`` Then will the earth bloom again in all its beauty , and your dim eyes will rest only on fair forms , while music shall sound through these dreary halls , and the love of grateful hearts be yours . Have pity on the gentle flower-spirits , and do not doom them to an early death , when they might bloom in fadeless beauty , making us wiser by their gentle teachings , and the earth brighter by their lovely forms . These fair flowers , with the prayers of all Fairy Land , I lay before you ; O send me not away till they are answered . '' And with tears falling thick and fast upon their tender leaves , Violet laid the wreath at his feet , while the golden light grew ever brighter as it fell upon the little form so humbly kneeling there . The King 's stern face grew milder as he gazed on the gentle Fairy , and the flowers seemed to look beseechingly upon him ; while their fragrant voices sounded softly in his ear , telling of their dying sisters , and of the joy it gives to bring happiness to the weak and sorrowing . But he drew the dark mantle closer over his breast and answered coldly , -- `` I can not grant your prayer , little Fairy ; it is my will the flowers should die . Go back to your Queen , and tell her that I can not yield my power to please these foolish flowers . '' Then Violet hung the wreath above the throne , and with weary foot went forth again , out into the cold , dark gardens , and still the golden shadows followed her , and wherever they fell , flowers bloomed and green leaves rustled . Then came the Frost-Spirits , and beneath their cold wings the flowers died , while the Spirits bore Violet to a low , dark cell , saying as they left her , that their King was angry that she had dared to stay when he had bid her go . So all alone she sat , and sad thoughts of her happy home came back to her , and she wept bitterly . But soon came visions of the gentle flowers dying in their forest homes , and their voices ringing in her ear , imploring her to save them . Then she wept no longer , but patiently awaited what might come . Soon the golden light gleamed faintly through the cell , and she heard little voices calling for help , and high up among the heavy cobwebs hung poor little flies struggling to free themselves , while their cruel enemies sat in their nets , watching their pain . With her wand the Fairy broke the bands that held them , tenderly bound up their broken wings , and healed their wounds ; while they lay in the warm light , and feebly hummed their thanks to their kind deliverer . Then she went to the ugly brown spiders , and in gentle words told them , how in Fairy Land their kindred spun all the elfin cloth , and in return the Fairies gave them food , and then how happily they lived among the green leaves , spinning garments for their neighbors . `` And you too , '' said she , `` shall spin for me , and I will give you better food than helpless insects . You shall live in peace , and spin your delicate threads into a mantle for the stern King ; and I will weave golden threads amid the gray , that when folded over his cold heart gentle thoughts may enter in and make it their home . '' And while she gayly sung , the little weavers spun their silken threads , the flies on glittering wings flew lovingly above her head , and over all the golden light shone softly down . When the Frost-Spirits told their King , he greatly wondered and often stole to look at the sunny little room where friends and enemies worked peacefully together . Still the light grew brighter , and floated out into the cold air , where it hung like bright clouds above the dreary gardens , whence all the Spirits ' power could not drive it ; and green leaves budded on the naked trees , and flowers bloomed ; but the Spirits heaped snow upon them , and they bowed their heads and died .
At length the mantle was finished , and amid the gray threads shone golden ones , XXXXX it bright ; and she sent it to the King , entreating him to wear it , for it would bring peace and love to dwell within his breast .
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