English
ThepalaceoftheQueenofLightstoodonalittleeminenceandwasamassofcrystalwindows,surmountedbyavastcrystaldome.
WhentheyenteredtheportalsErmawasgreetedbysixlovelymaidens,evidentlyofhighdegree,whoatoncearousedBetsy’sadmiration.
Eachboreawandinherhand,tippedwithanemblemoflight,andtheircostumeswerealsoemblematicofthelightstheyrepresented.
Ermaintroducedthemtoherguestsandeachmadeagracefulandcourteousacknowledgment.
FirstwasSunlight,radiantlybeautifulandveryfair;thesecondwasMoonlight,asoft,dreamydamselwithnut-brownhair;nextcameStarlight,equallylovelybutinclinedtoberetiringandshy.
Thesethreeweredressedinshimmeringrobesofsilverywhite.
ThefourthwasDaylight,abrilliantdamselwithlaughingeyesandfrankmanners,whoworeavarietyofcolors.
ThencameFirelight,clothedinafleecyflame-coloredrobethatwaveredaroundhershapelyforminaveryattractivemanner.
Thesixthmaiden,Electra,wasthemostbeautifulofall,andBetsythoughtfromthefirstthatbothSunlightandDaylightregardedElectrawithenvyandwerealittlejealousofher.
ButallwerecordialintheirgreetingstothestrangersandseemedtoregardtheQueenofLightwithmuchaffection,fortheyflutteredaroundherinaflashing,radiantgroupassheledthewaytoherregaldrawing-room.
Thisapartmentwasrichlyandcozilyfurnished,theupholsterybeingofmanytints,andbothBetsyandPolychromeenjoyedrestingthemselvesuponthedownydivansaftertheirstrenuousadventuresoftheday.
TheQueensatdowntochatwithherguests,whonoticedthatDaylightwastheonlymaidennowseatedbesideErma.
Theothershadretiredtoanotherpartoftheroom,wheretheysatmodestlywithentwinedarmsanddidnotintrudethemselvesatall.
TheQueentoldthestrangersallaboutthisbeautifulland,whichisoneofthechiefresidencesoffairieswhoministertotheneedsofmankind.
Somanyimportantfairieslivedtherethat,toavoidrivalry,theyhadelectedastheirRulertheonlyimportantpersonageinthecountrywhohadnodutiestomankindtoperformandwas,ineffect,aPrivateCitizen.
ThisRuler,orJinjin,aswashistitle,borethenameofTititi-Hoochoo,andthemostsingularthingabouthimwasthathehadnoheart.
ButinsteadofthishepossessedahighdegreeofReasonandJusticeandwhileheshowednomercyinhisjudgmentsheneverpunishedunjustlyorwithoutreason.
Towrong-doersTititi-Hoochoowasasterribleashewasheartless,butthosewhowereinnocentofevilhadnothingtofearfromhim.
AlltheKingsandQueensofthisfairylandpaidreverencetoJinjin,forastheyexpectedtobeobeyedbyotherstheywerewillingtoobeytheoneinauthorityoverthem.
TheinhabitantsoftheLandofOzhadheardmanytalesofthisfearfullyjustJinjin,whosepunishmentswerealwaysequaltothefaultscommitted.
Polychromealsoknewofhim,althoughthiswasthefirsttimeshehadeverseenhimfacetoface.
ButtoBetsythestorywasall-new,andshewasgreatlyinterestedinTititi-Hoochoo,whomshenolongerfeared.
TimespedswiftlyduringtheirtalkandsuddenlyBetsynoticedthatMoonlightwassittingbesidetheQueenofLight,insteadofDaylight.
“Buttellme,please,”shepleaded,“whydoyouallwearadragon’sheadembroideredonyourgowns?”
Erma’spleasantfacebecamegraveassheanswered:
“TheDragon,asyoumustknow,wasthefirstlivingcreatureevermade;thereforetheDragonistheoldestandwisestoflivingthings.
BygoodfortunetheOriginalDragon,whostilllives,isaresidentofthislandandsuppliesuswithwisdomwheneverweareinneedofit.
Heisoldastheworldandrememberseverythingthathashappenedsincetheworldwascreated.”
“Didheeverhaveanychildren?”inquiredthegirl.
“Yes,manyofthem.Somewanderedintootherlands,wheremen,notunderstandingthem,madewaruponthem;butmanystillresideinthiscountry.
None,however,isaswiseastheOriginalDragon,forwhomwehavegreatrespect.
Ashewasthefirstresidenthere,weweartheemblemofthedragon’sheadtoshowthatwearethefavoredpeoplewhoalonehavetherighttoinhabitthisfairyland,whichinbeautyalmostequalstheFairylandofOz,andinpowerquitesurpassesit.”
“Iunderstandaboutthedragon,now,”saidPolychrome,noddingherlovelyhead.
Betsydidnotquiteunderstand,butshewasatpresentinterestedinobservingthechanginglights.
AsDaylighthadgivenwaytoMoonlight,sonowStarlightsatattherighthandofErmatheQueen,andwithhercomingaspiritofpeaceandcontentseemedtofilltheroom.
Polychrome,beingherselfafairy,hadmanyquestionstoaskaboutthevariousKingsandQueenswholivedinthisfar-away,secludedplace,andbeforeErmahadfinishedansweringthemarosyglowfilledtheroomandFirelighttookherplacebesidetheQueen.
BetsylikedFirelight,buttogazeuponherwarmandglowingfeaturesmadethelittlegirlsleepy,andpresentlyshebegantonod.ThereuponErmaroseandtookBetsy’shandgentlyinherown.
“Come,”saidshe;“thefeasttimehasarrivedandthefeastisspread.”
“That’snice,”exclaimedthesmallmortal.“NowthatIthinkofit,I’mawfulhungry.Butp’rapsIcan’teatyourfairyfood.”
TheQueensmiledandledhertoadoorway.
Asshepushedasideaheavydraperyafloodofsilverylightgreetedthem,andBetsysawbeforeherasplendidbanquethall,withatablespreadwithsnowylinenandcrystalandsilver.
Atonesidewasabroad,throne-likeseatforErmaandbesidehernowsatthebrilliantmaidElectra.
PolychromewasplacedontheQueen’srighthandandBetsyuponherleft.
Theotherfivemessengersoflightnowwaiteduponthem,andeachpersonwassuppliedwithjustthefoodshelikedbest.
Polychromefoundherdishofdewdrops,allfreshandsparkling,whileBetsywassolavishlyservedthatshedecidedshehadneverinherlifeeatenadinnerhalfsogood.
“Is’pose,”shesaidtotheQueen,“thatMissElectraistheyoungestofallthesegirls.”
“Whydoyousupposethat?”inquiredErma,withasmile.
“‘Causeelectric’tyisthenewestlightweknowof.Didn’tMr.Edisondiscoverit?”
“Perhapshewasthefirstmortaltodiscoverit,”repliedtheQueen.
“Butelectricitywasapartoftheworldfromitscreation,andthereforemyElectraisasoldasDaylightorMoonlight,andequallybeneficenttomortalsandfairiesalike.”
Betsywasthoughtfulforatime.Thensheremarked,asshelookedatthesixmessengersoflight:
“Wecouldn’tverywelldowithoutanyof‘em;couldwe?”
Ermalaughedsoftly.“Icouldn’t,I’msure,”shereplied,“andIthinkmortalswouldmissanyoneofmymaidens,aswell.
DaylightcannottaketheplaceofSunlight,whichgivesusstrengthandenergy.
MoonlightisofvaluewhenDaylight,wornoutwithherlongwatch,retirestorest.
Ifthemooninitscourseishiddenbehindtheearth’srim,andmysweetMoonlightcannotcheerus,Starlighttakesherplace,fortheskiesalwayslendherpower.
WithoutFirelightweshouldmissmuchofourwarmthandcomfort,aswellasmuchcheerwhenthewallsofhousesencompassus.
Butalways,whenotherlightsforsakeus,ourgloriousElectraisreadytoflooduswithbrightrays.
AsQueenofLight,Iloveallmymaidens,forIknowthemtobefaithfulandtrue.”
“Ilove‘emtoo!”declaredBetsy.“Butsometimes,whenI’mrealsleepy,Icangetalongwithoutanylightatall.”
“Areyousleepynow?”inquiredErma,forthefeasthadended.
“Alittle,”admittedthegirl.
SoElectrashowedhertoaprettychamberwheretherewasasoft,whitebed,andwaitedpatientlyuntilBetsyhadundressedandputonashimmerysilkennightrobethatlaybesideherpillow.
Thenthelight-maidbadehergoodnightandopenedthedoor.
WhenshecloseditafterherBetsywasindarkness.Insixwinksthelittlegirlwasfastasleep.
Share this article to
FINISH