O my foolish little bud , do listen to thy mother ; Care only for true beauty , and seek for no other . There will be grief and trouble in that wilful little heart ; Unfold thy leaves , my daughter , and let the fly depart . '' But the proud little bud would have her own will , And folded the fire-fly more closely still ; Till the struggling insect tore open the vest Of purple and green , that covered her breast . When the sun came up , she saw with grief The blooming of her sister bud leaf by leaf . While she , once as fair and bright as the rest , Hung her weary head down on her wounded breast . Bright grew the sunshine , and the soft summer air Was filled with the music of flowers singing there ; But faint grew the little bud with thirst and pain , And longed for the cool dew ; but now ' t was in vain . Then bitterly she wept for her folly and pride , As drooping she stood by her fair sister 's side . Then the rose mother leaned the weary little head On her bosom to rest , and tenderly she said : `` Thou hast learned , my little bud , that , whatever may betide , Thou canst win thyself no joy by passion or by pride . The loving Father sends the sunshine and the shower , That thou mayst become a perfect little flower ; -- The sweet dews to feed thee , the soft wind to cheer , And the earth as a pleasant home , while thou art dwelling here . Then shouldst thou not be grateful for all this kindly care , And strive to keep thyself most innocent and fair ? Then seek , my little blossom , to win humility ; Be fair without , be pure within , and thou wilt happy be . So when the quiet Autumn of thy fragrant life shall come , Thou mayst pass away , to bloom in the Flower Spirits ' home . '' Then from the mother 's breast , where it still lay hid , Into the fading bud the dew-drop gently slid ; Stronger grew the little form , and happy tears fell , As the dew did its silent work , and the bud grew well , While the gentle rose leaned , with motherly pride , O'er the fair little ones that bloomed at her side . Night came again , and the fire-flies flew ; But the bud let them pass , and drank of the dew ; While the soft stars shone , from the still summer heaven , On the happy little flower that had learned the lesson given . The music-loving Elves clapped their hands , as Star-Twinkle ceased ; and the Queen placed a flower crown , with a gentle smile , upon the Fairy 's head , saying , -- `` The little bud 's lesson shall teach us how sad a thing is pride , and that humility alone can bring true happiness to flower and Fairy . You shall come next , Zephyr . '' And the little Fairy , who lay rocking to and fro upon a fluttering vine-leaf , thus began her story : -- `` As I lay resting in the bosom of a cowslip that bent above the brook , a little wind , tired of play , told me this tale of LILY-BELL AND THISTLEDOWN . ONCE upon a time , two little Fairies went out into the world , to seek their fortune . Thistledown was as gay and gallant a little Elf as ever spread a wing . His purple mantle , and doublet of green , were embroidered with the brightest threads , and the plume in his cap came always from the wing of the gayest butterfly .
But he was not loved in Fairy-Land , for , like the XXXXX whose name and colors he wore , though fair to look upon , many were the little thorns of cruelty and selfishness that lay concealed by his gay mantle .
breast flower form life sister stars tale tears threads work