They all bowed low to Ann"s mummy, and then they sat down on the floor, while two coachmen brought in a hamper, which they put down in the ring. Then they set to work to unpack it. As each Goblin gave Ann his present he went down on one knee and said: "Many happy returns of the day ! "Ann looked at her mummy, and her mummy looked at her; but they were too good at giving parties to seem at all surprised, and so Ann"s mummy said : "We are delighted to see you, dear little fairy men: and now, what game shall we play? "First came " Hunt the Slipper," only the slipper jumped round the ring all by itself, and dodged and danced amid great shrieks and laughter from the party. Then came " Musical Chairs," only the chairs began to follow one another round the room too, and when the music stopped everybody sat down plump on the floor, because it was so difficult to catch the chairs.
Then came tea-time, and Ann cut the birthday cake, and the goblins ate it nearly all up. After tea the strange little people did wonderful tricks, hopping over one another"s heads, leaping up to the ceiling and knocking their noses. Then they called the mice and made them sing songs, while Ann and her mummy sat together and clapped.
When they had finished their antics the old Goblin said:
"I think it is time to go home now. I am not so young as I was, and the wind teases my throat.""Naughty old March wind!" said Ann; "he always does things like that.""Never mind," said the Goblin, cheerfully. "He brought us the letter from you. Here it is. So he is not such a bad old fellow after all !"Then they all said "Good-bye," and drove away in their carriages, while Ann undid her seventeen parcels.
-Natalie Joan Engleheart
Author.-Natalie Joan Engleheart. The authoress spent part of her childhood in Australia. She now lives in England. She wrote a book of verses-Lilts for Little People.
General Notes.-How did Ann lose the letter? Who found it? Whatare goblins? How do you play "Hunt the Slipper "? How do you play " Musical Chairs "? Talk about other indoor games.
Lesson 19
THE fAIRIES
Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren"t go a-hunting For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping together, Green jacket, red cap, And white owl"s feather!
Down along the rocky shore Some make their home, They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide-foam;Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake, With frogs for their watch-dogs All night awake.
High on the hill-top The old King sits;
He is now so old and grey
He"s nigh lost his wits. With a bridge of white mist Columbkill he crosses,On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses; Or going up with musicOn cold starry nights, To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.
They stole little Bridget For seven years long;When she came down again, Her friends were all gone. They took her lightly back,Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep, But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since, Deep within the lake,On a bed of flag-leaves,
Watching till she wake.
By the craggy hillside, Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn-trees, For pleasure here and there;If any man so daring As dig them up in spite,He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.
Drawn by Elsie Jean Mckissock
The Fairies
Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren"t go a-hunting For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl"s feather!
--Willam Allingham
Author.-William Allingham (1824-1889) was born in the north of Ireland. He wrote many songs, ballads, and stories.
General Notes.-How were these Irish fairies dressed? What didthey eat? What were their pets? What are Northern Lights? Have we anything like them in Australia? Why did they steal Bridget? What was their sacred bush? Why are Irish children afraid of the fairies? Mention any other fairy poems that you know. Which do you like best?
Lesson 20
THE CRANE AND THE CROW
The crane was a great fisherman. He used to hunt out the fish with his feet from underneath the logs in the creek, and so catch numbers.
One day, when he had a great many on the bank of the creek, a crow, who was white at that time, came up. He asked the crane to give him some fish.
"Wait a while," said the crane, "until they are cooked."But the crow was hungry and impatient, and would not cease bothering the crane, who kept saying, "Wait, wait."Presently the crane turned his back. The crow sneaked up and was just going to steal a fish. The crane turned round, saw him, seized a fish, and hit the crow right across the eyes with it. The crow felt blinded for a few minutes. He fell on the burnt black grass round the fire, and rolled over and over in his pain. When he got up to go away, his eyes were white, and the rest of him black, as crows have been ever since.
The crow made up his mind to pay out the crane for having given him white eyes and a black skin.
So he watched his chance, and one day, when he saw the crane fast asleep, he crept quietly up to him holding a fish- bone. This he stuck right across the root of the crane"s tongue.
Then he went off as quickly as he had come; careful, for once, to make no noise.
The crane woke up at last, and, when he opened his mouth to yawn, he felt like choking. He tried to get the fish-bone out of his throat. In the effort he made a queer, scraping noise, which was the only sound he could make. The bone stuck fast.
And to this day the only noise a crane can make is, " Gah- rah-gah, gah-rah-gah!" This noise gives the name by which he is known to the blacks.
