The Little Colonel's Hero Part 18

_Princess sings._ Spin! spin! The golden thread Holds no thought of sorrow.

My true knight he shall come to me With joy on some glad morrow.

[_Second flower messenger, dressed at Pansy, appears at window._

_Pansy._ Gracious Princess, I come from Feal the Faithful.

He plucked me from my bower, And said, speed to the Princess And say, "Like this sweet flower The thoughts within my bosom Bloom ever, love, of thee.

Oh, read the pansy's message, And give a thought to me." [_Pansy disappears._

_Princess sings._ Spin, spin, O golden thread!

And turn, O humming wheel.

This pansy is his thought of me, My true knight, brave and leal.

[_Third flower messenger, a pink Rose._

_Rose._ Thy true knight battled for thee to-day, On a fierce and b.l.o.o.d.y field, But he won at last in the hot affray, By the heart of gold on his s.h.i.+eld.

He saw me blus.h.i.+ng beside a wall, My petals pink in the sun With pleasure, because such a valiant knight The hard-fought battle had won.

And he kissed me once on my soft pink cheek, And once in my heart of gold, And bade me hasten to thee and speak.

Pray take the message I hold.

[_Princess goes to the window, takes a pink rose from the messenger. As she walks back, kisses it and fastens it on her dress. Then turns to wheel again._

_Princess sings._ Spin, spin, O golden thread, And turn, O happy wheel.

The pink rose brought in its heart of gold, A kiss, his love to seal.

[_Fourth messenger, a Forget-me-not._

_Forget-me-not._ Fair Princess, Down by the brook, when the sun was low, A brave knight paused to slake His thirst in the water's silver flow, As he journeyed far for thy sake, He saw me bending above the stream, And he said, "Oh, happy spot!

Ye show me the Princess Winsome's eyes In each blue forget-me-not."

He bade me bring you my name to hide In your heart of hearts for ever, And say as long as its blooms are blue, No power true hearts can sever.

_Princess sings._ Spin, spin, O golden thread.

O wheel; my happy lot It is to hide within my heart That name, forget-me-not.

[_Fifth messenger, a Poppy._

_Poppy._ Dear Princess Winsome, Within the shade of a forest glade He laid him down to sleep, And I, the Poppy, kept faithful guard That it might be sweet and deep.

But oft in his dreams he stirred and spoke, And thy name was on his tongue, And I learned his secret ere he woke, When the fair new day was young.

And this is what he, whispering, said, As he journeyed on in his way: "Bear her my dreams in your chalice red, For I dream of her night and day."

_Princess sings._ Spin, spin, O golden thread.

He dreams of me night and day!

The poppy's chalice is sweet and red.

Oh, Love will find a way!

[_Sixth messenger, a Daisy._

_Daisy._ O Princess fair, Far on the edge of the Summer-land I stood with my face to the sun, And the brave knight counted with strong hand My petals, one by one.

And he said, "O Daisy, white and gold, The princess must count them too.

By thy petals shall she be told If my long, far quest is through.

"Whether or not her knight has found The South Wind's flute that he sought."

So over the hills from the Summer-land, Your true knight's token I've brought.

[_Gives Princess a large artificial daisy. She counts petals, slowly dropping them one by one._

_Princess._ Far on the edge of the Summer-land, O Daisy, white and gold, My true love held you in his hand.

What was the word he told?

He's found it. Found it not.

Found it. Found it not.

That magic flute of the South Wind, sweet, Will he blow it, over the lea?

Will the fairy folk its call repeat, And hasten to rescue me?

He's found it, found it not.

Found it, found it not.

Found it, found it not.

He's _found_ it! [_Turning to the dog._

Come, Hero! Hear me, brother mine; Thy gladness must indeed be mute, But oh, the joy! We're saved! We're saved!

My knight has found the silver flute!

(_Sings._)

["Spin, Wheel, Reel Out Thy Golden Thread."

Spin, wheel, reel out thy golden thread, My happy heart sings glad and gay, Hero shall 'scape the Ogre dread, And I my own true love shall wed.

For love has found a way, For love has found a way.]

[_Curtain._

ACT III.

SCENE. _In front of Witch's Orchard. Knight comes riding by, blows flute softly under the tower window. Princess leans out and waves her hand. Knight dismounts, and little page takes horse, leading it off stage._

_Knight._ Lean out of thy window, O Princess fair, Rescuers now are at hand.

Thou shalt be led down the winding stair By the Queen of the Fairy band.

Listen, as low on the South Wind's flute I call the elves to our tryst Down rainbow bubbles they softly float, Light-winged as stars in a mist.

[_He blows on flute, and from every direction the Fairies come floating in, their gauzy wings spangled, and each one carrying a toy balloon, attached to a string. They trip back and forth, their balloons bobbing up and down like rainbow bubbles, singing._

[Fairy Chorus.