Page 384 - The Story of My Lif

cried they, in their delight. Their pleasure banished the anger from King Frost’s

heart and the frown from his brow, and he, too, began to admire the painted
trees. He said to himself, “My treasures are not wasted if they make little
children happy. My idle fairies and my fiery enemy have taught me a new way
of doing good.”

When the fairies heard this, they were greatly relieved and came forth from their

hiding-places, confessed their fault, and asked their master’s forgiveness.

Ever since that time it has been King Frost’s great delight to paint the leaves
with the glowing colors we see in the autumn, and if they are not covered with
gold and precious stones I cannot imagine what makes them so bright, can you?

If the story of “The Frost Fairies” was read to Helen in the summer of 1888, she
could not have understood very much of it at that time, for she had only been
under instruction since March, 1887.

Can it be that the language of the story had remained dormant in her mind until
my description of the beauty of the autumn scenery in 1891 brought it vividly
before her mental vision?

I have made careful investigation among Helen’s friends in Alabama and in
Boston and its vicinity, but thus far have been unable to ascertain any later date
when it could have been read to her.

Another fact is of great significance in this connection. “The Rose Fairies” was
published in the same volume with “The Frost Fairies,” and, therefore, was
probably read to Helen at or about the same time.