Lulu's Library   By: Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

LULU'S LIBRARY.

BY

LOUISA M. ALCOTT,

AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "ROSE IN BLOOM," "UNDER THE LILACS," "JACK AND JILL," "JO'S BOYS," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," "WORK, A STORY OF EXPERIENCE," "MOODS, A NOVEL," "PROVERB STORIES," "SILVER PITCHERS," "SPINNING WHEEL STORIES," "AUNT JO'S SCRAP BAG."

Vol. II.

THE FROST KING AND HOW THE FAIRIES CONQUERED HIM.

LILYBELL AND THISTLEDOWN.

RIPPLE, THE WATER SPRITE.

EVA'S VISIT TO FAIRYLAND.

SUNSHINE, AND HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THE FAIRY SPRING.

QUEEN ASTER.

THE BROWNIE AND THE PRINCESS.

MERMAIDS.

LITTLE BUD.

THE FLOWER'S STORY.

BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY, 1901.

Copyright, 1887 , BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE.

TO

ELLEN T. EMERSON,

ONE OF THE GOOD FAIRIES WHO STILL REMAIN TO US, BELOVED BY POETS, LITTLE CHILDREN, AND MANY GRATEFUL HEARTS,

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

BY HER OLD FRIEND,

L. M. ALCOTT.

June, 1887.

PREFACE.

Most of these stories were written at sixteen for my younger sisters and their playmates, the little Emersons and Channings, and appeared some years later under the name of "Flower Fables." With some additions they are now republished for the amusement of those children's children by their old friend,

L. M. ALCOTT.

JUNE, 1887.

CONTENTS.

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."