Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-24
THE LAST FAIRY.
An INSTRUCTIVE ALLEGORY
By J. w. WATsoN

Az Ihne. IL was or q beautiful evening
IN May. had gone out of the village by
myself without any distinct point of destina-
tion, travelling across fields, thoughtful, and
YET showing not why. For some Days, | had
found great pleasure in being alone with nv
home.
saw the sun sink in a mass of purple and
gold, the shades of the hills descending grad
ually into the plains, and the stars appearing
one oy one, on the deep-blGe sky and /
heard the hooking bird finishing off its song
at long intervals, while the wind was siebine
through the trees, and the moon appeared
on the horizon, extracting itself out of a
mass OF dark clouds, and lighting up the
landscape with its mild beauty. The air was
laden with the delicious odors of flowers.
while here and there, birds sent heir cries
out into the twilight.
While walking dreamily along, absorbed
in my medatations, | perceived a group of
young girls, who were singing as they re-
turned to the village, hand in hand, the sound
of their voices floating up from the valley like
the distant hum of waterfall. Walking
behind hedge, | saw them pass, like a group
of white shadows dancing around a lake.
only to disappear at the first approach of
morning.
Going up a little hill, Isat down. At my
feet were stretched green fields, like an
ocean of velvet, while here and there a farm
house gave it additional beauty.
fell into a profound reverie. Nv heart
seemed to be oppressed and near bursting.
There was a spring in it that wanted an out
let, like a river that seeks to expand itself.
How long had remained in this position,
cannot remember. Arising, l beheld in
front of me a beautiful creature, regarding
me laughingly. A long white robe envelop-
ed her body, leaving exposed two feet, white
as the marble of Paros. Her golden hair fell
down her dress, playing ia the wind; her
cheek having the hue and freshness of
the flowers she wore as a crown around
her head. Her arms were bare, and while
one of her hands was folded over her breast,
the other seemed to invite me with a pleasant
gesture.
l remained moti0niess for some minutes.
immovable in my contemplation of the vision
before me. Without doubt, she came from
Heaven, for such beauty no maiden in this
world could possess.
"Who are you /? l asked her.
Friend, she answered, in q sweet tone.
IL am the fairy whom the King of Spirits
has placed to watch over you from the hour
ofyour birth. This morning, / slept but |
awoke at the first trouble of your heart. NV
life is made for your life. am your sister,
and will be your comrade till the day when,
as a faded flower plucked iom it's stem, j
shall abandon you in the midst of your route
the first half of which we shall travel together.
That day, friend, is not far away. The rose
that sees but one morning, is like my des
tiny.
Think not that you can recall me to lf
again when | am gone, either by your tear.
or your regrets Make speed Ny hand il
not armed with the magical branch of the en-
chanted rod. l have no other ornament bu
the flowers in my hair. Shala give yo'
7 such riches as no fairy ever gave to a King
l shall put a crown upon your head, fol-
which many q king would give his own. In
visible and always present, | shall follow yol
everywhere; you shall feel my influence /;
will give you grand festivitiesi Only, yo,
must learn to know the benefits, and to un
derstand them. Use them before they ar
gone ; and provide yourself, so that you ca
prolong my fragile and precious existence
t l ann like those rare plants thatlive from tn
= sun and the rain My feet are delicate-fa
: tigue them not; if you do not wish to Sc
ne part with you soon, do not expose me
many hardshipsl that my remembrance
4 Of use to you, and that | may have a swe'
e recollection of your heart, after I shall cea:
= to enlighten your life
: With these words, she bowed her head ar
+ vanished.
J.. Was it a dream or reality ? / ~oOntinu,
e walking around the fields, often running lii
n one insane, often throwing myself ON Il
ground, wetting it with my tears. I spol
- of flowers, of trees, and OF bushes. T.
r boundaries were broke, the spring had pie
s. ced the rock.
- When the morning dawned, I appeared
be present for the first time at the awakeni
III Of creation. My heart swelled, l breath
the air with JOY. l imagined my soul free fro
le my body, ready to mingle itself with t
vapors, which the rising sun detached fir,
the hills. l measured the horizon with
ne mir of a victor the earth seemed created
me, and was master of it.
g. was not yet thirty years cid when S
appeared to me q second time. 1t was
CHI evening in October, if | remember arig
Alone, | had left the village, filled with dreal
to wander across the fields, ~thOughtfully, &
yet not knowing why. .
ort The sky was black, and a sharp nerth w
rk whistled through the nearlyleafess branc
of autumn. The haarse barking of do
and a BLUSH smokethat arose from the vail
Tn were the only signs 6 life in this desola
nk landscape.
no walked, my soul taking in all the mot
:. ~fulness ofthe scene. Sitting down at
'u' foot of a tree, | perceived that several
lps women passed me slowly, bent down un
ng the weight of bundles of wood, the prod
of winter.
Strange coincidence In this same pl
10 in this same hour, l had seen a grou
ny young girls pass me one evening in May.
an- ture was young, then
an dropped my head between my har
r thinking over the days that had gene by s
nan tina. eventful evening.
but When i arose, saw a pale creature reg
ia ing me sorrowfully. 1t was the same a
rition ] had seen that evening in May.
body was covered with ~tatters, her feet bic
'VeI and her long arms bare, and without life.
por- azure of her eyes was black now tears
wall left their marks ON the once fresh, blooI
cheeks.
ioie "What do you want ? / exclaimed.
Their Friend, the hour has come when we 1
as part ! must bid you an eternal farew
INV she murmnred, in a p~laintive voice.
go, yon lying fairy, gor cried I. "V
! es- have you made efme?- Where are the t
ions ures, the wealth. you promised me2 Vi
poor have licked for them on my road. /
only found poverty. Where is the di,
you would put upon my head? You S
ner about parting. All! it is but too true
an you hayefollowed me ; go, and may my
ime., follow you, for you must be the
Spiritf'
II am neither the Evil Spirit, err the s
u are o fPain,' she responded sadly. but
"a 10 the destiny of man to know me when
-ADa - N- - H. IL - =