Posted on Saturday, 17 May 2003
A gentle breeze waved through the fresh sweet smelling meadow, flowers blossomed amidst the fresh green blades of grass. Among a few daisies a white butterfly spread its wings to fly away. Not far away from the butterfly there was a woman lying on a blanket, three merry little children playing around her. Her face was calm and lovely, it was as if she were a fairy, one of those legendary creatures who could converse with butterflies and humans alike. Her fine bright eyes followed her children as they were hopping around, playing hide and seek. She took much pleasure in watching her dear children, much unlike her own mother had done. Her daughter Emma was six years old now; a blonde angel with eyes as bright as her own and as much mischief blinking in them. Unlike other mothers of her time she encouraged her little girl to explore nature and ever since giving birth to the twins she was no longer alone in her quest. The twins, Jane and Mary, were two years old now; two adorable little toddlers. They had inherited their father's dark colouring as well as his brown eyes, it was as if he were looking at her through them when she cradled them to sleep.
And now, only an hour ago the doctor had confirmed what she was hoping for; she was with child again. Only the thought of being confined for some time dimmed the joy she was feeling when her mind wandered off to the new life she would give in due time. How much she longed to tell the man she loved that she might give birth to his heir this time! Letting her eyes wander over the grounds of Pemberley, the home she had come to love so much, tears welled in her eyes; not tears of sadness but tears of joy; the tears every supremely happy person sheds once in a while.
Feeling Emma's little hand nuzzling her hair she looked up to see her smiling child coming towards her to cuddle. Stretching out her arms she gave Emma a bright smile. Resting her head in the crook of her mother's arm Emma made herself comfortable in her mother's arms.
"Don't want Mama to cry. Mama, laugh. See?" Emma smiled at her and the pearls of her sweet laughter reached Elizabeth's ears.
Overcome my emotion Elizabeth hugged Emma violently until she followed her wish and laughed sweetly.
"Am I being a good Mama, Emma? I'm not sad but so happy." Elizabeth sighed dreamily.
"But Mama was crying. Crying means being sad!" Emma insisted.
Elizabeth smiled at her daughter's stubbornness, it reminded her of her own a great deal.
"See, there are no more tears. Mama is happy. Ah, so happy! Emma, lets see what your sisters are doing with the flowers. Perhaps they're making a crown for you, my little fairy."
Emma cheered her mother's idea and helped her up; it made her feel very grown up to help Mama. Brushing off the petals of her white dress Elizabeth approached her two youngest children, Emma right behind her. What she saw terrified her. Mary and Jane had caught a little butterfly; they were holding it carefully but Elizabeth knew that one clumsy movement could kill the fragile creature. Trying to sound as calm as possible she bent down and freed the butterfly to let it fly. At first it looked as if the damage done had been too much but after two miserable attempts the butterfly flew away gracefully. Her children looked at her mournfully, she had ruined their game.
"Now listen, all of you," Elizabeth said. "This little butterfly is a very fragile creature. Especially the wings are vulnerable, one must not touch them, it would mean their death." Seeing Mary's downcast eyes she nuzzled her hair lovingly. "Now, now, there is no need to cry. It could still fly, didn't you see? But from now on be careful with little animals like butterflies. They might be lovely to behold but they're easily hurt. You can take flowers in your hands but please never again catch a butterfly. You see, there is an old story. A story of a garden filled with butterflies. Do you want me to tell it?"
All three children nodded in agreement, sitting down around their mother to listen. Mama always had such lovely stories to tell....
Once upon a time there was a garden, a garden as lovely as it had never been seen by any human being. All sorts of flowers bloomed there regularly, birds, bees and other animals were living in it in harmony. The word weed was unheard there, every single flower was welcome in this heavenly garden, from the regal rose to the wild thistle. In those times flowers and animals were talking as we are today. What did they have to talk about, you may wonder?
"Sweet little daisy, am I drowning the sun out? I will adjust my petals, dear." the dashing peony said to the humble little daisy.
The daisy, charmed by the attention of such a magnificent flower smiled back by letting her petals dance and thanked the peony.
As much as there were flowers there were butterflies. Butterflies in all shapes and colours, from the simple moth to the dashingly coloured ones; today they would be called exotic. They lived as a big family, never quarrelling or doing harm to anyone.
One of them was a white butterfly called Jasmin. Jasmin, sad about her simple white wings wanted to be more beautiful to compete with the other butterflies. Sadly she was ignorant of her own serene beauty for the intense white of her wings offended her rather than made her proud. She was unhappy with God who had given her this simple colouring. And when she heard that outside the garden there were big creatures that would help her get daring colours she was only to eager to depart.
No matter how much her friends, flowers and butterflies alike, tried to dissuade her, she was resolved to try her luck outside the blessed garden and, tossing her little head, spread her wings to fly away.
It was a long flight and sadly the world that little Jasmin had entered so proudly turned out to be dangerous, cold and dreadful for the little butterfly that was used to the sunny little garden. For compared to this world the garden was little but blessed. There was no heavy rain surprising her, no birds or spiders trying to catch her. In the garden the birds were her friends, here they were her enemies. And there was no sign for the big creatures she had heard of. Wearily she landed on a beautiful yellow flower to rest. But suddenly two big things, for she knew not what they were, clasped her by her legs. As much as she was pulling there was no way of breaking free. The little chubby clutches pulled her wings and legs, she felt like being ripped apart. Suddenly two even bigger things took her and carried her away. The place she was taken too was dark and moist, she disliked it immediately. And there were more butterflies... The person who had picked up Jasmin was a butterfly-collector who wanted to keep her in a book!
It was impossible to fight herself free and was it not for the sweetness of the little child's mother Jasmin might have ended up in a book. She persuaded her husband and her child to take the little butterfly back into the garden by gently using her plain white wings as an excuse.
"It is a plain little thing. It won't be an ornament in your collection. Let it fly around in the garden." she suggested.
For the first time in her life Jasmin thanked God for her plain wings and as she was set free it appeared as if she were dancing in the air. At last she had understood that her white wings were not a punishment but a gift. This sad episode of her life made her see what had been invisible to her vain eyes before. Happily she flew back to the blessed garden where she told everyone what had happened to her. And when she met more all white butterflies it was her turn to tell them how beautiful they were, thus showing them what is truly important in life. That appearances can be deceptive and that what we regard to be plain might surpass the most dazzling beauty in another point of view.
"And like this, my children, let me tell you that this garden still exists somewhere. The white butterfly you just caught might have been a descendant of Jasmin, who knows? We must value them for what they are, not catch them to hold them as captives. Isn't it much more enjoyable to admire them from afar, imagining what they might be saying to each other or the flowers?"
Taking a look at her children's glowing eyes she knew that they had understood. Maybe not every word but they would never again catch a butterfly. Watching Emma how she was talking to her siblings about listening to the butterflies she smiled a happy smile. She had always been fond of education via fairy tales. Respecting nature was very important to her and today her children had learned it without books and tutor.
Seeing her husband coming towards her she smiled lovingly. The children jumped at him loudly, wanting to be hurled around. Darcy obliged them immediately. His laughter mixed with the happy shrieking of her children was a joy to Elizabeth's ears.
"Well, did you get Mama to tell you another fairy tale?" he teased them.
"Mama told us of a garden full of butterflies!" Emma laughed.
"Well, she might have referred to the gardens of Pemberley, my love. Look around yourself, my little love. So many butterflies!"
Grabbing her sisters by the hand Emma ran after the various butterflies giving them names and fitting them in her mother's fairy tale. Watching their children Darcy took Elizabeth in his arms and kissed her endearingly.
"So, another fairy tale, my love?" he asked.
"Indeed. And another baby, my dearest." Elizabeth responded warmly.
"Oh, how wonderful! Soon there will be four of them!" Darcy exclaimed.
"I was hoping for a boy, my love."
"No matter if boy or girl, as long as it has inherited your wit my love. Will you tell me the fairy tale you told the children? You know I love listening to your voice."
Making himself comfortable in her arms, just as Emma had done before him, he listened to her story and imagined this garden to be like Pemberley's gardens.
Once upon a time there was a garden, a garden as lovely as it had never been seen by any human being...