“Sad,” he said; “do not you know what happens to all flowers who are able to help and comfort any little child? When they die, they turn into fairies and can fly for ever through all the green gardens of the world. The other flowers will only be flowers next year, but you will be a fairy.” And as he spoke the Lily died and became a fairy, and she and the butterfly spread their white wings and flew out into the sunshine together. E. Nesbit. [47] [47] Contented Charlie. Contented Charlie. NO one bothered about Charlie; he was so happy and contented that the other children half thought he really preferred broken toys to whole ones. He toddled through life with a happy smile on his face, made a gee-gee of the old bench in the back-yard, and never once envied Tommy his fine new Dobbin. It was not only in the matter of toys that Charlie failed to receive his just share. When black Biddy had a brood of seven chicks, and each of the children claimed one as a special pet, it was the lame one that was called Charlie’s. One day, Mother found her little lad sitting by himself on the doorstep, with Hopperty, as the lame chick was called, huddled up in his pinafore. “What’s the matter, Charlie boy?” said she, for she noticed that the little cheeks were very white and the pretty blue eyes heavy. “My head’s so funny, Mother!” said Charlie. [48] [48] The next day there were six children playing in the field behind the house, and one little boy lay tossing on his bed upstairs. Now, you would have thought that amongst so many children one would scarcely have been missed, but Charlie was. The children felt as though they could not play, now that he was not with them. Then they remembered what a sweet, unselfish little fellow he had been. “We gave him the lame chicken!” said Dora regretfully. “I never once offered him a ride on Dobbin,” sighed Tommy. “I don’t think any of us were very kind to him,” said Alice. “He was so contented that we thought anything would do for him.” The
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