PART IV

“And go now,” said the grandmother, “Since falling is the dew-- Go down unto the lonesome glen, And milk the mother-ewe.”

All down into the lonesome glen, Through copses thick and wild, Through moist, rank grass, by trickling streams, Went on the willing child.

And when she came to the lonesome glen, She kept beside the burn, And neither plucked the strawberry-flower, Nor broke the lady-fern.

And while she milked the mother-ewe Within this lonesome glen, She wished that little Amy Were strong and well again.

And soon as she had thought this thought, She heard a coming sound, As if a thousand Fairy folk Were gathering all around.

And then she heard a little voice, Shrill as the midge’s wing, That spake aloud: “A human child Is here, yet mark this thing!--

“The lady-fern is all unbroke, The strawberry-flower unta’en! What shall be done for her who still From mischief can refrain?”

“Give her a Fairy cake!” said one; “Grant her a wish!” said three; “The latest wish that she hath wished,” Said all, “whate’er it be!”

Kind Mabel heard the words they spake, And from the lonesome glen Unto the good old grandmother Went gladly back again.

Thus happened it to Mabel, On that Midsummer Day, And these three Fairy blessings She took with her away.

’Tis good to make all duty sweet, To be alert and kind; ’Tis good, like little Mabel, To have a willing mind.

_Mary Howitt_

FAREWELL! FAREWELL! DEAR FAIRIES

_Oh! where do Fairies hide their heads, When snow lies on the hills-- When frost has spoiled their mossy beds, And crystallized their rills? Beneath the moon they cannot trip In circles o’er the plain; And draughts of dew they cannot sip, Till green leaves come again._

* * * * *

_When they return there will be mirth, And music in the air, And Fairy wings upon the earth, And mischief everywhere. The maids, to keep the Elves aloof, Will bar the doors in vain; No keyhole will be Fairy-proof, When green leaves come again._

THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY

THE FAIRIES’ PASSAGE

I

Tap, tap, tap, rap! “Get up, Gaffer Ferryman.” “Eh! who is there?” The clock strikes three. “Get up, do, Gaffer! You are the very man We have been long--long--longing to see.” The Ferryman rises, growling and grumbling, And goes fum-fumbling, and stumbling, and tumbling, Over the wares in his way to the door. But he sees no more Than he saw before, Till a voice is heard--“O Ferryman, dear! Here we are waiting, all of us here! We are a wee, wee colony, we; Some two hundred in all, or three. Ferry us over the river Lee Ere dawn of day, And we will pay The most we may, In our own wee way!”

II

“Who are you? Whence came you? What place are you going to?” “Oh, we have dwelt over-long in this land; The people get cross, and are growing so knowing, too! Nothing at all but they now understand; We are daily vanishing under the thunder Of some huge engine or iron wonder; That iron, ah!--it has entered our souls!” “----Your souls? O gholes, You queer little drolls! Do you mean----?” “Good Gaffer, do aid us with speed, For our time, like our stature, is short indeed! And a very long way we have to go, Eight or ten thousand miles or so, Hither and thither, and to and fro; With our pots and pans, And little gold cans; But our light caravans Run swifter than man’s!”

III

“Well, well, you may come!” said the Ferryman, affably; “Patrick, turn out, and get ready the barge!” Then again to the Little Folk--“Though you seem laughably Small, I don’t mind, if your coppers be large.” Oh, dear! what a rushing, what pushing, what crushing (The watermen making vain efforts at hushing The hubbub the while) there followed these words! What clapping of boards! What strapping of cords! What stowing away of children and wives, And platters, and mugs, and spoons, and knives! Till all had safely got into the boat, And the Ferryman, clad in his tip-top coat, And his wee little Fairies were safely afloat! Then ding! ding! ding! And kling! kling! kling! How the coppers did ring In the tin pitcherling!

IV

Off, then, went the boat, at first very pleasantly, Smoothly, and so forth; but after a while It swayed and it swagged this and that way, and presently Chest after chest, and pile after pile, Of the Little Folks’ goods began tossing and rolling, And pitching like fun, beyond Fairy controlling! O Mab! if the hubbub were great before, It was now some two or three million times more; Crash! went the wee crocks, and the clocks, and the locks Of each little wee box were stove in by hard knocks; And then there were oaths, and prayers, and cries-- “Take care!”--“See there!”--“Oh, dear! my eyes!” “I am killed!”--“I am drowned!”--with groans and sighs; Till to land they drew; “Yeo-ho! Pull to! Tiller-rope, thro’ and thro’!” And all’s right anew.

V

“Now, jump upon shore, ye queer little oddities, Eh! what is this?--Where are they, at all? Where are they, and where are their tiny commodities? Well! as I live!” He looks blank as a wall, Poor Ferryman! Round him, and round him he gazes, But only gets deeplier lost in the mazes Of utter bewilderment! All, all are gone-- And he stands alone, Like a statue of stone, In a doldrum of wonder. He turns to steer, And a tinkling laugh salutes his ear With other odd sounds--“Ha! ha! ha! ha! Fol, lol; zidziddel--quee, quee-bah! bah! Fizzigig--giggidy! phsee! sha! sha!” “O ye thieves, ye thieves! ye rascally thieves!” The good man cries. He turns to his pitcher, And there, alas! to his horror perceives, That the Little Folks’ mode of making him richer Has been to pay him with--withered leaves.

_James Clarence Mangan_

OLD WINTER’S FAIRYLAND

TO WINTER

Sooth ’tis, old Friend, Thou banishest The golden rest Of the hours; Dost cruelly send The birds off, and The twinkling band Of the flowers; Dost lash the shadows out of the woods, And kill the souls in the plunging floods.

Thou chillest the green, And it departs Into the hearts Of the meas, And dreams of sheen, Grasses and leaves, Blossoms and sheaves, And of trees; Thou foldest all colours up in mould, And touchest the aching light with cold.

There is no gloom Of vanished wold, Inlaid with gold, But glens, And heights in bloom, And shadowing woods, And tumbling floods, And plains, Of Summer in the core of the world, And golden skies are there unfurled.

The Fairies keep A revel there, And banish care With mirth; When snows are deep, And woods are cross, Enjoy our loss In the Earth; The leaves and grass and water-springs, The glorious world with its living things, Each happy thought that goes on wings, And sings, Or thinks itself in blossomings Of red and gold, All bless the cold, That ruleth with an iron hand To build in the Earth a Fairyland.

At Christmas tide, On country farms In games and charms Thou thrivest; By deep hearth side, When tales are told And songs are trolled, As through the mould Thou drivest The shuddering flowers, thou dost begin To gather us up, and drive us in.

For all, whom care Or labour drew From old to new In the year, Thou dost prepare The roaring hearth, And garrulous mirth, And beer In massy cans, to season it, Nut-brown and livelier than thy wit.

The Yule log sends Its light abroad O’er roof and board; And cheerily In shade ascends The cricket’s song; The winds are strong, And drearily Shrill past the rattling window panes, and down The wide-mouthed chimney shriek and moan.

The hinds drop in From fold and pen, And graver men From labours; And maids who spin And catch perchance With smile and glance Their neighbours; The dame is there, and reverend sire, And children clustering round the fire.

They quaff their ale, Their pipes they fill, And he, who has skill In numbers, Prolongs the tale; The wheel goes round With a drowsy sound And slumbers. The humming stoup goes round and round, Till their heads go round, as the wheel goes round; And sleep and silence go their round. And the Fairy Summer underground Blooms all night long in Sleep till morning, Buds and blossoms, without a sound.

_Anonymous_

THE END

SUBJECT INDEX FOR STORY-TELLERS

SUBJECT INDEX FOR STORY-TELLERS

ANIMAL FRIENDS: Judy and the Fairy Cat, 103; Kintaro, 161; Little Tiny, 319.

BEARS: Kintaro, 161.

BIRDS: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Kintaro, 161; Little Tiny, 319; Shining Child, 361.

BOGGARTS: The Boggart, 105.

BOTTLE IMPS: Legend of Bottle Hill, 44.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Blanche and Rose, 258; Immortal Fountain, 337; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; Shining Child, 361; The Pixies, 138.

BROWNIES: Brownie of Blednoch, 142; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400.

CAMELIAS: Flower Fairies, 166.

CATS: Judy and the Fairy Cat, 103.

CAVES: Echo the Cave Fairy, 179; Knockers’ Diamonds, 77.

CHRISTMAS: Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145; Old Winter’s Fairyland, 418; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121.

CLOVER: The Four-Leaved Clover, 171.

CONSCIENCE: Timothy Tuttle and the Little Imps, 290.

CORAL: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Isles of the Sea Fairies, 182.

COURAGEOUS ADVENTURES: Brown Dwarf, 53; Milk-White Calf, 20; Sleeping Beauty, 231; The Smith and the Fairies, 194.

COWS: Curmudgeon’s Skin, 97; Legend of Bottle Hill, 44; Milk-White Calf, 20; The Four-Leaved Clover, 171.

CROCKS OF GOLD. _See_ TREASURE STORIES.

CRUELTY: Bad Boy and the Leprechaun, 70; Prince Chéri, 239.

CURIOSITY: Curmudgeon’s Skin, 97; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121; Piskey Fine! 149.

DANCES OF FAIRIES. _See_ FAIRY RINGS.

DEER: Kintaro, 161.

DIAMONDS: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Knockers’ Diamonds, 77; Toads and Diamonds, 254.

DISOBEDIENCE. _See_ OBEDIENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE.

DOGS: Fairy’s Servants, 133.

DUTY: Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145; Fairy’s Servants, 133; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; The Pixies, 138.

ECHO: Echo the Cave Fairy, 179.

ELFINLAND. _See_ FAIRYLAND.

FAIRY CHILDREN: Coal-Black Steed, 198; Little Niebla, 312; Little Tiny, 319; Magic Ferns, 189; Ownself, 107; Skillywidden, 79; The Tomts, 155.

FAIRY GOLD. _See_ TREASURE STORIES.

FAIRYLAND: At the Court of Fairyland, 209; Coal-Black Steed, 198; But we that Live in Fairyland, 188; Elidore, 206; Fairy’s Servants, 133; Girl who Danced with the Fairies, 203; Girl who was Stolen by the Fairies, 201; Magic Ferns, 189; Shining Child, 361; Old Winter’s Fairyland, 418.

FAIRY RINGS: Adventures of Robin Goodfellow, 9; Dance of the Fairies, 32; Girl who Danced with the Fairies, 203; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; In the Glowing Light of a Summer Sky, 8; Milk-White Calf, 20; Potato Supper, 15; Wood-Lady, 26.

FARM STORIES: Blanche and Rose, 258; Brownie of Blednoch, 142; Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145; Old Winter’s Fairyland, 418; Piskey Fine! 149; The Four-Leaved Clover, 171; The Tomts, 155.

FERNS: Magic Ferns, 189.

FIELD MICE: Little Tiny, 319.

FISH: How Kahukura Learned to Make Nets, 176; Potato Supper, 15.

FLIES: Shining Child, 361.

FLOWERS: Fairy Island, 169; Flower Fairies, 166; Little Tiny, 319; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121; Shining Child, 361.

FORESTS. _See_ WOODS AND FORESTS.

FOXES: Little Niebla, 312.

FRIENDS AND HELPERS: At the Court of Fairyland, 209; Brownie of Blednoch, 142; Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145; Fairy Wedding, 151; Gillie Dhu, 174; Piskey Fine! 149; Shining Child, 361; Sick-Bed Elves, 109; The Pixies, 138; The Tomts, 155.

GENEROUS AND UNGENEROUS: Blanche and Rose, 258; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

GLASS SLIPPERS: Cinderella, 221.

GNOMES: Shining Child, 361.

GOBLINS: Greedy Old Man, 39.

GOURMANDIZING: Fairy Do-Nothing, 281.

GRAINS: Song of the Elfin Miller, 157; The Tomts, 155.

GREED. _See_ SELFISHNESS AND GREED.

HALLOWE’EN: Girl who Danced with the Fairies, 203; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; Judy and the Fairy Cat, 103; Milk-White Calf, 20.

HILL STORIES: Brown Dwarf, 53; Elidore, 206; Greedy Old Man, 39; Legend of Bottle Hill, 44; Milk-White Calf, 20; Monday! Tuesday! 35; The Smith and the Fairies, 194; ’Tis the Midnight Hour, 34.

HORSES: Coal-Black Steed, 198.

HOSPITALITY: Blanche and Rose, 258; Childe Charity, 348.

HUMOROUS STORIES: Curmudgeon’s Skin, 97; Fairy’s Servants, 133; Little Redcap, 91; Milk-White Calf, 20; Monday! Tuesday! 35; Ownself, 107; The Boggart, 105; The Ragweed, 66.

IMPOLITENESS. _See_ POLITENESS AND IMPOLITENESS.

IMPS: Coal-Black Steed, 198; Timothy Tuttle and the Little Imps, 290.

INDUSTRY: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145.

KELPIES: Come! Come! 3.

KINDNESS AND GOODNESS: Blanche and Rose, 258; Childe Charity, 348; Cinderella, 221; Fairy Wedding, 151; Immortal Fountain, 337; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; Toads and Diamonds, 254.

KING OF THE FAIRIES: Adventures of Robin Goodfellow, 9; At the Court of Fairyland, 209; Come! Come! 3; Elidore, 206; Magic Ferns, 189.

KNOCKERS: Come! Come! 3; Knockers’ Diamonds, 77; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

LAZINESS: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145; Fairy Do-Nothing, 281; The Pixies, 138.

LEPRECHAUNS: Bad Boy and the Leprechaun, 70; Boy who Found the Pots of Gold, 63; Come! Come! 3; The Leprechaun, 84; The Ragweed, 66.

MAB. _See_ QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES.

MAGIC GIFTS: Enchanted Watch, 264; Legend of Bottle Hill, 44; Little Redcap, 91; Prince Chéri, 239; Toads and Diamonds, 254; Wood-Lady, 26.

MAY DAY: Flower Fairies, 166; Girl who Danced with the Fairies, 203; Kintaro, 161; The Four-Leaved Clover, 171.

MICE: Little Tiny, 319.

MIDSUMMER DAY: Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400.

MINES AND MINERS: Knockers’ Diamonds, 77; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

MOLES: Little Tiny, 319.

NAUGHTINESS: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Fairy Do-Nothing, 281.

OBEDIENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE: Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; Skillywidden, 79; Wood-Lady, 26.

OBERON. _See_ KING OF THE FAIRIES.

OINTMENT, FAIRY: Coal-Black Steed, 198; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121.

PEONIES: Flower Fairies, 166.

PERSEVERANCE: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Immortal Fountain, 337.

PISKEYS: Come! Come! 3; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; Piskey Fine! 149.

PIXIES: The Pixies, 138.

POLITENESS AND IMPOLITENESS: Monday! Tuesday! 35; The Tomts, 155; Toads and Diamonds, 254; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

POTATOES: Potato Supper, 15.

POTS OF GOLD. _See_ TREASURE STORIES.

PROMPTNESS: Enchanted Watch, 264.

PRYING: How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121.

QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES: At the Court of Fairyland, 209; Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Come! Come! 3; Dance of the Fairies, 32; Immortal Fountain, 337; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; Milk-White Calf, 20; Queen Mab, 276; Shining Child, 361.

RAGWEEDS: The Ragweed, 66.

REDCAPS: Curmudgeon’s Skin, 97; Little Redcap, 91; The Fairy Folk, 128.

RETRIBUTION: Bad Boy and the Leprechaun, 70; Blanche and Rose, 258; Coal-Black Steed, 198; Elidore, 206; Enchanted Watch, 264; Fairy Do-Nothing, 281; Fairy Island, 169; Greedy Old Man, 39; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; One-eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121; Prince Chéri, 239; The Pixies, 138; Toads and Diamonds, 254; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

REWARDS OF GOODNESS: Blanche and Rose, 258; Childe Charity, 348; Fairy’s Servants, 133; Immortal Fountain, 337; Judy and the Fairy Cat, 103; Knockers’ Diamonds, 77; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400; The Pixies, 138; Toads and Diamonds, 254.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW: Adventures of Robin Goodfellow, 9; At the Court of Fairyland, 209; Their Dwellings be, 132.

SALMON: Potato Supper, 15.

SEA FAIRIES. _See_ WATER FAIRIES.

SELFISHNESS: Bad Boy and the Leprechaun, 70; Blanche and Rose, 258; Enchanted Watch, 264; Fairy Do-Nothing, 281; Greedy Old Man, 39; Timothy Tuttle, 290; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

SHAMROCKS: Curmudgeon’s Skin, 97.

SHOEMAKERS. _See_ LEPRECHAUNS.

SPRIGGANS: Come! Come! 3; Greedy Old Man, 39; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; One-Eyed Prying Joan’s Tale, 121; Skillywidden, 79.

SPRINGS AND WELLS: Girl who Danced with the Fairies, 203; Immortal Fountain, 337; Mabel on Midsummer Day, 400.

STEALING: Elidore, 206; Fairy Island, 169; Greedy Old Man, 39; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111.

SWALLOWS: Little Tiny, 319.

TARDINESS: Enchanted Watch, 264.

TENGUS: Kintaro, 161.

THRESHING: Brownie of Blednoch, 142; How Peeping Kate was Piskey-Led, 111; Piskey Fine! 149; The Tomts, 155.

THRIFT: Elsa and the Ten Elves, 145.

TIN MINES: Knockers’ Diamonds, 77; Tom and the Knockers, 73.

TOADS: Little Tiny, 319; Toads and Diamonds, 254.

TOM THUMB: Adventures of Robin Goodfellow, 9.

TOMTS: Fairy Wedding, 151; The Tomts, 155.

TREASURE STORIES: And will you Come Away? 62; Bad Boy and the Leprechaun, 70; Boy who Found the Pots of Gold, 63; Elidore, 206; Greedy Old Man, 39; Skillywidden, 79; The Leprechaun, 84; The Ragweed, 66.

TREES: Shining Child, 361.

TYRANNY: Prince Chéri, 239.

UNGENEROUS. _See_ GENEROUS AND UNGENEROUS.

WAGES, FAIRY: Adventures of Robin Goodfellow, 9; Brownie of Blednoch, 142; Fairy’s Servants, 133; Piskey Fine! 149; The Fairies’ Passage, 413.

WATER FAIRIES: Butterfly’s Diamond, 304; Come! Come! 3; Fairy Island, 169; How Kahukura Learned to Make Nets, 176; Isles of the Sea Fairies, 182; Little Niebla, 312.

WINTER: Little Tiny, 319; Old Winter’s Fairyland, 418.

WOODS AND FORESTS: Gillie Dhu, 174; Kintaro, 161; Shining Child, 361; Sleeping Beauty, 231; Wood-Lady, 26.

The Riverside Press

CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS

U . S . A

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:

Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.

This eBook is dedicated to the memory of Emmy Miller, beloved volunteer, mentor, and friend.