The Fairy Godmothers and Other Tales Read online

they don't knowany thing about them," cried the Fairy gaily, to cheer them up.

  "I dare say, if I were to ask you, you would tell me it was a bit ofsand that got into your eyes last year, that made you blind; but itwas no such thing, clever Master Roderick. Your naughty Cousin Eudorahad something to do with that; but, luckily, she can put her own workstraight again. Cousin Madeline, what do you think of my prettylight?"

  "Eudora, it is dreadful."

  "Then shut your eyes, poor thing, we don't want to blind you. ButRoderick and I have not done talking yet. Come, little boy, lift upyour face towards me, and open those pretty eyes wide, that I may seeif I can't do them some good. Why, they are as blue as the water roundour island! There, now, they are looking at my face. Mind you tell meif you think me pretty."

  "Eudora!" exclaimed Madeline.

  "Sit down, sit down, and shut your eyes, good woman. Now, Roderick,wont even my Fairy light break through your darkness?"

  "I think it will," sighed Roderick; "there is a white light all roundme, as if I had gone up into a bright white cloud. You frighten me,Fairy! Take away the light, and put me back into the darkness again."

  "Not so, my pretty Roderick; but I will soften it a little;" and shewaved her wand, and the brilliancy subsided.

  "Fairy, I see you now," screamed Roderick, springing up, for he wassitting at her feet; "and oh, how beautiful you are!"

  "Roderick!" cried a voice from behind him. He turned; and Mother andSon were locked in each other's arms.

  Surely I need say no more about this? though perhaps nobody but aMother can quite know how happy and thankful Lady Madeline was. And asto Roderick, he was delighted too! Not but what he had been very happyand contented before; but sight was a new pleasure to him now; a sortof treat, like a birthday or Christmas present, which puts every oneinto high spirits. It was so charming to him, poor fellow, (for he wasvery affectionate), to actually _see_ his Mamma again; and this putsomething else into his head, and off he ran out of the room.

  "Eudora," Madeline began, "how am I to thank you! Can you ever forgivemy old unkindness?"

  "Cousin Madeline," replied the Fairy, "I bear no malice to any one,least of all to you, who come of a race I love, and of a family Iconsider my own. No, no, good soul. I have never borne you ill-will,though my kindness has been severe. Look! I know you love me _now_.Love me always, Cousin Madeline, and let me ramble undisturbed aboutyour earthly home; but, mind! no more unkind wishes, however slight.They come like evil winds to our Fairy island. You kept me away longenough by those; and when you wished me with you, to get your childout of his folly, I was very angry, and thought I wouldn't come; butyour, and your husband's wish was so strong and earnest, it haunted meday and night; and I had no comfort till I had resolved to help you.And here, Madeline, you have something to forgive _me_. My remedy hasbeen a harsh, a very harsh one for so slight a fault; but at first Iintended it to last only a few days. Afterwards, however, seeing howit was acting upon him, and upon you all, for good, I let it work itsfull effect: and I think it has been greatly blessed! Now, farewell!Time is flying, and I must begone."

  And thus the Fairy and Madeline walked to the window, which the latterreopened, and there was the full moon sailing in the cloudless sky,and lighting up the lovely, and, this evening, calm and unruffled sea.

  The cousins embraced; and in a few minutes the Fairy had disappearedin the distance. Madeline lingered awhile at the casement, thinkingtenderly of the gentle-hearted Fairy, and watching the horizon. Atlast the outline of the Fairy's home appeared clear and bright againstthe dark blue heaven, and then subsided gently by degrees. AndMadeline closed the window, grateful and happy, and went after herboy. But she had not far to go; for he was coming along the passageswith all his brothers and sisters, wild with delight. And oh, howRoderick chattered and talked about all their faces, and how he lovedto see the fat cheeks of one near his own age, and how some had grown,and their noses improved, and what beautiful curls another had! Inshort, if he had gone on long they would all have got quite conceitedand fancy, and fancied themselves a set of downright beauties. But yousee it was _love_ that made poor Roderick admire them all so much;and, above all, he was charmed when they smiled. Ah, how little dobrothers and sisters know how tender their recollections of eachothers' faces would become, were a separation to take place amongthem! Then all the sweet smiles and pretty looks would be recalled,that in every day life are seen with such indifference. "Littlechildren, love one another," during the happy days when you livetogether in health and comfort.

  Can you guess, dear readers, what a joyous evening it was, that day atthe Sea Castle Home? How the poor Father rejoiced, and how the oldHall was lighted up for the Servants, to share in the joy by a merrydance; and how all the children danced too; and how a barrel of goodale was tapped, for every one to drink to the health and happiness ofMaster Roderick, and all the family. But you never _can_ guess howRoderick teased all his brothers and sisters that evening, byconstantly kissing them. In the midst of a country dance he would runright across to the ladies, when he ought to be standing still andpolite, and kiss two or three of his sisters as they were waiting todance in their turn, and tell them how nice they looked! Or he wouldactually run right away from his place, to his Papa and Mamma;--jumpon their knees, and hug them very hard, and then run back again,perhaps, into the middle of the dance, and put every thing intoconfusion. But the happiest scene of all was, when the Father andMother thanked God that night for the blessing that had returned totheir little boy.

  And do not ask me, I beg, if he ever was afraid of being in the darkagain. No, dear Readers, his temporary misfortune had taught him thebest of all lessons;--A LIVING FAITH AND TRUST IN THE PROTECTINGOMNIPRESENCE OF GOD.

  THE LOVE OF GOD.

  PREAMBLE (FROM LIFE.)

  _Van Artevelde_. These are but words._Elena_. My lord, they're full of meaning! _Van Artevelde_.

  Grace had been said, and Mamma was busy carving for the large party ofyoungsters who sat around the comfortable dinner-table, when a littlevoice from among them called out,

  "Mamma, do you think a giant could see a carraway seed?"

  Now there was no sweet loaf on the table, nor even on thesideboard--neither had there been any plum cake in the house for sometime--nor were there any carraway seeds in the biscuits just then.--In short, there was nothing which could be supposed to havesuggested the idea of carraway seeds to the little boy who made theenquiry. Still he did make it, and though he went on quietly with hisdinner, he expected to receive an answer.

  Had the good Lady at the head of the table not been the mother of alarge family, she might possibly have dropt the carving knife andfork, in sheer astonishment at the unaccountableness of the question,but as it was, she had heard so many other odd ones before, that shedid not by outward sign demonstrate the amusement she felt at this,but simply said,--"_Perhaps he could_"--for she knew that it was outof her power to speak positively as to whether a Giant could see acarraway seed or not.

  Now dear little readers, what do _you_ think about this very importantaffair? Do you think a Giant could see a carraway seed or not?--"Ohyes," you all cry,--"_of course he could!_"

  Nay, my dears, there is no "of course" at all in the matter! Can anyof you, for example, see the creatures that float about and fight in adrop of water from the Serpentine River? No, certainly not! exceptthrough a microscope. Well, but _why_ not?--you do not know. That Ican easily believe! But then you must never again say that "_ofcourse_" a Giant could see a carraway seed.

  It is entirely a question of _relative proportion_: so now you feelquite small, and admit your total ignorance, I hope. Yes! it alldepends upon whether the giant is as much bigger than the carrawayseed, as you are bigger than the curious little insects that floatabout and fight in the drop of water from the Serpentine river--for ifhe is, we may conclude from analogy that a giant could _not_ see acarraway seed except through a microscope. You see it is a sort ofrule of three sum, but as I cannot work it out,
I tell you honestlythat neither do I know whether a giant could see so small an object ornot, and I advise you all to be as modest as I am myself, and neverspeak positively on so difficult a point.

  But enough of this! Turn we now to another point, about which I _can_speak positively--namely, that in _one_ sense the world is full ofGiants who cannot see Carraway seeds.

  "It must be in the sense of _Non_sense I should think then!" observessomewhat scornfully the young lady who is reading this storyaloud--"as if we could believe in there being giants now!"

  Very wittily remarked! my dear young lady, for your age.--I take youto be about seventeen, and I see by the compression of your prettymouth that you consider yourself quite a judge and an authority. Onlytake care you don't grow up into one of those