The watchful Brownies saw this kind deed , and brought him fresh flowers , and many things , which Thistle gratefully received , though he never knew it was his kindness to the vine that gained for him these pleasures . Thus did poor Thistle strive to be more gentle and unselfish , and grew daily happier and better . Now while Thistledown was a captive in the lonely cell , Lily-Bell was seeking him far and wide , and sadly traced him by the sorrowing hearts he had left behind . She healed the drooping flowers , cheered the Queen Bee 's grief , brought back her discontented subjects , restored the home to peace and order , and left them blessing her . Thus she journeyed on , till she reached the forest where Thistledown had lost his freedom . She unbound the starving dragon-fly , and tended the wounded birds ; but though all learned to love her , none could tell where the Brownies had borne her friend , till a little wind came whispering by , and told her that a sweet voice had been heard , singing Fairy songs , deep in a moss-grown rock . Then Lily-Bell went seeking through the forest , listening for the voice . Long she looked and listened in vain ; when one day , as she was wandering through a lonely dell , she heard a faint , low sound of music , and soon a distant voice mournfully singing , -- `` Bright shines the summer sun , Soft is the summer air ; Gayly the wood-birds sing , Flowers are blooming fair . `` But , deep in the dark , cold rock , Sadly I dwell , Longing for thee , dear friend , Lily-Bell ! Lily-Bell ! '' `` Thistle , dear Thistle , where are you ? '' joyfully cried Lily-Bell , as she flew from rock to rock . But the voice was still , and she would have looked in vain , had she not seen a little vine , whose green leaves fluttering to and fro seemed beckoning her to come ; and as she stood among its flowers she sang , -- `` Through sunlight and summer air I have sought for thee long , Guided by birds and flowers , And now by thy song . `` Thistledown ! Thistledown ! O'er hill and dell Hither to comfort thee Comes Lily-Bell . '' Then from the vine-leaves two little arms were stretched out to her , and Thistledown was found . So Lily-Bell made her home in the shadow of the vine , and brought such joy to Thistle , that his lonely cell seemed pleasanter to him than all the world beside ; and he grew daily more like his gentle friend . But it did not last long , for one day she did not come . He watched and waited long , for the little face that used to peep smiling in through the vine-leaves .
He called and beckoned through the narrow opening , but no Lily-Bell answered ; and he wept sadly as he thought of all she had done for him , and that now he could not go to seek and help her , for he had lost his XXXXX by his own cruel and wicked deeds .
cell freedom friend joy none rock shadow vine wind world