PART II

Away tripped little Mabel, With the wheaten cake so fine, With the new-made pat of butter, And the little flask of wine.

And long before the sun was hot, And the Summer mist had cleared, Beside the good old grandmother The willing child appeared.

And all her mother’s message She told with right good-will How that the father was away, And the little child was ill.

And then she swept the hearth up clean, And then the table spread, And next she fed the dog and bird, And then she made the bed.

“And go now,” said the grandmother, “Ten paces down the dell, And bring in water for the day-- Thou know’st the Lady-well.”

The first time that good Mabel went, Nothing at all saw she, Except a bird, a sky-blue bird, That sat upon a tree.

The next time that good Mabel went, There sat a lady bright Beside the well,--a lady small, All clothed in green and white.

A curtsey low made Mabel, And then she stooped to fill Her pitcher at the sparkling spring, But no drop did she spill.

“Thou art a handy maiden,” The Fairy lady said; “Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yet The Fairy Spring troublèd.

“And for this thing which thou hast done, Yet may’st not understand, I give to thee a better gift Than houses or than land.

“Thou shalt do well whate’er thou dost, As thou hast done this day-- Shalt have the will and power to please, And shalt be loved alway.”

Thus having said, she passed from sight, And naught could Mabel see, But the little bird, the sky-blue bird, Upon the leafy tree.