The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-05-16
THE PALACE OF BEAUTY;
A FAIRY TALE.-BY MRS. cH1LDs.

did =notllye happily together. Mary hated Rose be-
cause she was handsome, and everybody praised her.
She scowled and her face absolutely grew black when
anybody asked her how her pretty little sister Rose
dd; and once she was wicked to cut off all her
glossy, golden hair, and throw it on the fire. Poor
Rose cried bitterly about it, but she did not scod or
strike her sister, for she amiabe gentle little
being as ever lived. No wonder all the family and
all the the neighbors disked Marion; and no wonder
her face grew uglier and uger every day. The
Scotch used to be very superstitious people; and
they believed the infant Rose had been blessed by
the fairies, to whom she owed her extraordinary
beauty and exceeding goodness. -ss
Not far from the castle where the Processes resid-
ed was deep grotto, and it lead to the Palace Of
beauty, where the Queen of the Fairies held her
court. Some said Rose had fallen asleep there one
day, when she had got tired of chasing butterfly.
and that the queen had dipped her in an immortal
fountain, from which she had risen with the beauty
OF an angel. Marion often asked questions about
this story but Rose always replied that she had been
forbidden to speak of it. When she saw an uncom-
monty brilliant bird or butterfly, she would some
times exclalm sob, how much that looks like Fairy
Land! But when asked what she knew about
falry Land, she blushed and would not answer
Marion thought great deal about this. 'sWhy cam
not go to the Palace of Beauty, thought she, and
why may not battle in the Immortal Fountan!''
One summers noon, when all was still save the
IN
sects, Marion entered the deep grotto She sat down
on bank of moss; the air around her was as frag-
rant as Il 1t came from bed of violets; and with
the sound OF far-off music dying her ear, she fell
into gentle sIumber. When she awoke it was
evening, and she found herself in small hail. where
opal pillars supported rainbow roof the bright re.
Election of which rested crystal walls, and gold
en- floor n.aid with pearls. All around, between the
opal pillars, stood the tines vases of alabaster in
mn of hr
flowers; some Of them twining around the pillars,
were lost IN the floating rainbow above. The whole
| OF this scene of beauty lighted by millions of
trehles, gltterlng about like wandering stars While
Marion was wondering at all this, little figure of
rare loneliness stood before her. Her robe was of
green and gold; her flowing gossamer mantle was
caught up on one shoulder with pearl and in her
hair solitary star, composed of FIVE diamonds
each no bigger than pins point, and thus she sung
The Fairy Queen
Hath rarely seen
Creature of earthly mould
Within her door,
On pearly floor,
lnald with shining gold.
Mortal, all thou seest is fair,
| Quick thy purposes declare !!
| AS she concluded, the song taken up and then
repeated by multitude of soft voices in the distance
1t seemed as IT birds and insects Joined in the chorus
the clear voice Of the thrush was distinctly heard
the cricket kept time with his tiny cymbal and ev-
er and anon between the pauses, the sound of dis
tant cascade was heard, whose waters fell in music
All these delightful sounds died away, and the
Queen of the Fairies stood patiently awaiting Mari
on's answer. Courtesying low and with trembling
| voice, the little maiden said:
"Whi 1t please your majesty to make me as hand
some as my sister Rose?''
The Queen smiled. al will grant your request, -
said she, ''h you will promise to fulfil all the cond-
tons propose
Marion eagerly promised that she would
"The Immortal Fountain replied the Queen,
sis on the top Of high steep ll at four different
places fairies are stationed around it, who guard it
with their wands. None pass them except those
who obey my orders. Go home now; for one week
speak no ungente word TO your sister; at the end of
that time come again to the grotto.''
Marion went home light Of heart Rose was in
the garden, watering the flowers: and the first thing
Marion observed was that her sisters sunny hair had
suddenly grown as long and beautiful as it had ever
been; the sight made her angry, and she was Just
about to snatch the waterproof from her hand with an
angry expression, when she remembered the fairy,
and passed into the castle in silence
The end of the week arrived, and Marion had
faithfully kept her promise. Again she went to the
grotto. The queen was feastng when she entered
the hall. The bees brought hoaeycomband deposit
ed it on the small rose-colored shells which adorned
the crystal table, gaudy butterflies ioated about the
head of the queen, and famed her with their wings
the cucuo and the antern-fy stood at her side, to
afford her light; large diamond beetle formed her
splendid footsoo, and when she had supped, a dew
drop on the petal of violet brought for her roy
al fingers.
t When Marion entered, the diamond sparkes on
the wings of the fairies faded they always did in
the presence of anything not perfectly good and in
few moments all the Queens attendants vanished,
singing as they went:
Il The Fairy Queen
Il Hath rarely seen
u Creatures of earthly mould
i Within her door,
i On pearly floor
/ lnlaid with shining gold.
"Mortal hast thou fulfilled thy promise !" asked
the queen.
i 81 have,' replied the maiden.
i e"Then follow me.'
/ Marion did as she was directed, and away they
went over beds of violets and mgnonette The
birds warbled above their heads butterflies cooled
the air, and the gurgng of many fountains came
witha refreshing sound. Presently they came to the
hill on the top of which was the Immortal Fountain
Its foot was surrounded by band of fairies, clothed
in green gossamer with her ivory wands crossed, to
bar the assent. The queen waived her wand over
| them, and Immediately they stretched their thin
| wings AMI flew AWAY. The hill was steep, and Ear