Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories Part 49

PART II

Away tripped little Mabel, With the wheaten cake so fine, With the new-made pat of b.u.t.ter, 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 courtesy 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 troubled!

"And for this thing which thou hast done, Yet mayst 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 pa.s.sed from sight, And naught could Mabel see, But the little bird, the sky-blue bird, Upon the leafy tree.

"And now go," said the grandmother, "And fetch in f.a.gots dry; All in the neighboring fir-wood Beneath the trees they lie."

Away went kind, good Mabel, Into the fir-wood near, Where all the ground was dry and brown.

And the gra.s.s grew thin and sear.

She did not wander up and down, Nor yet a live branch pull, But steadily of the fallen boughs She picked her ap.r.o.n full.

And when the wildwood brownies Came sliding to her mind, She drove them thence, as she was told, With home thoughts sweet and kind.

But all that while the brownies Within the fir-wood still, They watched her how she picked the wood, And strove to do no ill.

"And, oh, but she is small and neat,"

Said one; "'t were shame to spite A creature so demure and meek, A creature harmless quite!"

"Look only," said another, "At her little gown of blue; At her kerchief pinned about her head, And at her little shoe!"

"Oh, but she is a comely child,"

Said a third; "and we will lay A good-luck penny in her path, A boon for her this day,-- Seeing she broke no living wood; No live thing did affray!"

With that the smallest penny, Of the finest silver ore, Upon the dry and slippery path, Lay Mabel's feet before.

With joy she picked the penny up, The fairy penny good; And with her f.a.gots dry and brown Went wandering from the wood.

"Now she has that," said the brownies, "Let flax be ever so dear, 'T will buy her clothes of the very best, For many and many a year!"

"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 gra.s.s, 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 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.

'T is good to make all duty sweet, To be alert and kind; 'T is good, like little Mabel, To have a willing mind.

MARY HOWITT

LLEWELLYN AND HIS DOG

The spearmen heard the bugle sound, And cheer'ly smiled the morn; And many a brach, and many a hound, Attend Llewellyn's horn.

And still he blew a louder blast, And gave a louder cheer; "Come, Gelert! why art thou the last Llewellyn's horn to hear?

"Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam, The flower of all his race?

So true, so brave--a lamb at home, A lion in the chase."

That day Llewellyn little loved The chase of hart or hare, And scant and small the booty proved, For Gelert was not there.

Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied, When, near the portal seat, His truant Gelert he espied, Bounding his lord to greet.

But when he gained the castle door, Aghast the chieftain stood; The hound was smeared with gouts of gore His lips and fangs ran blood!