A Fairy Went A-Marketing

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 coloured 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 the 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.