In one of the beautiful bays on the coast of Fairy
Land, a party of Fairies was assembled on a lovely
evening in July. There are many beautiful bays
on the coast of England, and there is one especially,
my dear little readers, which you and I know of, where
a long line of grand old rocks stretches far into
the sea on the left-hand extremity, while in the distance
to the right a warning lighthouse with its changing
lights gives an almost solemn beauty to the scene;
for one cannot help thinking, at the sight of it,
of the poor storm-driven mariner, whom even that friendly
light may fail to save from a sad and sudden death.
But beautiful as this little bay is, of which I speak,
and fond as we are of it, it is nothing, I do assure
you, compared to the bays in Fairy Land! There,
there are no light-houses reminding one painfully
of danger and destruction near, but all is loveliness
and peace; and even the rocks would be turned into
soft pillows by the good-natured Fairies who inhabit
the country, should any strange accident drive a mortal
ship on that shore.
Also the bays in Fairy Land face to the west, which
is a great advantage, for in an evening there you
may sit and watch the golden sun dipping behind the
waves; and the rich red tints he sends out upon the
rocks before he sets, are beyond measure beautiful
and attractive. Especially, I believe, the Fairies
enjoy this time of day, for they are odd little creatures,
rather conceited, and fond of everything pretty; consequently
they like to be floating about the rocks in their
white dresses when the crimson and golden hues of sunset
shine on them, knowing very well they look like so
many bright flowers on the occasion.
The day I speak of however had been very hot, and
at the time I speak of, the Fairies felt a little
lazy and were reclining on some rocks covered with
sea-weed and amusing themselves by talking. In
general the conversation of these little creatures
is rather light and frivolous and gay; but it is really
a fact that they were just then all serious together
and all were engaged in a very profound conversation
on human happiness.
I am sorry to have so many explanations to give, but
I think it quite necessary to tell you the reason
of so uncommon an event as a party of Fairies being
serious. Well then, there were going to be, very
shortly, several extremely gay christenings in the
world, and some of the Fairies had been invited to
attend at them as Godmothers, in order that they might
bestow Fairy gifts on the different infants.
