To Mother Fairie

Good old mother Fairie,

Sitting by your fire,

Have you any little folk

You would like to hire?

I want no chubby drudges

To milk, and churn, and spin,

Nor old mid wrinkled Brownies,

With grizzly beards, and thin;

But patient little people,

With hands of busy care,

And gentle speech, mid loving hearts;

Say, have you such to spare!

They, must be very cunning

To make the future shine

Like leaves, and flowers, and strawberries,

A-growing on one vine.

Good old mother Fairie,

Since my need you know,

Tell me, have you any folk

Wise enough to go?

ALICE CARY