20 MABEL ON MIDSUMMER DAY. "And thou canst fetch the water "Canst go down to the lonesome glen, This is the work, my Mabel, "But listen now, my Mabel, 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 give them kindly answer "And when into the fir-wood 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 To fetch the water thence, Do not disturb the little stream, "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, And wait upon the grandmother 22 MABEL ON MIDSUMMER DAY. PART II. AWAY tripped little Mabel, And long before the sun was hot, And all her mother's message And then she swept the hearth up clean, "And go now," said the grandmother, And bring in water for the day,- 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, Beside the well,—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, Thus having said, she passed from sight, But the little bird, the sky-blue bird, "And now go," said the grandmother, All in the neighboring fir-wood Away went kind, good Mabel, Where all the ground was dry and brown, 24 MABEL ON MIDSUMMER DAY. 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 They watched her how she picked the wood, “And, O, but she is small and neat,” A creature so demure and meek, "Look only," said another, "At her little gown of blue; At her kerchief pinned about her head, "O, but she is a comely child," Seeing she broke no living wood; With that the smallest penny, |