PAGE

I. THE FROST KING AND HOW THE FAIRIES CONQUERED HIM 7

II. LILYBELL AND THISTLEDOWN, OR THE FAIRY SLEEPING BEAUTY 25

III. RIPPLE, THE WATER SPRITE 50

IV. EVA'S VISIT TO FAIRYLAND 68

V. SUNSHINE, AND HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS 91

VI. THE FAIRY SPRING 101

VII. QUEEN ASTER 122

VIII. THE BROWNIE AND THE PRINCESS 135

IX. MERMAIDS 173

X. LITTLE BUD 203

XI. THE FLOWER'S STORY 243

I.

THE FROST KING AND HOW THE FAIRIES CONQUERED HIM.

[Illustration: Instead of dying in her cell, the fairy had made it
beautiful.--PAGE 13.]

The Queen sat upon her throne, and all the fairies from the four
kingdoms were gathered for a grand council. A very important question
was to be decided, and the bravest, wisest elves were met to see what
could be done. The Frost King made war upon the flowers; and it was a
great grief to Queen Blossom and her subjects to see their darlings die
year after year, instead of enjoying one long summer, as they might have
done but for him. She had sent messengers with splendid gifts, and had
begged him to stop this dreadful war, which made autumn so sad and left
the fields strewn with dead flowers. But he sent back the gifts, sternly
refused her prayers, and went on with his cruel work; because he was a
tyrant, and loved to destroy innocent things.

"My subjects, we will try once more," said the Queen, "if any one can
propose a plan that will touch his hard heart and make him kind to the
dear flowers."

Then there was a great rustling of wings and murmuring of voices; for
all the elves were much excited, and each wanted to propose something.
The Queen listened, but none of the plans seemed wise, and she was sadly
perplexed, when her favorite maid of honor, the lovely Star, came and
knelt before her, saying, while her face shone and her voice trembled
with the earnestness of her words, "Dear Queen, let me go alone to the
Frost King and try what love will do. We have sent presents and prayers
by messengers who feared and hated him, and he would not receive them;
but we have not tried to make him love us, nor shown him how b