At length the snow was gone , and they heard little voices calling them to come up ; but patiently they worked , till seed and root were green and strong . Then , with eager feet , they hastened to the earth above , where , over hill and valley , bright flowers and budding trees smiled in the warm sunlight , blossoms bent lovingly before them , and rang their colored bells , till the fragrant air was full of music ; while the stately trees waved their great arms above them , and scattered soft leaves at their feet . Then came the merry birds , making the wood alive with their gay voices , calling to one another , as they flew among the vines , building their little homes . Long waited the Elves , and at last she came with Father Brown-Breast . Happy days passed ; and summer flowers were in their fullest beauty , when Bud bade the Fairies come with her . Mounted on bright-winged butterflies , they flew over forest and meadow , till with joyful eyes they saw the flower-crowned walls of Fairy-Land . Before the gates they stood , and soon troops of loving Elves came forth to meet them . And on through the sunny gardens they went , into the Lily Hall , where , among the golden stamens of a graceful flower , sat the Queen ; while on the broad , green leaves around it stood the brighteyed little maids of honor . Then , amid the deep silence , little Bud , leading the Fairies to the throne , said , -- `` Dear Queen , I here bring back your subjects , wiser for their sorrow , better for their hard trial ; and now might any Queen be proud of them , and bow to learn from them that giving joy and peace to others brings it fourfold to us , bearing a double happiness in the blessings to those we help . Through the dreary months , when they might have dwelt among fair Southern flowers , beneath a smiling sky , they toiled in the dark and silent earth , filling the hearts of the gentle Flower Spirits with grateful love , seeking no reward but the knowledge of their own good deeds , and the joy they always bring . This they have done unmurmuringly and alone ; and now , far and wide , flower blessings fall upon them , and the summer winds bear the glad tidings unto those who droop in sorrow , and new joy and strength it brings , as they look longingly for the friends whose gentle care hath brought such happiness to their fair kindred . `` Are they not worthy of your love , dear Queen ? Have they not won their lovely home ? Say they are pardoned , and you have gained the love of hearts pure as the snow-white robes now folded over them . '' As Bud ceased , she touched the wondering Fairies with her wand , and the dark faded garments fell away ; and beneath , the robes of lily-leaves glittered pure and spotless in the sun-light . Then , while happy tears fell , Queen Dew-Drop placed the bright crowns on the bowed heads of the kneeling Fairies , and laid before them the wands their own good deeds had rendered powerful . They turned to thank little Bud for all her patient love , but she was gone ; and high above , in the clear air , they saw the little form journeying back to the quiet forest . She needed no reward but the joy she had given . The Fairy hearts were pure again , and her work was done ; yet all Fairy-Land had learned a lesson from gentle little Bud . `` Now , little Sunbeam , what have you to tell us ? ''
XXXXX the Queen , looking down on a bright-eyed Elf , who sat half hidden in the deep moss at her feet .
Say ceased dwelt learn making pardoned said sat smiling tell