Amid the tears of all the Fairies , the Queen led them to the gates , and said , -- `` Farewell ! It is not in my power to aid you ; innocence and love are not within your hearts , and were it not for this untiring little maiden , who has toiled while you have wept , you never would have entered your lost home . Go and strive again , for till all is once more fair and pure , I can not call you mine . '' `` Farewell ! '' sang the weeping Fairies , as the gates closed on their outcast friends ; who , humbled and broken-hearted , gathered around Bud ; and she , with cheering words , guided them back to the forest . Time passed on , and the Fairies had done nothing to gain their lovely home again . They wept no longer , but watched little Bud , as she daily tended the flowers , restoring their strength and beauty , or with gentle words flew from nest to nest , teaching the little birds to live happily together ; and wherever she went blessings fell , and loving hearts were filled with gratitude . Then , one by one , the Elves secretly did some little work of kindness , and found a quiet joy come back to repay them . Flowers looked lovingly up as they passed , birds sang to cheer them when sad thoughts made them weep . And soon little Bud found out their gentle deeds , and her friendly words gave them new strength . So day after day they followed her , and like a band of guardian spirits they flew far and wide , carrying with them joy and peace . And not only birds and flowers blessed them , but human beings also ; for with tender hands they guided little children from danger , and kept their young hearts free from evil thoughts ; they whispered soothing words to the sick , and brought sweet odors and fair flowers to their lonely rooms . They sent lovely visions to the old and blind , to make their hearts young and bright with happy thoughts . But most tenderly did they watch over the poor and sorrowing , and many a poor mother blessed the unseen hands that laid food before her hungry little ones , and folded warm garments round their naked limbs . Many a poor man wondered at the fair flowers that sprang up in his little garden-plot , cheering him with their bright forms , and making his dreary home fair with their loveliness , and looked at his once barren field , where now waved the golden corn , turning its broad leaves to the warm sun , and promising a store of golden ears to give him food ; while the care-worn face grew bright , and the troubled heart filled with gratitude towards the invisible spirits who had brought him such joy . Thus time passed on , and though the exiled Fairies longed often for their home , still , knowing they did not deserve it , they toiled on , hoping one day to see the friends they had lost ; while the joy of their own hearts made their life full of happiness . One day came little Bud to them , saying , -- `` Listen , dear friends . I have a hard task to offer you . It is a great sacrifice for you light loving Fairies to dwell through the long winter in the dark , cold earth , watching over the flower roots , to keep them free from the little grubs and worms that seek to harm them . But in the sunny Spring when they bloom again , their love and gratitude will give you happy homes among their bright leaves .
`` It is a wearisome task , and I can XXXXX you no reward for all your tender care , but the blessings of the gentle flowers you will have saved from death .
bloom carrying come give grew laid round sent teaching turning