And early each morning the gardener, too, kept on with his weeding and hoeing.
So that the garden grew and flourished. The flowers were blooming with happiness, and they smiled and nodded their beautiful heads while they said to the gardener:
“Dear sir, you are kindness itself.”
And all the elves were delighted, especially the flower-elf.
Dr. Templeton, too, was delighted, and he and his wife came oftener than usual to walk in the garden and admire the beautiful flowers.
One evening at starlight the Captain received a message from the King, saying that before a week would go by he would visit Mount Fern, for he planned to be there on Tuesday next at the full of the moon.
At last the great night arrived, and the elves were all dressed in oak leaves in honor of the King (for the oak is the King’s favorite tree).
And of course they wore their girdles, for on a great occasion an elf would no more think of going without a girdle, than a young lady would think of going to a party without her slippers.
From the entrance to Templeton Garden, all the way to Mount Fern, the path-way was strewn with flowers and studded with arches.
The first arch was made of laurel to show that the elves honored their King: the second was made of roses to show that they loved him: and the third arch was made of pansies to show that they always thought of him.