excited\nall that week, for they had never before been asked to take part in the\nfestivities of a little girl\u2019s birthday. And they spent far more time\nthan usual in preening their feathers and taking their baths, until\nthey felt that they were looking their very best.\n\nThe insects, too, were very particular about their appearance, and swam\nand dove in the pool of the fountain, and dried themselves in the sun\nso that there should be no particles of dust sticking to them.\n\nAnd on Thursday, the great day, Colonel Claw, Tono, and Rainbow marched\nall the birds and insects down to the river for their final bath and\npreening.\n\nThey used the surface of the water as a mirror. And when they were\nperfectly clean, Colonel Claw commanded all the birds to alight on the\nnearest tree to plume and arrange their feathers.\n\nAnd Tono, who had charge of the insects, told them to fly to some\nshrubs that were growing near the river.\n\n\u201cWhen I blow three blasts on my bugle,\u201d said Tono, \u201cfly quickly to\nTempleton Garden and alight on the flowering hawthorne that grows north\nof the mulberry tree.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when I give three caws,\u201d said Colonel Claw to the birds in the oak\ntree, \u201cfly swiftly to Temple Garden and alight on the tall elm tree to\nthe east of the mulberry tree.\u201d\n\nThen Tono and Rainbow returned to Mount Fern, and Colonel Claw to his\nperch in the mulberry tree.\n\nColonel Claw knew all about the birthday party, for he had heard of it\nfrom the Elves, who in turn had heard Mary and Anna talking about it.\n\nHe knew that after the guests arrived they were to have supper at the\nHall, and that after supper they were all to come out to the garden and\nplay games around the mulberry tree.\n\nThe party was at eight o\u2019clock, and precisely at eight Colonel Claw\ngave three loud caws to the birds in the oak tree, Tono blew three long\nblasts on his bugle, and as soon as these signals were given, the\nbirds and the insects all flew away to the hawthorne and elm, near the\nmulberry tree.\n\nWhen the elves arrived at Templeton Hall they heard strains from a\ngiant orchestra, and the air was rich with the fragrance of flowers.\nThey entered unobserved, for an elf has many ways of making himself\ninvisible, and does not have to be seen unless he wants to be.\n\nEmily was standing in the middle of the parlor dressed in fine Persian\nlawn, adorned with blue ribbons.\n\nAnd soon the door-bell rang, and again and again and again, until all\nthe guests were assembled. And they each wished Emily very many happy\nreturns of the day.\n\nThen Emily led her guests to a large veranda all covered with roses and\nclematis, and there supper was served.\n\nThe tables were covered with beautiful flowers and all kinds of fruit,\nand turkey, chicken and tongue, hot rolls and hot biscuits, and brown\nbread and butter, after which came the ice cream and cake.\n\nAnd _such_ a cake!\n\nIt was made in the form of a great big shoe, and lined with silver\npaper. Inside the shoe there were dolls and toys for every one of the\nguests, and a great big doll for Emily--just like the old woman who\nlived in a shoe! And all the little guests said it was the nicest and\nfunniest birthday cake they had ever seen.\n\nAnd as soon as supper was over Emily led her guests to the mulberry\ntree which stood in the middle of the garden.\n\nDr. Templeton was prouder of this tree than of anything else in the\ngarden, for he believed it to be a great-grandchild of the mulberry\ntree which Shakespeare planted at Stratford so long ago. And whenever\nthere was company at Templeton Hall, Dr. Templeton always brought them\nout to the garden to show them the mulberry tree.\n\nOn the evening of Emily\u2019s birthday it was hung with Chinese lanterns\nfrom the top to the bottom--in all the gay colors of the rainbow. And\naround this beautiful tree, Emily and her guests danced and played\ngames by the light of the lanterns until the birthday party was over.\n\nBut just then a strange thing occurred--not strange to the elves, who\nknew all about it, but to Emily, her guests, and her Father and Mother.\n\nFor Rainbow, the elf, appeared on the green and a daintier little\ngentleman never was seen. His blue satin coat, with silvery leaves\nembroidered in wreaths, his white silken hose and gilt-buckled shoes,\nand his blue Forget-Me-Not girdle, made an exquisite picture.\n\nWith three very low bows he flew straight to Emily, and told her that\nthe insect choir would be pleased to favor her with some music in honor\nof her birthday. Then Rainbow made a motion to Tono, who had charge of\nthe insect choir. Tono gave the word of command, and the fiddlers,\ndrummers, and pipers of the insect world appeared.\n\nThe short-horned Grasshoppers were there with their bows and fiddles;\nthe musical Cicadas were also there with their high-tuned kettle drums;\nand the meadow Grasshoppers were playing: \u201cZip, zip, zee-e-e! Zip, zip,\nzee-e-e!\u201d\n\nThe pale-green, bashful Katydids, who are usually heard but not seen,\nwere also there singing with all their might: \u201cKaty did! she did, she\ndid, she didn\u2019t!\u201d over and over again.\n\nAnd the cheery crickets with their happy chirpings, sang: \u201cCheer-up!\ncheer-up! cheer-up!\u201d\n\nThey all sang and played most heartily, all in honor of Emily\u2019s\nbirthday. And when they had finished there was loud applause and cries\nof \u201cMore! more!\u201d\n\nBut just at that moment Colonel Claw stepped forward, and told them\nthat the birds also would be pleased to favor Emily and her guests with\nsome music.\n\nA Starling, whom Colonel Claw had taught to make a speech for the\noccasion, stepped forward and said that as all the birds in Templeton\nGarden had been most kindly treated, and had even had fine, comfortable\nhouses provided for them, they wanted to show their appreciation by\nhelping to celebrate Emily\u2019s birthday.\n\nThen the Starling, bowing low, turned to Emily and added: \u201cIn the name\nof all the birds of Templeton Garden, I wish you a great many happy\nreturns!\u201d\n\nSo saying he returned to the elm tree. Colonel Claw gave the word of\ncommand, and the music began.\n\nThe birds are the sweetest of all sweet singers, and the chorus was\ngrand. It was a billow of song that rose and fell like the waves of a\nmighty ocean. At times no one voice could be heard distinctly; again,\nthe flute-like notes of the Wood Thrush, the Purple Finch\u2019s rich,\nmelodious warble, or the beautiful trill of the Vireo could be heard\nquite plainly above the chorus.\n\nThe birds were jubilant. Never before had they sung with so much\nstrength and sweetness. And when at last the music died away in gentle\ncadences, Emily and her friends clapped their hands in glee, and said\nthey had never in all their lives heard anything so beautiful.\n\nThen Tono, at a signal from Captain Featherweight, bowed low before\nEmily and said: \u201cThe elves of Mount Fern take this opportunity to\nexpress their thanks for their comfortable home in Templeton Garden,\nand beg that their choir and orchestra may be allowed to take part in\nthe celebration of your birthday.\u201d\n\nEmily was very much delighted and said that any one was fortunate who\nhad the elves for friends.\n\nSo the elfin choir and orchestra flew up into the large white oak tree\nthat stood near the mulberry tree. And there they played and sang the\nmusic which Rhymo and Tono had composed for the occasion:\n\n_The Wish of the Elves._\n\n  \u201c\u2019Tis a festive occasion\n    Which brings us today,\n  To sing thy high praises\n    In musical lay!\n  Your life in its morning\n    Dawns glorious and bright,\n  With promise of sunshine,\n    And gladness and light.\n  May future years bring thee\n    The gifts most sublime,\n  Great courage and wisdom,\n    And hope for all time!\u201d\n\nEmily knew she had never heard anything half so wonderful. She told\nher Father and Mother that this was the most splendid day she had ever\nlived, and that she did not know how she was ever going to wait until\nher next birthday--for she thought birthdays were the very nicest days\nin all the year.\n\nJust as she said this, she saw Captain Featherweight and Rhymo coming\ntoward her. The Captain carried a box, and she wondered if she were\nreally going to get another present after all she had already received.\n\nRhymo began to speak, and he recited the verse he had made for the\nnecklace:\n\n  \u201cThe Elves of Mount Fern\n  Are so glad to discern\n  When a young girl is kind, good and wise,\n  That they\u2019re prone to reward,\n  When her birthday comes round,\n  With a gift that will gladden her eyes.\n  Accept then this necklace of gold,\n  And the wish that you\u2019ll never grow old\n  In faith, hope and charity,\n  Truth in its rarity,\n  Goodness and kindness untold.\u201d\n\nThen Captain Featherweight took the necklace of fine filigree gold and\nplaced it around Emily\u2019s neck.\n\nAnd Emily felt like a Queen, and she told her Father and Mother that\nshe was the happiest girl in all the wide world.\n\nThus ended the birthday party.\n\n\n\n\n5\n\nTHE KING OF THE ELVES VISITS MOUNT FERN\n\n\nThe next evening, while the elves were at breakfast, Lightning informed\nCaptain Featherweight that the King of the Elves was coming to visit\nMount Fern.\n\n\u201cThat is good news,\u201d said the Captain, \u201care you sure it is true?\u201d\n\n\u201cQuite sure,\u201d said Lightning, \u201cfor I saw Okla of Oakdale, and he told\nme that the King is now visiting Elmsdale; and from Elmsdale he\u2019s\ncoming to Oakdale; and from Oakdale he\u2019s coming to Mount Fern.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is really good news!\u201d said the Captain.\n\n\u201cAnd what shall we do to entertain him?\u201d asked Rainbow.\n\n\u201cNothing at all,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cfor when the King goes visiting he\nalways takes his entertainers with him. He has his own musicians, his\nown jesters, and his own actors.\n\n\u201cThe King does this in his own defence, for he says it is a King\u2019s\nprivilege not to be entertained unless he wants to be. So we\u2019ll only\nhave to receive him.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I make a poem for him?\u201d asked Rhymo.\n\n\u201cNot at all,\u201d said the Captain, \u201cfor he has his own Court poet, who is\nthe best in the world, and if he wants a poem he has only to say so.\u201d\n\n\u201cWon\u2019t we have anything extra to do before he comes?\u201d asked the\nflower-elf.\n\n\u201cOh, yes!\u201d replied the Captain, \u201cand you especially, Iris-Wing, will be\nvery busy, for the King is most particular about the care of plants,\nand if a single plant is neglected it makes him unhappy. So I want\nTempleton Garden to be a perfect bower of well-kept plants when the\nKing comes to visit us.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I be asked to sing or play?\u201d asked Tono.\n\n\u201cI should say not,\u201d replied the Captain, \u201cfor the King always travels\nwith his own musicians, and if he wants any music he has only to say\nso.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd how shall we address him?\u201d asked Slumber.\n\n\u201cAs \u2018Noble King,\u2019 \u2018Your Majesty,\u2019 or \u2018Your Royal Highness\u2019,\u201d said the\nCaptain.\n\n\u201cIf there is any doubt as to which he prefers, couldn\u2019t we address him\nas \u2018Your Royal Majesty\u2019s Noble Highness\u2019?\u201d asked Touchstone.\n\n\u201cSilence!\u201d commanded Captain Featherweight. \u201cThis is no time for\njesting, and if any elf from this time forward be found guilty of\njesting about the King, he shall forthwith be sent to Doomdell. This\ntime I spare you, Touchstone.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I touch stone next time, noble Captain?\u201d asked Touchstone.\n\nBut as soon as he saw that the Captain was really angry that he should\njoke in this way about the prison walls of Doomdell, he immediately\ngot down on bended knee and begged the Captain\u2019s pardon. And Captain\nFeatherweight, who was anxious that they should all live in harmony,\ngraciously granted it.\n\n\u201cAnd Owly,\u201d continued the Captain, \u201cI warn _you_ not to be too clever.\nI should think Prince Prigio would be a warning to you. Don\u2019t you\nremember how everybody hated him because he was so very clever and let\neverybody know it? And that it was only when he concealed the fact and\n_seemed_ no cleverer than other people that they began to love him?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll do my best,\u201d said Owly, \u201cbut if I am as clever as you say, it is\nmy nature to be so and I cannot help it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou can be clever and tactful, too,\u201d said the Captain. \u201cTake Rainbow\nfor your model, and learn of him.\n\n\u201cAnd if you ask a question of the King, you must say: \u2018Your Royal\nHighness, may I be permitted to ask----\u2019 and so forth.\n\n\u201cBut you must _not_ say: \u2018May I ask--your Royal Highness?\u2019 \u2018Your Royal\nHighness\u2019 or \u2018Your Majesty\u2019 must always come before \u2018I\u2019 or \u2018me\u2019 when\nyou are addressing the King.\u201d\n\n\u201cRainbow, as usual, I put you in charge of the whole affair. You must\ninstruct the others in the proper etiquette for the occasion.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall I gather countless fireflies for the illumination?\u201d asked\nLightning.\n\n\u201cNot fireflies, but glowworms,\u201d said the Captain. \u201cThey are rarer and\nwill therefore do the King more honor.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ll send to the Dwarfs of Cavedale, and have them make a\nthousand silver filigree lanterns to hold the glowworms, and hang from\nthe ceilings of Mount Fern, and from the branches of trees near our\ndwelling.\n\n\u201cAnd the floors shall be carpeted with the petals of roses; and the\nwalls hung with star-flower and forget-me-not.\n\n\u201cAnd the sweetest and freshest of honeydew must be collected, with the\nripest and most luscious of the fruits, and the most perfect of the\nnuts.\n\n\u201cAnd now I think this is all I need tell you, for, as I said before,\nthe King will manage his own entertainment.\n\n\u201cRight! Left! Shoulder arms!\u201d\n\nAt this command every elf went to work.\n\nThe flower-elf ran off to the mulberry tree in search of Colonel Claw.\nHe found him perching on one of the lower branches, so up he flew and\nsat beside him. And he told him all about the expected visit of the\nKing.\n\n\u201cThere is nothing the King so much dislikes as an ill-kept garden,\u201d\nsaid the flower-elf. \u201cAnd so I have come to ask your kind assistance\nin a battle against the canker-worms, grubs, beetles, ants and other\ninsects that eat out the life of the flowers.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll do my best,\u201d said Colonel Claw. \u201cI\u2019ll get all the birds in the\nneighborhood to wage incessant warfare against all the enemies of the\nflowers! And I\u2019ll begin this very hour.\u201d\n\n\u201cA thousand thanks,\u201d said Iris-Wing, \u201cyou have my undying gratitude,\nand if I can ever help you, be sure I will.\u201d\n\nThen the flower-elf bade adieu to Colonel Claw and went in search of\nSlumber.\n\nHe found him resting on a bank of fern-moss, and told him that he\nwanted him to make the gardener dream such dreams as would make that\nlazy fellow do the work of his life.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know how you are going to do it,\u201d said the flower-elf, \u201cbut it\nwill have to be done.\u201d\n\n\u201cLeave that to me,\u201d said Slumber, \u201cfor I am sure I can manage it. Think\nof the bluebirds\u2019 feathers and doubt not.\u201d\n\n\u201cI trust you entirely,\u201d said the flower-elf, \u201cand I know that all will\nbe well.\n\n\u201cBut now I must go and see where the best honeydew is to be found. And\nwhile I am testing the honeydew I will just make a note of the nuts and\nfruits that I happen to see.\u201d\n\nSo saying he departed waving his hand in adieu.\n\nLightning went to the Dwarfs of Cavedale and ordered a thousand\nlanterns of filigree silver.\n\nTono trained his choir and orchestra so that he would be prepared if\nthe King should ask him to sing or play.\n\nRhymo made verses all night long, for he did not want to be caught\nnapping if the King should ask him for one of his poems.\n\nRainbow was carefully planning the details, and every one came to him\nfor advice.\n\nWhen the gardener had gone to bed for the night, Slumber entered his\ncottage noiselessly, softly entered his sleeping-room, and gently beat\non the drum of his ear.\n\nAnd the gardener dreamed and dreamed. He thought he was on a desert\nplain, and he was very thirsty--so thirsty that he did not care for\nanything in the world but _water_. His throat was parched; the sky was\nred; the grass was brown; the sun was scorching!\n\nAnd there was not a drop of water in sight! There were no clouds in the\nsky to bring rain, nor a sign of moisture anywhere!\n\nJust as he thought he could stand it no longer, a frightful hobgoblin\nwith black wings and piercing eyes came hovering over him, and cried in\na voice of thunder:\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re thirsty, are you?\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018Thirsty,\u2019\u201d sighed the gardener, \u201cI\u2019m dying of thirst!\u201d\n\n\u201cGo first and water the flowers; then you may drink,\u201d said the goblin,\nas he flew up in the air uttering a horrid shriek.\n\nBut the gardener dreamed again: this time he was starving; and there\nwas not a scrap of food in sight, not even a grain of corn to satisfy\nhis gnawing hunger.\n\nAnd when he thought he could stand it no longer, the same frightful\nhobgoblin came flying toward him, and flapped its great wings and cried:\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re hungry, are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cSo hungry that I\u2019m fainting,\u201d whispered the gardener.\n\n\u201cGo first and feed your plants, and then you may eat,\u201d said the goblin.\nThen away he flew and left him alone as before.\n\nBut the gardener dreamed still again, and this time he thought he was\nin his own cottage. The walls of the cottage began to shrink; and the\ntables and chairs and everything else in the room began to move toward\nhim. The windows shut of themselves; the shades rolled down; the air\ngrew close and stifling.\n\nAnd he couldn\u2019t escape, for just as soon as he moved one chair away,\nanother one took its place.\n\nThe chairs and tables moved nearer and nearer; and the gardener was so\nweary that he wanted to sink on the floor; but there was not room, for\neverything in the cottage piled itself right up against him so that he\ncould not move.\n\nThe air grew thicker and thicker, and the night grew blacker and\nblacker, but not so black that he could not see the goblin coming\ntoward him.\n\nAnd the goblin flew straight to the gardener, flapped its heavy wings,\nand shouted at him:\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re cramped for room, are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m dying,\u201d said the gardener.\n\n\u201cThen help the plants to live. Pull up the weeds, give the plants room,\nand you may live yourself,\u201d said the goblin as he flew away in the\ndarkness.\n\nAt this point the dream-elf, thinking his work well done, hastened back\nto Mount Fern.\n\n\u201cSome dreams,\u201d said he to himself, \u201care good for a gardener, and I\nthink this one will be.\u201d\n\nVery early the next morning the flower-elf and Slumber went into the\ngarden to see what was happening there.\n\nAnd lo and behold! Colonel Claw was at work with a whole host of birds,\ndestroying the insects that eat out the life of the flowers. Such a\nchattering you never did hear, for they sang and talked as they worked.\n\nA host of Warblers was destroying plant-lice, canker-worms, and\ncaterpillars.\n\nCatbirds were waging warfare against grasshoppers, beetles, and other\ninsects.\n\nSwallows were flying hither and thither in search of insects, and\ncatching their prey on the wing; and each as he passed a friend or a\nbrother cried out:\n\n\u201cHurry up, there is work to be done!\u201d\n\nThe Flickers were ridding the garden of ants, and gaily they worked and\nwell.\n\nAnd Sparrows were eating the seeds of the weeds, so that none might\nescape to grow up and choke out the flowers.\n\nAll the birds helped in the work, and destroyed all the harmful insects\nand weed seeds.\n\nAnd this army of birds had just got to work when the gardener appeared\non the scene. He came much earlier than usual; and he fed and watered\nthe plants; and he weeded and spaded and hoed; and not a single plant\nwas neglected.\n\nAnd early each morning Colonel Claw marshalled his army of birds to do\nbattle against the plants\u2019 enemies.\n\nAnd early each morning the gardener, too, kept on with his weeding and\nhoeing.\n\nSo that the garden grew and flourished. The flowers were blooming with\nhappiness, and they smiled and nodded their beautiful heads while they\nsaid to the gardener:\n\n\u201cDear sir, you are kindness itself.\u201d\n\nAnd all the elves were delighted, especially the flower-elf.\n\nDr. Templeton, too, was delighted, and he and his wife came oftener\nthan usual to walk in the garden and admire the beautiful flowers.\n\nOne evening at starlight the Captain received a message from the King,\nsaying that before a week would go by he would visit Mount Fern, for he\nplanned to be there on Tuesday next at the full of the moon.\n\nAt last the great night arrived, and the elves were all dressed in oak\nleaves in honor of the King (for the oak is the King\u2019s favorite tree).\n\nAnd of course they wore their girdles, for on a great occasion an elf\nwould no more think of going without a girdle, than a young lady would\nthink of going to a party without her slippers.\n\nFrom the entrance to Templeton Garden, all the way to Mount Fern, the\npath-way was strewn with flowers and studded with arches.\n\nThe first arch was made of _laurel_ to show that the elves honored\ntheir King: the second was made of _roses_ to show that they loved\nhim: and the third arch was made of _pansies_ to show that they always\nthought of him.\n\nThe arches and shrubbery were hung with silver filigree lanterns, and\nthe glowworms shone and shed their soft lights around.\n\nAnd Lightning, the messenger-elf, who had been sent out in the evening\nto watch for the arrival of the King, returned in great haste just at\nmidnight to say that the King was coming--for the King\u2019s herald had\nblown three blasts on his bugle to proclaim His Majesty\u2019s approach.\n\nThen the Elves of Mount Fern took their silver trumpets and blew three\nanswering blasts as a greeting to all the King\u2019s company.\n\nTwo elves were stationed at each of the arches, and they bowed down on\nbended knee as the King passed by, and cried: \u201cAll hail, noble King!\u201d\n\nAnd when the King and his retinue arrived at Mount Fern, Captain\nFeatherweight was there to receive them.\n\nAfter the greetings were over, Rainbow and Iris-Wing led the King to a\nflower-throne which was made of the softest and sweetest of pansies.\n\nThen Rainbow took a golden goblet and bowed down before the King, and\nsaid: \u201cNoble King, will you drink?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will,\u201d said the King.\n\nSo Rainbow took a pitcher-plant and poured out some sparkling nectar;\nand the King took the goblet and drank and refreshed himself.\n\nIris-Wing bowed down before the King and asked:\n\n\u201cNoble King, will you eat?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will,\u201d said the King.\n\nThen Iris-Wing took the freshest and ripest of nuts, and the most\nluscious of fruits, and brought these to the King. And he ate and\nenjoyed them.\n\nWhen the King had partaken of nuts and berries and nectar, he said to\nthe Captain.\n\n\u201cCaptain Featherweight, I long have wanted to visit you and your\nCompany, but duties of state have prevented. I am delighted with Mount\nFern!\n\n\u201cYour home is a bower; your furnishings dainty and elegant; and your\nfare is delicious.\n\n\u201cTomorrow we\u2019ll visit the gardens. This evening we\u2019ll spend in quiet\nconversing, in puzzles and riddles, conundrums and puns. I love a good\njoke when I\u2019m tired of affairs of the kingdom.\u201d\n\nCaptain Featherweight, bowing low, replied: \u201cYour Majesty\u2019s wish is our\npleasure.\u201d\n\nThen the King, looking up at the ceiling, was struck by the soft glow\nof the filigree lanterns, and asked the Captain what lighting he used.\n\nBowing low, the Captain replied: \u201cThe light of the glowworm.\u201d\n\nThe King was delighted and said that he himself had never once thought\nof glowworms, but had always used firefly lanterns. Then he called his\nsecretary and told him to make a note of the lighting of Mount Fern.\n\nAfter that he called his musicians and told them to set the lighting of\nMount Fern to music, and this was the song that they sang:\n\n  \u201cSparkle, burnished lanterns,\n  Silver lanterns!\n  What a lot of glowworms,\n  Great and small;\n  How your lights are shedding\n  Forth their radiance,\n  Over King and Captain--\n  And elves all!\u201d\n\nAfter the music the King called Iris-Wing and asked him what flowers he\ngrew in the garden.\n\n\u201cNoble King,\u201d said the flower-elf, \u201cthere are pansies, narcissi and\nroses, rosemary and rue, and daffodils, lilies and daisies, and violets\nblue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is well,\u201d said the King. \u201cIs that all?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot at all,\u201d said the elf.\n\nBut just here Touchstone came forward and bowed down before the King\nand said: \u201cYour Highness, may I be permitted to speak?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou may,\u201d said the King.\n\n\u201cNoble King, there are blondes and brunettes in the garden.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat! Blondes and brunettes, do you say?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, your Highness,\u201d said Touchstone \u201cthe brunette is Black-eyed\nSusan, and Blue-eyed Mary\u2019s the blonde.\u201d\n\n\u201cHa! Ha!\u201d laughed the King. \u201cI see,\u201d said he, \u201cand what other strange\nplants do you grow?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is seen on the western sky at sunset,\u201d answered Touchstone.\n\n\u201cAnd what is that?\u201d asked the King.\n\n\u201cGolden-Glow,\u201d said the elf.\n\n\u201cThat is bright,\u201d remarked the King, \u201cand what else do you grow in your\ngarden?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe grow animals, too, in the garden!\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat? Animals, too, in the garden!\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, your Highness,\u201d said Touchstone, \u201cwe grow the Bear-berry, the\nTiger-Lily and the Dande-Lion!\u201d\n\n\u201cHow true!\u201d laughed the King, \u201cand what next?\u201d\n\n\u201cA knave in church,\u201d said the jester.\n\n\u201cVery many, I fear,\u201d the King agreed. \u201cBut what is yours?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy, Jack-in-the-Pulpit,\u201d said he.\n\n\u201cHa! Ha!\u201d laughed the King, \u201cyou\u2019ve done well, and now I am most\nanxious to examine that wonderful garden of yours.\u201d\n\n\u201cWill your Majesty go to the garden _now_?\u201d asked the flower-elf.\n\n\u201cI will,\u201d said the King.\n\nThen Captain Featherweight and Iris-Wing escorted the King all\nover the garden and grounds around Templeton Hall. And the King was\ndelighted, and gave the Captain and the flower-elf much praise.\n\n\u201cYours is the best-kept garden I\u2019ve seen in my travels,\u201d said he, \u201cand\nas a reward for your diligence, interest, and skill, I\u2019ll give _you_,\nIris-Wing, a girdle of gold.\u201d\n\nNow in Elfland a golden girdle is scarcely ever worn except by the\nCaptain of a Company. And to be presented with one was in itself a\ngreat honor; but to be presented with a golden girdle by the _King_ was\na very great honor indeed!\n\nThen the flower-elf bowed low to the King of the elves, and made\nanswer: \u201cYour Highness, you honor me greatly.\u201d\n\n\u201cArise,\u201d said the King, \u201cyou are worthy. I\u2019ll have the girdle designed\nby the Dwarfs of the Court, and you and the elves of Mount Fern will\ncome there to receive it one year from today.\u201d\n\nWhen they had made a tour of the flower garden they went into the\norchard; and they found that the woodpeckers, nut-hatches and\ncreepers had done their work thoroughly, for there was not a sign of a\ncaterpillar anywhere, nor the eggs of any insect.\n\nThe lawns too were just as well kept, for they were all smooth and\nvelvety, and not a weed could be found.\n\nAnd the more he examined the grounds, the more pleased was the King,\nand he constantly cried: \u201cCaptain Featherweight, I am delighted.\u201d\n\nAs soon as he had returned to Mount Fern he said to the Captain: \u201cLet\nyour elves be seated around me on the soft rose-petals so lavishly\nstrewn on the floor, as a carpet.\u201d\n\nThen he told them all how delighted he was with his visit to Mount\nFern; and how much he enjoyed the birds, the trees and the flowers in\nTempleton Garden.\n\n\u201cAnd do not forget that a year from to-night you\u2019re to come to the\nCourt of the King of the elves, where the flower-elf shall receive a\ngolden girdle for work well done in the garden.\n\n\u201cAnd all the other elves of Mount Fern shall receive a prize for work\nwell done in the Company.\n\n\u201cAnd--as this is the best-trained Company I have seen in my travels--I\nshall give you, Captain Featherweight, an old and priceless Egyptian\namulet worth more than its weight in rubies.\n\n\u201cBut now I must say good-night, for tomorrow I\u2019m off to the woodlands.\u201d\n\nWhen the King had retired for the night, Captain Featherweight made a\nmotion to Slumber to go to the King of the elves, and help him dream\npleasant dreams.\n\nThen Slumber sat by his bedside and helped him to dream this dream:\n\nThe King dreamed he sat by a running river that sparkled and shone in\nthe moonlight, as it rolled over the stones at the bottom in ripples\nof gleaming silver. And on either side of the flowing river were the\nsoftest, greenest, freshest moss-covered banks; while at a little\ndistance magnificent oaks and elms cast their beautiful shadows\nbeneath. And the birds sang in the tree-tops and carolled gaily with\nhealth and happiness.\n\nThe air was cool and sweet; the flowers were bright and gay; all nature\nwas glad; and the King of the elves was happy.\n\nAnd soon he saw coming toward him a chariot of roses drawn by\nthirty-three humming-birds, three in a row.\n\nThe chariot stopped near the King, and one of the humming-birds bowed\nand said:\n\n\u201cNoble King, your Empire is all the world; and we have come to take you\nover land and sea; over high mountains, and rocky billows, to the land\nof the rising sun. Arise and sit in our chariot.\u201d\n\nThen the King arose and sat in the chariot, and the birds flew ever\nonward--past snow-clad peaks and tall cathedral spires, past green\nfields and rustling corn--on, on, on through the bright clear air till\nthey came to the land of the rising sun.\n\nAnd as soon as they entered there they heard the blowing of trumpets\nand beating of drums, and a million voices cried:\n\n\u201cHail, King of the elves! Noble King of the elves!\u201d\n\nAnd the sweetest flowers nodded their beautiful heads, and welcomed the\nKing and cried:\n\n\u201cOur noble protector, all hail!\u201d\n\nThe next evening at starlight the King of the elves set off for the\nwoodlands. And Captain Featherweight and his Company escorted him and\nhis retinue far past the walls of Templeton Garden before they returned\nto Mount Fern.\n\n\nTHE END","title":"The Elves of Mount Fern","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":14354}