Litchfield enquirer., 1865-04-27
Alisfellallp.
THE DEFEAT OF TIME:
 OR, 4 TALE OF THE FAIRIES,

 TALE OF THE FAIRIES.
 lltanla and her moonlight elves were assem bied under the canopy of a huge oak, that serv ed to shelter them from the moons radiance which, being now at her full noon. shot fortl intoerable rays-intolerable, I mesn, to th subtitle texture of their little shadowy bodies but dispensing an agreeable coolness to u erosser mortals. An air of discomfort sat, upon the queen and upon her courters. Thei tiny lrlsklngs and gambols were forgot; ant even Robln Goodfeow, for the first time il bis little airy life. looked grave. For the queer had had melancholy forebodings of late, found ed upon an ancient prophecy laid up in the records of Fairy-land. that the date of fairy ex lstence should be then extinct when nen should cease to believe in them And she knew how that the race of the Nymphs. which were he, predecessors. and had been the guardians of the sacred floods, and of the silver fountains anc of the cousecrated hills and woods, had utterly disappeared before the chilling touch of man < lncredulity; and she sighed bitterly at the ap preaching fate of herself and of her subjects which was dependent upon so 6ckle lease as the capricious and ever mutable faith of man 1 When, as if to realize her fears, a melancholy shape came gliding in. and Mat was-Time who with his intolerable scythe mows down kings and kingdoms at whose dread approach the fays huddled together as flock of timorous sheep; and the most courageous among them crept into acorn-cups, not enduring the sight of that ancientest of monarchs. Titania's first impulse was to wish the presence of her false lord, King Obercn-who was far away, in the pursuit Of a strange beauty, fay of Indian land-that with his good lance and sword, like faithful knight and husband, he might defend her against Time. But she soon checked that thought as vain for what could the prowess of the mighty Oberon himself, albeit the stout est champion in Fairy-land. have availed against 50 huge giant, whose bald top touched the skles! So, in tue mildest tone, she besought the spectre. that in his mercy he would over look and pass ny her small subjects, as too di m'nutlve and powerless to add any worthy tro- phy to his renown. And she besought him to employ his resistless strength against the am- bilious children of men, and to lay waste their aspiring works; to tumble down their towers ana turrets and the Babels of their pride-f, objects of hia devouring scythe--but to spare her and her harmless race. who lad no exis- tence beyond dream fIail objects of creed that lived but in the faith of the heliever And with her little arms as well us she could. she grasp.d tks stern knees of Time; and. waxing speechless with fear. she b.ckoned to her chief attendants. and maids of honor, to come fu,th from their hiding places. and te plead the pile, of the fairies. And one of thos, small, delicate creatures came forth at her bidding. clad ull in white like choristsr ard in low melodious tone, not louder than th. hum of Il pretty bee when it seems to bs demurring whsther. it shall settle upon this sweet flower or that before it settles-set forth her humble petition. '' We fairies" she said. are the most inofansive race that live, and least deserving to perish. It is we that have the care of all sweet melodies, that no discolds may offend the sun. who is the great soul of music. We rouse the lark at morn; and the pretty Echoes, which respond 1 to all the twittering cholr, are of our making. Wherefore, great King of Years, as ever you have loved the music which is raining from a morning cloud sent from the messenger of day. I the lark, as he mounts to heavens gate, beyond the ken Of mortals or if ever you have listen. cd with charmed ear to the night-bird, that "In the fowery spring,
 Amidst the leaves set makes the thickets ring Of her sour sorrows, sweetened with her song" spare our tender tribes, and we will mufle up the sheep.bell for thee, that thy pleasure take no interruption whenever thou shalt listen unto Philomel'
 l And Time answered. that "he had heard that song too long and he was even wearied with that ancient strain that recorded the wrong of Tereus. But if she would know in wha, music Time delighted, it was when sleep and darkness lay upon crowded cities. to bark to the midnight chime which is tolling from a hundred clocks. like the last knell over the eoul of a dead world or to the crush of the fal of some age.worn edi6ce, which is as tie voice ioel nlf fxDh ho
 A second female fay took up the plea, and tend upon the birth of all sweet buds: and the pastoral cowslips are our friends; and the pau sies and the violets, like nuns and the quak ing harebell is in our wardship; and the hya cinth, once fair youth, and dear to Pbebus.'
 Then Time made answer, in bis wrath strik ing the harmless ground with his hurtful scy the, that they must ns: think that he was one that cared for flowers, except to see them with CT, and to take her beauty from the rose."
 And third fairy took up the plea, and said 1" We are kindly things and it is We that sil at evening, and shake rich odors from sweet bowers upon dscoursing lovers that seem to each other to be their own signs; and we keer of the bat and the owl from their privacy, and the il-boding whistler and we fit in swee dreams across the brains of infancy, and con jure up smile upon it's soft lips to beguile the careful mother, while its little soul is fled for brief minute or two to sport with our youngest fairies." -# -+.
 Then Saturn (which is Time) made answer that they should not think that he delighted in tender babes, that had devoured his own, til foolish Rhea cheated him with a stone, which he swallowed, thinking it to be the infant Ju pitsr." And thsreat, in token. he disclosed te view his enormous tooth, in which appeared monstrous hints left by unnatural meal and his great throat, that seemed capable o devouring up the earth and all it's inhabitants at one meal. "And for lovers," he continued :" my delight is. with hurrying hand to snatch them away from their iove-meetings by stealth at nights and, in absence, to stand like nc tionless statue, or their leaden planet of mis ] hap (wheuce had my name, till make theil minutes seem ages." Next stood up male fairy. clad. all in green hke forester or one of Robin Hoods mates ana. domng his tiny cap. said, We are smal Ioreeters, that liyein woods training the young boughs in graceful intricacies. with blus snar ches of the sky between we frame all shsd, roofs and arches rude; and sometimes. whei i, we plying our tender hatchets. men sa, that the tapping woodpeckar is nigh. And i is we that scoop the hollow cell of ihe souirrel and carve quaint letters upon the rinds ot tree
 which, in sylvian solitudes, swestly recall to tn