Flower Fables

THE summer moon shone brightly down upon the sleeping earth, while far away from mortal eyes danced the Fairy folk. Fire-flies hung in bright clusters on the dewy leaves, that waved in the cool night-wind; and the flowers stood gazing, in very wonder, at the little Elves, who lay among the fern-leaves, swung in the vine-boughs, sailed on the lake in lily cups, or danced on the mossy ground, to the music of the hare-bells, who rung out their merriest peal in honor of the night. Under the shade of a wild rose sat the Queen and her little Maids of Honor, beside the silvery mushroom where the feast was spread. "Now, my friends, " said she, "to while away the time till the bright moon goes down, let us each tell a tale, or relate what we have done or learned this day.
I will begin with you, Sunny Lock, " added she, turning to a lovely little Elf, who lay among the fragrant leaves of a primrose. With a gay smile, "Sunny Lock" began her story. "As I was painting the bright petals of a blue bell, it told me this tale."