A fairy night's dream; or, The horn of the Oberon ...

Front matter

BY.,

LAIRD & LEE. PUBLISHERS

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Dedication

ONCE upon a time, two little girls lived side by side, who, so mild the one, so full of buoyant life the other, might have been named “ Starlight 11 and “ Sunbeam”; and they loved and clung to each other, just as sunbeam and starlight clasp hands across the west at evening.

They loved fairy tales, too, and would beg for one, and then another, and yet another ; so that T promised to sometime dedicate to them a story.

But one day, Sunbeam glided away from us at her Savior's call ; and she went gladly, for where He lives is the home of sunbeams, and it was fitting that she should dwell within the radiance which streams from His lightcrowned head.

Chapter I

Wouldst see Titania, queen of fairyland ? Then go with Stella Rosa, hand in hand.

“TAKE this letter, Flight,” said Titania, the fairy queen, “and outspeed even your name in bearing it to the mother of Stella Rosa.”

Titania stood in the Garden of Fountains behind her palace, while Flight, hovering like a butterfly, waited near for her last commands. The queen’s arm was thrown caressingly over the shoulder of Eglantine, her lady-inwaiting, but her thoughts were far away, and there was an eager look in her eyes. “ Now hasten, Flight,” she said, “for the hours do not wing themselves faster than my impatience grows.” n

Flight was a slender fairy with light downy wings. All fairies do not have wings, although they travel with great lightness and speed without them. Wings were a mark of distinction, and Flight had the swiftest pair in all Titania’s court. So when letters or messages were to be carried from one part of the earth to the other, Flight carried them in a pouch of silken gauze, suspended from his neck. Into this pouch he now tucked Queen Titania’s letter, carefully spread his gauzy wings, and away he flew.

Far away, in a lovely village through which pebbly brooks purled and murmured amid flower gardens, Stella Rosa lived with her mother. On this warm sunny afternoon in early June, the mother was sitting at her open window, trimming a hat for her darling girl. The shrill sound of voices reached her from the village street, the voices of girls with excitement in the tones. Then Stella Rosa’s voice rose above the rest :

“ Adrietta must not say unkind things to you, little Miette, she must not !” and Stella Rosa’s little foot went down hard upon the gravel. “ Miette shall come home with me, and my mamma shall give her some of my prettiest gowns — I know she will, and then you will not laugh at her any more, will you, girls ? Come, dear Adrietta, let us all be friends together and play with little Miette, 'won’t you, Addie ?”

“Ho, ho? so Stella Rosa keeps company with beggars , does she?” cried Adrietta. “Come, girls, we needn’t play with these two any longer ; let’s go to the pear tree and keep house with our dolls by ourselves. My mother doesn’t want me to play with beggars. ”

A gentle voice half choked with tears replied —

“ I am not a beggar, Adrietta, if my mamma is poor. I will go home and stay — nobody wants me here,” and a burst of tears followed.

“ Now, Miette, dear Miette, you must not say so while I am here,” broke in Stella Rosa, drawing the weeping child away. “ I want you; come, we’ll play together, and you shall have my largest doll ! I’ll ask my mamma to let you have it two hours every day — yes, three hours !” and Stella Rosa, hurrying with excitement, drew Miette toward her mother, sitting at the open window.

But before the girls had reached the gate, a strange thing happened to Stella Rosa’s mother. Through the open window flew suddenly what seemed a white bird, and fluttered into her lap.

Now, so many strange and startling things had happened to Stella Rosa’s mother since the day, long ago, when, a girl of sixteen, she was walking through the forest, that she had almost forgotten how to be astonished. On that far-off day she had met the fairy queen; and Titania, who must needs have a mortal near her to cherish, to fondle and to command, had chosen the peasant girl for her love. From that time a strange friendship had bound together the beautiful girl and the fairy queen. On Titania’s side it had shown itself in many ways; but although Stella Rosa’s mother loved Titania, she trembled lest sometime she might offend her freakish majesty; yet Titania was still as loving as at first, and from time to time sent her messages and splendid gifts. So now, while she was a little startled, she was not greatly surprised when she picked from her lap Titania’s dainty letter.

Of course, every well-instructed girl or boy knows that to be the godchild of a fairy in those days was rare good fortune for any mortal. Even the very kitchen maids of Fairyland, the servants who distilled the honey and prepared it for the delicate eating of their queen, could touch a baby so that ever after, its breath should be perfumed with the sweetest essence of flowers. But to have the fairy queen herself for sponsor, — that supreme good fortune was reserved for one happy girl alone, and her name was Stella Rosa, the daughter of Titania’s loved friend. You may call to mind all the graces of the whole “ rosebud garden of girls,” and be sure, Stella Rosa had them, and along with them, many special beauties and sweetnesses of her own. So Titania had decreed, ‘ when, for love of Stella Rosa’s mother, she had come in her fairy coach that day thirteen years before, to Stella Rosa’s christening.

But besides these, Stella Rosa possessed gifts and graces of the heart, such as it was beyond the power of Titania to bestow. Even better than beauty and grace was the sweet cheerful temper of the lively girl, and her kind unselfish heart. All her little world loved Stella Rosa. Every cat and dog would creep to her side, or follow her along the street, sure of a caress and a gentle word. Each little child knew her voice and held out its arms in welcome when she appeared. But more than others, it was the poor and friendless who found in Stella Rosa first of all a friend.

Just a week before, Miette’s mother had come, a stranger, to the village, bringing with her for companion only her little girl. She took possession of a small cottage, which in a few days began to shine with cleanliness and to bloom like a garden. Here she plied her trade of basket-weaver, while Miette, in plain garments of neatest make, went to the village school. When the inquisitive girls asked her name and her mother’s, she would reply:

“Why, Mother Gertrude, to be sure, is my mamma’s name, just Mother Gertrude; and I am Little Miette.”

Some of the girls, led by Adrietta, the rich merchant’s daughter, held aloof, but Stella Rosa, as we have seen, became at once the ardent champion of the gentle child.

And now, as she hurried shrinking Miette up the walk to the cottage door, she said:

“ Come, dear Miette, you need not be afraid of my mamma! she’ll love you and be kinder to you than I can be, — you’ll see! ”

All this time the white letter had been lying in the mother’s hand, unopened. Stella Rosa burst in, drawing along with her the timid, heart-sore child.

“ See, mamma, here is Miette, and I love her very much, and won’t you love her too, and give her my best doll to play with? We are going to be the dearest of friends and play together all alone, because the other girls are angry with us” — and so she was rattling on, when her mother stopped her.

“ So this is Miette ? ” she said, stooping and kissing the child upon the forehead. “ Now go, noisy little daughter, and bring the best doll from the highest drawer in the dresser; you and Miette may play together while I read this letter, which has just been brought to me by special messenger.”

Stella Rosa skipped away, making Miette keep step by her side.

It was Stella Rosa’s christening day, and as the mother opened the letter, a pang shot through her. She knew it was sent to claim a promise made to the fairy queen thirteen years before, which she must now fulfill.

When she called the girls back, Miette was prattling like a bird.

“ Stella Rosa, my dear daughter, I do not want to spoil your pleasure with little Miette, but you will have other playmates and other pleasures for awhile.”

Stella Rosa, surprised at her mother’s words and tone, looked into her eyes, and saw something gleaming there like tears. Her mother picked up the letter and read it aloud.

“ It is now thirteen years since at your daughter's christening I bestowed upon her all the gifts which the power of Titania could grant to a mortal. In return , I charge you to commit awhile to my care this girl whom I long to see. Beautiful she must surely be, and graceful, with every witching charm of glance and smile, and changing rose color — with eyes ivhose shade I stole from a dimpling summer lake under the moon. Why should I not delight myself awhile unth the sweetness I have created ? She shall be happy, I promise you, and I will restore her to you more blooming in beaidy than before. A coach will follow the messenger soon, to bring her to my fairy palace. Farewell, my f riend. Titania.”

Is it strange that for a little while, Stella Rosa forgot Miette, her mother, everything else, in the ardor of her surprise and joy ? She danced with graceful motions about the room, sometimes throwing her arms around Miette and hurrying her along in her vigorous and excited whirls, sometimes dropping on her knees at her mother’s side and kissing her cheek and hands, lost in the delight and wonder of the future so suddenly opening up before her. At last she was to see the fairy queen! to actually live in the midst of wonders of which she had only dreamed! It was no secret to her that Titania, for the love of her mother, had come to her christening, like the right royal little lady that she was, with a coach and six, and a scepter, with which the queen had touched her baby self at the church door.

But by this time you may be asking — if Stella Rosa was thus favored, why did she live in a cottage ? Why, if Titania was so powerful, did she not give to her darling a palace with troops of servants, gowns of lace, jewels and dishes of gold ?

Ah, but Titania knew better than that ! the fairy queen knew that no happier place could be found for her favorite’s childhood than that pretty cottage embowered in its trees. No lace and satin could make a girl’s room look sweeter than those white hangings to Stella Rosa’s dainty couch, that muslin at the window. Troops of servants could not do more for her than her old nurse, nor keep her neater in looks than her own hands and her mother’s loving care. Happy Stella Rosa was not yet wearied of rich and beautiful things before she was thirteen; she could still look forward to new wonders; and now had come this blissful surprise, this crowning fulfilment of all her childish dreams !

No wonder that at her mother’s bidding, she flew to prepare for her journey; to bring her best white frocks, the crimson silk which was her finest gown, her silk pelisse, and the bright morocco gaiters ! no wonder that her hands trembled with eagerness as she prepared to tie the new gipsy hat over her dark curls !

But just then a suppressed sob called her thoughts back from Fairyland. Little Miette, finding herself neglected and forgotten, had shrunk away into the darkest corner, and was softly weeping because her newly-gained, her only friend was so soon deserting her. Stella Rosa sprang to her side.

“ Miette ! little Mouse ! dear Miette, do you cry because I am going to leave you ? ”

“ I cry because you have forgotten me,” sobbed Miette.

Stella Rosa’s tender conscience reproached her at once.

“ Come, Miette, it was only for one moment that I forgot you ; please forgive me ! I’m sorry I was so selfish — but indeed, you don’t know how I have longed to see the queen of Fairies ! Come with me to mamma ; she will love you while I am gone.”

But when she drew Miette to her mother, and saw within her mother’s eyes the tears which could not be concealed, her heart failed her. Throwing her arms around her mother’s neck she sobbed aloud.

“ Dear mamma, I will soon return, never fear ! Indeed, I will not go at all if you grieve so. The queen can be content without me. She has a whole kingdom of her own, with troops of fairies, and you have only poor little me — oh, yes, and now Miette ! ”

“ Hush, my daughter ! do not make her angry by your hasty words. When Titania commands, we must obey. But will my little girl forget her mother amid all those wonders ? ”

“Oh, mamma!— but indeed, you could not have meant it; your Stella Rosa forget you ( ” she sobbed again, and then dried her eyes to smile upon her mother. “I’ll come hurrying back like the west wind some day when you least expect it, and bring you a prize from Fairyland — you’ll see ! ”

“ Bring me yourself, daughter, for that will be the best gift of

all.”

“And oh, mamma, here is Miette, my little Mouse! Won’t you let her fill my place while I am gone ? ”

“Yes, dear, Miette shall be like a daughter to me for my daughter’s sake. You’ll be rich in mothers, wont you, little Miette I ” Miette looked too shyly happy for words as Stella Rosa w^ent on : “And some of my frocks, mamma, will almost fit Miette ; and please let her play with my best doll every day. I shan’t need it now, shall I, mamma ? ”

While they were still talking a new wonder made its appearance in the village street. It was nothing less than the coach, sent by Titania, to carry Stella Rosa to Fairyland. As it drew up at the gate, it was surrounded by an eager crowd of curious gazers. All the boys of the village school were there, of course ; and unfriendly Adrietta, with the few girls who had followed her to the pear tree, looked on with wondering and curious eyes. Perhaps you are thinking that this coach was a mere phantasm after all — a hollow pumpkin, perhaps, lined with mullein leaves, and drawn by beetles or mice ! In fact, Adrietta, when told it was a fairy coach, did declare that in her opinion it was a make-believe. But if you have any such idea, it shall at once be corrected. That coach of Cinderella’s, which is the only fairy coach you know of, was only a make-believe, it is true ; and the fairy godmother couldn’t make believe after midnight, for she was one of the twelve o’clock fairies, who have no power after that hour. This coach of Stella Rosa’s was a real fairy coach, just as Titania was a real fairy and the reigning queen. For how could Stella Rosa, who was a well-grown girl, get into such a vehicle as that of Cinderella’s without crushing the whole carriage under her and sitting down in the midst of broken pumpkin and flattened beetles? Your Lillie couldn’t, nor your Sylvia, and they are just turned thirteen. What do you say ? The fairy queen could have made it seem right f Yes, she could, but she did not need to. No, Titania has been much misunderstood, and it is for me, Mikterenos, to set the world right on this point. She had more riches than the queen of Crim Tartary, and she had well provided for her favorite. The coach was a real one, small, to be sure, and dainty, lined with the very latest shade of olive-green satin, and drawn by the dearest little black ponies, with just enough of room in it for Stella Rosa to sit in comfort. The coachman was dressed in light green and gold, and by the twinkle of his saucy eyes, I should have known him to be Pugpippin, one of Titania’s pranksome followers.

Once in the coach, which she entered with a few tears through which gleamed a look of delight, the ponies flew swiftly along, with Stella Rosa behind them wrapped in such absorbing thoughts that presto ! before she could realize that she was fairly on her journey, she was at the court of the fairy queen ; and there was Titania herself, who, in a voice like many fine bells, exclaimed:

“Welcome, my darling, to your godmother’s home!” and then she was surrounded by fairies singing, dancing and leading her toward the palace of Titania, which glistened in the last rays of the setting sun.

Titania’s palace, set in the midst of small gardens, was of spun glass interwoven and twisted together in countless hues. Here, in a bower of beauty, was to be for the present Stella Rosa’s home.

From this time on, the whole court was kept agog with excitement, inventing games and planning surprises for her enjoyment. Now, it was a stereopticon exhibition (you need not look so scornful, for the magic lantern was then unknown among mortals, and of course it was a wonder and delight to Stella Rosa); then a Punch and Judy sent her into spasms of laughter. What do you say ? (Punch known for ever so long, and old as the hills)? I have lived long enough to know that Nimblewit invented it at that time to please Stella Rosa ; — and oh ! the wonderful array of talking dolls and self -skipping ropes, and grace-hoops which flew for Stella Rosa of their own accord ! and the first bicycle of the world ! Titania’s goddaughter ought to have been, and was, a very happy girl.

Then she was allowed to see the maids prepare the honey in the queen’s kitchen (she and Titania ate bread and honey there every day), and watch the fairy laborers gather the hay for Titania’s horses. But perhaps her greatest delight was to ramble through the flower-gardens, which stretched far out of sight, in three directions from the palace. Titania, by right as queen of Fairyland, received tribute from the whole world of flower-fairies. From all around the world, each flower sent a legate to her court. When the fairy came she brought with her her own pretty house, the flower she most loved, and Titania gave it a place in her grounds. Thus it was that Stella Rosa wandered daily through botanical gardens that would have brought tears of delight to the eyes of a savant , if such creatures had lived in that simple fairy age.

But the fourth garden, the one behind the palace, was to Stella Rosa a delight too deep for words. Here were few flowers, it is true, but in their place were many fountains. And the strange and beautiful part of it was that the fountains were themselves huge and gorgeous plants, blooming ever anew in sparkling water.

Some tossed up their spray in the shape of great rose trees, which ever and anon burst into huge water roses, pink or crimson or yellow. Others were like chrysanthemums, palms or ferns. Rising highest of all was a great lily fountain, in the middle of the garden, spreading wide on every side in crystal lilies, and over it hung a rainbow which never faded, but grew more soft and dreamlike in the moonlit nights. All the fountains were scented, too, like the flowers they stood for, so that when Stella Rosa walked amid the fountains, her garments caught the fragrance from the flying spray. Wonderful birds splashed and played all day around the alabaster basins and sang as if they would sing themselves to death for joy of the fountain music.

And was not Stella Rosa happy ? When Queen Titania would ask her each day, she at first freely replied:

“ Yes, indeed, very, very happy, dear Godmother ! ”

And so for awhile, all went well.

But yet — but yet — if she could only, have had dear mamma there to enjoy all these delights with her ! And not only mamma, but little Miette and her schoolmates and the poor lame old man and his dog Ranger ; but no, it would never do to have Ranger there crashing about the spun-glass palace and crushing the fairy flowers. If she could but just pat him on the head for a moment, or take “ Fluff,” the kitten, in her arms !

At last, Titania was obliged to confess that she sometimes saw a weary look cross her goddaughter’s face, which told her that Stella Rosa would fain steal away from all this gaiety to nestle for awhile in her mother’s arms. Then it was that Titania conjured up in her wilful mind a new project, little thinking that the Land of Fairy was to be shaken to its center with such a commotion as had never been known in that kingdom ; two people were to be made happy who had been sorrowful ; one unlucky wight would be made sorrowful — for a night ; and more than all, King Oberon and Queen Titan tia, who had quarreled, would at last kiss and make up, and live happy ever after, which is the only sensible thing for any one to do either in Fairyland or Everyday Land.

W-

CHAPTER II Enter now the magic Horn

But hist! away !

Should Oberon find you ere the morn, You'll rue the day.

NOW you must know that his Royal and ever lofty Mightiness, King Oberon, valued his faiiy horn almost more than his Majesty’s own saucy, up-tilted nose.

He had nothing else which gave half the merriment to himself and his jolly crew that this cunning bugle could bring. You see, it had the power of starting an unexpected dance from the severest people in the most unlikely places. But that was not all. It could mislead and bewilder mortals when they were peacefully pursuing their ways, and when it had made them thoroughly frightened and angry, it could restore them to good-nature. Why, one blast of the tiny thing was so blithe and laughter-exciting, that it was enough to set anybody’s feet tripping for the rest of the day. Oh, there was no end to the pranks it had played, I promise you ! Would you know from whence had come its magic power, and how Oberon came by it ?

The Mirth-King could have told you, or the Mirth-King’s hereditary grand armorer. It was he who whispered the secret to me.

That high official, the armorer, had never had anything to do, because the Mirth-King, who was first cousin to King Oberon, never went to war, and needed armor no more than he needed the moon. He kept an armorer, to be sure, and other officers, for the sake of his royal dignity, which I am sorry to say was upset every day by his mad pranks. As to the armorer, day after day, he lighted his forge and kept the hammer lying on the anvil for the sake of his dignity. But being one of those great souls who long to make the world happier, he was always looking about for something to do which was really worth his while.

And one day he found it. It came to him while he was rambling through the Talking Wood. Right next to the wood was a grassy shaded field, so inviting that every joyous creature was mad to romp in it as soon as he saw it. At night, the mirth-fairies sported there. With dawn, came the nymphs and dryads, chased by the mischievous fauns. A little later, when the sun was bright, the squirrels chattered and frisked there, and the young foxes capered over the grass. But the very spirit of the place broke loose completely only in the afternoon, when the children, freed from school, scampered with shouts and laughter about the happy meadow.

They were playing there that day while the armorer was in the Talking Wood. As the ears of the armorer were perfectly deaf, he heard with his eyes. While he looked about him, the children’s shouts and laughter were blown to him by the breeze, and he saw them falling around him in a fine shower of silver and gold dust. Happier than a king, he carefully gathered together all the powder he could find, and carried it away to his forge room.

Again and again he returned, each time departing with a treasure. Sometimes it was the diamond dust scattered by the mirth-fairies’ laughter ; or, most precious element of all, the flying crystals of rainbow color from the pipes that played for the happy dancers. The lark’s song, the squirrel’s chatter, the lamb’s contented bleat, and all happy and care-free voices each gave its portion to the good armorer’s store. When he had gathered enough of the precious crystals, he shut himself in his forge room, and did not come out for a year and a day. The Mirth-King visited him there each week, and passers-by could hear bursts of laughter which nearly sent every one in the kingdom mad with eagerness to join in the fun.

But at last the king appeared with a tiny horn, engraved with laughing faces, and made up of all the jolliest, merriest and most innocent things which the world ever saw.

One day, the Mirth-King went away upon a long journey. This was many moonlit nights before the other fairies left the earth; and for fear mirth and laughter should be forgotten, he gave the horn to Oberon, his old-time crony, so that he might keep the child-heart beating in the world. He did not know that it needed both the king and the queen of the fairies to use the horn at its best; for while Oberon was frolicsome, Titania was fond and loving, and both frolic and love are needed to keep the child-heart beating. But Oberon would not have parted with it for anything less than his own ransom; so he piped and piped, and the world danced and laughed, and he led it where he would.

Now Titania had never quite forgiven Oberon for the unfair way in which he had won from her the little changeling boy, the account of which you have read in the great wizard’s book. At first she had laughed, not knowing all the trick ; but when she found that Oberon had not only won her petted boy, but had made her absurd in the eyes of all Fairyland, she was wild with grief and shame. Then it was that she fled to her own sweet palace, and with Eglantine, her dearest lady, and half the fairies of the kingdom, tried to forget her teasing Oberon. Truth to tell, her going was a relief to the careless-natured king, who, although he might quarrel, really loved only his sports.

Titania had long hoped to gain from him a prize of his own. And now when all other means of pleasing Stella Rosa had been exhausted, she bethought herself of the wonderful horn.

“ The horn ! the horn ! what is there in Fairyland which will delight Stella Rosa like this? By fair means or foul, I must get it from him ! ”

She first tried entreaties. To make them resistless, if possible, she arrayed herself in smiles (but did not neglect to wear the latest thing in court styles, which was also extremely becoming), and went to call upon her lord.

No one upon earth but Oberon himself could have withstood the charm of her manner, as she begged him to forget past disputes.

“Fair lord and husband, I know that I have resisted your royal will, and have sought my own pleasure and asserted my own power and rights. This I know is contrary to wifely duty, foi* I should have found my happiness only in pleasing you.”

Oberon, naturally delighted to hear his wife speak in a manner so correct and dutiful, replied by compliments.

“Lovely Titania, it suits me right well to hear you speak so humbly to me, your master and king. I must say, I never saw you more charming than now. You really are not faded at all, as I have sometimes fancied, but are quite as fresh and piquant as when I chose you out of all Fairyland for my bride. To show you my favor, I will at once settle a pension on your court dress-maker.”

“Dear lord and master,” said Titania, sinking gracefully upon an ottoman at his feet, and looking into his face with clasped hands and a ravishing smile, “your gracious offer — so like your thoughtfulness ! — makes me feel that all is at last forgotten which stood between us. The court dress-maker I provided for yesterday, because she made so charming the robe which