Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
Pa?« 8 Verhovay Journal March 30, 1944 O OLADIES’ PAGE O O ELIZABETH Several days had passed since Winter Fairy left the Lady’s garden. When she returned to her home in the cold white North, Snow-Drop Fairy and Jack Frost went with her. Zephyr discarded his North Wind characteristics and became a soft gentle breeze, faintly perfumed with lovely scents. Spring Fairy lightly touched the trees in the forest with her magic wand and they wakened from their long winter sleep. Tree Spirit began to gown the stately forest ladies in their bright new dresses made of tiny bits of pale green foliage, that soon would grow into a soft shimmering gown, to drape the lovelv trees. Then Spring Fairy swept gracefully into the Lady’s garden .Her pale pink filigree gown trailed on the earth, where Nature had placed a new velvet carpet of bright green grass. She moved near the house, where the man had previously planted rows of crocus. Their long grass-like leaves swayed in the breeze. Spring Fairy touched them gently and large flowers grew on the stems. Rainbow Fairy painted them with the gay colors from her palette, and they looked like a sea of brilliant color, made more bright when the sun shone on them. The violets wakened out of Sleep-Land, when Spring Fairy blew her fragrant breath upon them. They opened drowsy eyes and peeped shyly around, happy to grow in the Lady’s garden. “The violets are beautiful!” Tree Spirit exclaimed to Spring Fairy. “They are like clusters of purple celestial stars set in jade, for their leaves gleam like rare green gems.” Dew-Drop Fairy drew near and imbued the violets with a sweet scent—a lasting fragrance that was as precious as the melody of Zephyr, a never-to-be-forgotten Song of Spring. Sun-Beam Fairy kissed the blue-eyed gentians and the caress made them beautiful. Zephyr became mischievous and tousled the fronds of the maidenhair fern; for which Air Spirit reprimanded him. Zephyr hung his head in genuine shame and promised never to rumple the delicate fronds again. He gently touched the fern, and restored the fronds to their former state of tidiness. When Spring Fairy had lingered in the Lady’s garden for a while, the tulips raised their golden heads, eager to catch the fii'st rays of the bright warm sun-beams. The Fairy touched the - hyacinths and they grew in profusion in the Lady’s garden, their color growing more beautiful with the passing of each day. Earth Spirit viewed the garden with an air of satisfaction. Everywhere was living color—from delicate tints to deep shades, of the crocus, violet, gentian, maidenhair fern, tulips, hyacinth, phlox, the showy flowers of the lacy verbena and the Lady-Slipper, who listened closely to the sermon preached by Jackin-the-Pulpit. Heavenly blue morning glories climbed the trellis, and Air Spirit assisted them in their gradual ascent up the newly-painted, crossbarred lattice. Lilacs gave promise of a lovely symphony in shade and scent. Pansies raised their dewcrowned heads and gazed innocently around, while the hollyhocks towered above the ground in a stately fashion. The colors in the garden Were profuse, for the flowers reflected the delicate shades of the rainbow. The dewy fragrance of the earth filled the atmosphere with a rare and sweet odor. The fruit trees in the garden were heavy with scented blossoms. Zephyr blended the perfumes, and carried them to the forest to mingle with the essence of the flowers there, for Earth Spirit had adorned the woods with cowslip, wood anemones, buttercups and violets. “The wild roses are reluctant to waken,” Tree Spirit said to Spring Fairy. “Waken, waken from your long winter sleep,” Spring Fairy spoke gently to the slumbering buds. The flowers raised their heads and slowly opened soft velvet petals, disclosing a delicate beauty, exquisitely scented. Zephyr caressed the flowers; his tapering fingers lingered on the pink lace petals. Tree spirit had completely gowned the forest ladies, and the green draperies hung on their lovely form gracefully. The wind danced about the round and round in their new exclaimed Tree Spirit, happitrees and set into motion their leafy dress, showing a silver sheen beneath the shimmering foilage. Earth Spirit laid out a carpet of new moss in the forest, where the Wood Nymphs would dance when they returned to earth. The delicate plant grew profusely on the ground and Air Spirit swept the shining moss covering every day. One day Rain Fairy lightly shook the rain-clouds, and large drops of water fell to earth. The soft pitter-patter sound made sweet music. When the world was sufficiently refreshed, Sun-Beam Fairy peeped from behind the clouds and showed where Rainbow Fairy was arched prettily in the sky. The songbirds were late in returning to the woods. Spring Fairy had summoned them from the South-Land, but they were reluctant to leave the warm climate. “Zephyr,” the Fairy addressed the wind. “The blue birds do not heed my command. You must go and fetch them. They are needed to make sweet music in the Lady’s garden.” Zephyr left immediately to seek out the naughty songbirds in the South-Land. He had no difficulty locating the birds. He found them singing to their heart’s content, pouring their song into the air. “Spring Fairy requests your presence in the Lady’s garden,” Zephyr told the songbirds. “You should have returned long ago.” “Oh,” said a bluebird, contritely. “I am sorry we delayed in returning when Spring Fairy asked us to come.” “We must go at once,” another songbird said. “We have been unfair to Elizabeth by staying away so long.” He flapped his wings and flew away into the blue. The other birds followed him. Zephyr hurried ahead, to let Spring Fairy know they would soon arrive. When the bluebirds arrived in the Lady’s garden, they found it in bloom. Droning bees came and sipped the honey from the dainty lips of the flowers. Gold-spotted, red-winged butterflies danced in the air, their movements in rhythm to the music of the wind.. The man had cleaned the pool and placed the gold and silver fish in the pond; and they shone through the crystal water like slivers of precious metal, as they swam water-world. The birds stood at the edge of the water and looked at their reflection in the watermirror, well-pleased with the image they saw. “Welcome!” said Air Spirit to the birds at the pool. “Welcome!” said the fairies and spirits, too. The birds sang a song of happiness; the melody drifted on the air. Elizabeth heard the music of the songbirds and clapped her hand in glee. The Lady took the child outdoors and, holding her hands firmly lest she fall, helped her walk slowly along the flower-bordered path. This was the first time Eliz abeth had been outdoors, and she enjoyed the walk very much. She admired the work of the fairies and spirits, for they had made a beautiful garden for the Lady. The child slipped her hand from the Lady’s clasp and stooped to touch lightly a pansy’s upturned face; then she looked up at the Lady and smiled, as if to say: “How sweet the flower is!” But the Lady understood, for she smiled at her. Then, clasping the child’s hands again, she led her to the pool, where the gold and silver fish were now lazily swimming in their new surrounding. The child leaned over the edge of the pond and looked long at the small jewel-like aquatic animals. Elizabeth!” exclaimed Spring Fairy, coming into the garden and happy to see the child outdoors. Elizabeth looked up at the Fairy and smiled. The fairies and spirits gathered round the child and welcomed her. “The Wood Nymphs will surely come to earth now!” iy“Yes,” said Air Spirit, “the Wood Nymphs will soon be here!” And the fairies and spirits danced round the child to the music of the gentle west wind. Eros came into the garden, when he saw the child there, encircled by the fairies and spirits. “Hello, Elizabeth!” he greeted her. “It is indeed a pleasure to see you here in the garden.” The child’s eyes filled with a bright light, that the god of love knew was caused by the happiness within her. He came close, drawn by an irresistible impulse to be near her. For a while the Lady and Elizabeth lingered in the garden, until the sun traveled toward the western horizon. Then the Lady took the child into the house, for it was time to feed her. The garden seemed empty after the child left; it was as though the sun’s brightest rays had grown dim and left the earth in dullness. “When are we going to come to an agreement regarding the color of Elizabeth’s hair?” asked Spring Fairy. “We are very unfair to the child,” said Air Spirit. “She is sweet,” Tree Spirit said. “And if we don’t make a decision about her hair soon, I don’t think the Wood Nymphs will come back to us.” “If the Wood Nymphs do not return, Elizabeth will be lonely,” Rainbow Fairy said. Dew-Drop Fairy turned to Eros and asked him: “Will you help us decide the color of the child’s hair?” “Yes,” he answered, looking from one to another. “Soon we will make the decision.” ROXBURGHE BALLADS There is no treasure the which may be compared unto a faithful friend; Gold soone decayeth, and worldy wealth consumeth, and wasteth in the winde, But love once planted in a perfect and pure mindé indureth weale and woe; The frownes of fortune, come they never so unkinde, cannot the same overthrowe. * * * Fixed to no spot i nHappiness sincere; Tis nowhere to be found, or everywhere; ‘Tis never to be bought, but always free. —POPE. I have drunken deep of joy, And I will taste no other wine tonight. ‘Tis not food, but the content, That makes the table’s merriment.-SHELLEY —HERRICK
