"And thou canst fetch the water From the lady-well hard by ; "Canst go down to the lonesome glen, "But listen now, my Mabel, This is midsummer day, When all the fairy people From elf-land come away. "And when thou 'rt in the lonesome glen, "But think not of the fairy folk, Lest mischief should befall; Think only of poor Amy, And how thou lov'st us all. "Yet keep good heart, my Mabel, "And when into the fir-wood Thou goest for fagots brown, Do not, like idle children, Go wandering up and down. "But fill thy little apron, My child, with earnest speed; And that thou break no living bough Within the wood, take heed. "For they are spiteful brownies "But think not, little Mabel, "And when thou goest to the spring "For the queen of all the fairies, "But she's a gracious lady, And her thou need'st not fear; Only disturb thou not the stream, Nor spill the water clear." "Now all this I will heed, mother, Will no word disobey, And wait upon the grandmother This livelong summer day." 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 all her mother's message And then she swept the hearth up clean, And next she fed the dog and bird; "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, Except a bird, a sky-blue bird, That sat upon a tree. The next time that good Mabel went, a lady small, All clothed in green and white. A courtesy low made Mabel, "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 passed from sight, But the little bird, the sky-blue bird, "And now go," said the grandmother, Away went kind, good Mabel, Into the fir-wood near, Where all the ground was dry and brown, And the grass grew thin and sere. She did not wander up and down, And when the wild-wood brownies She drove them thence, as she was told, 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, O, 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, "O, but she is a comely child," With that the smallest penny, |