Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-28
TI1t family CirtIt.
The Feats of a Fairy.

The Feats of Fairy.
Never has Fairy lived more wonderful
than the one whose deeds l am about t.
relate. Masters Ariel and Robin Goodfel
low, who could run round the earth in for
ty minutes, working wonders us they went
were not more useful. Even Peas-blos
som and Cobweb, that watch over all tn
buds that are born in spring, are not o
greater service. Nay, Titania herself
the Queen of all the fairies, scarcely de
serves more praise than the one of whom
| write. She lloated down from heaven OF
Il silver cloud. Her eyes, her face-lik
the face of An angel her long golden hair
her robes of blue and purple, her daint,
feet-in slippers that flashed like diamond
these are too beautiful for me to attcmp
to describe them.
In her right hand she held magi
sword. All the world was still when sh
appeared. She raised her sword, and will
the point touched the icy gates of the mort
winds. The gates opened. Out came tn
winds, flying, whistling, laughing, roaring
turning somersaults. They passed owe
the sea when it was calmly asleep in it
bed. 1t woke, became uneasy, frightened
turned over, reared its head white witt
fear, then groaned, grew angry, rolled ant
roared, and could not tell what to make o
it. Then the Fairy came and said to tn
sea, "All this will help to make you pur
and useful"
The winds spread their wings and sweep
over the forest. The trees shuddered ant
shook and sighed One said to his neigh
Dor "Oh dear! What's this -? What
to become of us?" Hark!" said an
other. whats that? Something cracks
| do believe my back is broken" Ny
arms are nearly blown off," said
third. 8" l am afraid shall lose my head,
cried fourth. y cannot keep it still.
They thus talked and murmured together
as their leaves flew away, when they saw
the Fairy coming All bowed to her, ant
she said; " Do not be afraid. These hard
ships will give you Il more sure footing OF
the earth, make you frmer, stronger, big
ger and more beautiful and fruitful" Blu
the Fairy saw one tree did not move tC
her, but stood stiff and bare, and had new
er dressed itself or spoken to its neighbors
for some time. The Fairy touched the
earth with her sword, laid bare the foot Of
the tree, cut off some of its toes, and Their
severed one arm, and the tree trembleC
and groaned and writhed and gasped, "I'n
dying!" But the summer after he was as
lively and green us any of them, and his
old stump was completely hidden among
the green foliage. Then he understood
what the Fairy had done.
Again the Fairy lifted her arm and
pierced the clouds with the point of her
sword. All in commotion they whirled
about hither and thither. Some flew TO
the mountain tops their usual places OF
rest and security. Some turned white and
fled. Some grew black with rage, and at
last spoke in tones of thunder, and their
eyes flashed fire us they asked the Fairy
" why she troubled them?" She answered
she was only tightening their load, and the
earth wanted it. The clouds wept rs they
how they had spoken to the
Fairy, and their tears fell like rain.
But on the ground the grass and flowers
were quite in flutter of excitement, as
the big drops fell in their eyes and ears.
" Dear me-" said u little daisy, "they'll
knock our eyes out, and I've only one. y
And she closed it. The primrose shook
her head and looked pale. The violet
never felt SO thankful for her lowly posi-
ton The cowslip said she trembled for
her life, the rain gave her such thumps.'
The blue-bell said he was sure he had a LEG
fractured. The grass rustled and turned
every way, trying to hide its tears, and
whispered to the winds, I'm going" But
the Fairy came and Gained their fears, and
said, My children, the rain is as needful
to you as the sun. You will all be more
fresh and fragrant, more bright and beau
tiful, more strong and serviceable because
of this storm. And as she passed the
daisies kissed her dainty feet, the grass
gracefully bowed, the blue eyes of the vic.
lets wept tears of joy, the cowsIip5 and
blue-bells sweetly nodded, and little
brook that was hiding near rose and burst
out laughing ut their fears, and, skipping
and sparkling, chattering and singing
went on its way, which fer some time ii
had idly neglected,
As this Fairy now passed over the mead.
ows she came to field that was barren
and waste. She lifted her magic SWORD
and severed it in pieces from end to end
and the soil writhed and turned and said
" It's all over with me-" But when the
Fairy passed that way again that falloW
field was covered with golden grain, anC
thousands Of little heads bowed in graft
tude, and the whole field smiled and said
" Thank you for those hard strokes you
gave me when you were here before
There was hill close by. The Faiay
touched it, laid bare its bosom and sides
and hewcd it in pieces. 1t trembled and
groancd and fell, and gave itself up fol
lost, but in moment its unshapely stones
were changed to temples, palaces, ant
castles that reared their heads in the sun
shine, and watched the stars and silver
moon rs they came forth ut night. Anc
the soft winds came and kissed their brows
and sung about them so sweety that they
rejoced in the change, though the Fairy
had dealt them so roughly. The Fairy
said, "Now you shall be II blessing t
thousands of men,"
At the foot of that hill, covered will
sand, Il diamond lay hidder-dark an,
lustrelesS. How its little heart tremblet
as it heard the hill groan under the blow
of the Fairy. ." do hope she will no
find out me-" she whispered to herself
b ut the Fairy heard what the diamond
said, and came and took it up and used i
mora SaVnrnIv than the rnckS--strinnn1 If n