he Cherry Blossom was unable to carry the news back, for the
winds were not favourable. It was as the Lilacs had said. This was the
Queen Faery's reception night, being the first night of the year, and it
was under the Lilac that she was to receive her subjects and their
gifts.

At last the procession approached, attended above and at all sides by
myriads of glow-worms. Foremost came a body of Daddy-Long-Legs, who
walked marvellously fast, and cleared the way for the procession. Then
a band of crickets followed all in uniform, and every one kept step to
their music, though that was a difficult matter. Behind the band was the
Queen Faery driving as usual her twelve Lady-Birds, which drew her acorn
carriage; she was attended by a body-guard of Dor-Bugs, all in coats of
mail. Then came troops of Faeries, some mounted, some on foot. They bore
banners spun by the most skillful spiders and silk-worms, each company
having its own device. For there were Faeries from the woods, from the
streams, from the flags in the marshes, from the tops of the firs, from
the sea, from the inside of caves, house-faeries, church-faeries, and
gypsy faeries, that lived wherever they pleased and were always
trespassing.

The fire-flies made it very light and there was no difficulty in finding
the Bush. There they halted, and when the Queen alighted she found a
delicious cushion for her to step upon; it was the messenger Cherry
Blossom which had dropped upon the ground for that purpose. The Queen's
throne was a dandelion flower and a regal throne it was. The Spider spun
a winding staircase to the top, and stretched a canopy over it that
glittered with diamonds of dew. While she was taking her seat the
cricket band played the Throning of the Queen--one of their finest
pieces, and composed for the occasion by the largest cricket in the
band.

It was now the part of all, and permitted as well to the inhabitants of
the Garden, to come up in order and be presented to the Queen, and to
offer any gifts they might wish to bring. Two of the insects commonly
called Walking-Sticks were in attendance, and were the ushers to
announce each as they came up. It was proper that the Faeries should
have the first place.

These came up in companies, according to their place in the procession.
They where duly ushered into the presence of the Queen, and there was a
spokesman for each party, who made a little address and offered a gift.
The Faeries from the woods br