The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-10

A FAIRY LEGEND.

Very slowly and YEARLY, over road
and hedge flew white butterfly one
calm summer evening; it's wings had
been torn and battered in its flight, and
it was sick we'll nigh unto death. On,
on went the fugitive until it came to n
little garden so sweet and quiet that il
rested from its flight and said, "Here
ut least, / shall find peace; these gentle
flowers will give me shelter" Then
with eager swiftness, il flew to a stately
lily, "Ohl give me shelter, thou beauti-
ful flower" 1T murmured, as it rested
for a second upon its snowy petals-a
second only, for with jerk and excla-
terfly to the ground. With low sigh
1T turned to the pansy near. Well, the
pansy wished to be kind, but the butter
fly was really very tailored and dirty,
and then velvet soils so easily that she
must beg TO be excused, and then she
was so small, and the lily was so state
ly, how could the lily do aught but
right. The wall flower, naturally frank
and good-natured, lad been so tor
mented all day by those troublesome
bees, and then it was really the butter
hy's fault that she was in such a state,
that she solemnly vowed she would do
nothing more for anybody. The tulips
We're asleep, and the other flowers, try
ing to emulate fair Lady Lily, held
their heads so very high that they, of
course. did not hear the low soft cry,
oh will no one give me shelterW At
last came an answer, 81 will, gladly"
IN a shy but earnest voice, as though
fearing TO be presumptuous, from a
thick thorny bush that grew by the
roadside, and helped to protect the
more dainty beauties from the rough
blasts of a boisterous wind, in consider
alton of which service the flowers looked
upon the briar as good, useful sort of
thing, respectable enough in its com,
mon way, but not as an equal, you I'M
derstand.
With gratitude the forlorn butterfly
rested all night in the bosom of one
of the briar's simple blossoms. When
night had gone and the bright sun came
gliding up from the east, calling on
nature to awake, the flowers raised
their heads with all the pride of re-
newed beauty, and saluted one another
Where was the forlorn butterfly? All!
where? They saw it no more; but
over the white blossom where it had
rested there lowered tiny fairy in
shining, changing sheen, her wand
sparkling with dewdrops. She looked
down on the flowers with gentle, re-
proachful eyes, while they bent in won
der and admiration.
who is it?" they asked How
beautiful how lovely"
fpha fa,r hard thoV, ,t-itl, emile
and said: Fair flowers, l was for
saken butterfly; what am you see. /
came to You poor, weary and heart
broken, and because / was poor and
weary, You shut me ont from your
hearts.
The pansy and the wall flower bent
their heads, and the rose blushed with
shame.
"If / had only known" muttered the
lily, "but who would have thought il 2"
who, indeed?" replied the fairy.
But learn, proud lily, that he who
thinks always of self loses much of
lifes sweetness-far more than he ever
suspects, for goodness is as the dew of
the heart, and yieldeth refreshment and
happiness, even if it win 10 other
recompenSe.
But it is meet that it should be re-
warded. Behold, all of you!" and the
fairy touched with her wand the white
blossom on which she had rested, say
ing: "For thy sweetness be thou loved
forever" At these words thrill of
happiness stirred the sap of the rough,
uncultured briar, and soft lovely
blush suffused the petals of its flowers,
and from it's green leaves came forth
an exquisite odor, pertaining the whole
garden and eclipsing the other flowers
in their pride.