By Dora Owen
Children, children, don't forget
There are elves and fairies yet;
Where the knotty hawthorn grows
Look for prints of fairy toes.
Where the grassy rings are green
Moonlight dances shall be seen.
Watch and wait; O lucky you,
If you find a fairy shoe:
For a ransom he will pay,
Hobbling barefoot all the day,
Lay it on his mushroom seat,
Wish your wish and go your way
If your wish should be discreet
Never fear but he will pay.
A Fairy Went A-Marketing
By Rose Fyleman
A Fairy went a-marketing-
She bought a little fish;
She put it in a crystal bowl
Upon a golden dish.
An hour she sat in wonderment
And watched its silver gleam,
And then she gently took it up
And slipped it in a stream.
A fairy went a-marketing-
She bought a colored bird;
It sang the sweetest, shrillest song
That ever she had heard.
She sat beside its painted cage
And listened half the day,
And then she opened wide the door
And let it fly away.
A fairy went a-marketing-
She bought a winter gown
All stitched about with gossamer
And lined with thistledown.
She wore it all afternoon
With prancing and delight,
Then gave it to a little frog
To keep him warm at night.
A fairy went a-marketing-
She bought a gentle mouse
To take her tiny messages,
To keep her tiny house.
All day she kept its busy feet
Pit-patting to and fro
And then she kissed its silken ears,
Thanked it, and let it go.
I Keep Three Wishes Ready
By Annette Wynne
I keep three wishes ready,
Lest I should chance to meet,
Any day a fairy
Coming down the street.
I'd hate to have to stammer,
Or have to think them out,
For it's very hard to think things up
When a fairy is about.
And I'd hate to lose my wishes,
For fairies fly away,
And perhaps I'd never have a chance
On any other day.
So I keep three wishes ready
Lest I should chance to meet,
Andy day a fairy
Coming down the street.