And long before the sun was hot, And the Summer mist had cleared, Beside the good old grandmother The willing child appeared.
And all her mother’s message She told with right good-will How that the father was away, And the little child was ill.
And then she swept the hearth up clean, And then the table spread, And next she fed the dog and bird, And then she made the bed.
“And go now,” said the grandmother, “Ten paces down the dell, And bring in water for the day-- Thou know’st the Lady-well.”
The first time that good Mabel went, Nothing at all saw she, Except a bird, a sky-blue bird, That sat upon a tree.
The next time that good Mabel went, There sat a lady bright Beside the well,--a lady small, All clothed in green and white.
A curtsey low made Mabel, And then she stooped to fill Her pitcher at the sparkling spring, But no drop did she spill.
“Thou art a handy maiden,” The Fairy lady said; “Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yet The Fairy Spring troublèd.
“And for this thing which thou hast done, Yet may’st 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, And shalt be loved alway.”
Thus having said, she passed from sight, And naught could Mabel see, But the little bird, the sky-blue bird, Upon the leafy tree.
“And now go,” said the grandmother, “And fetch in fagots dry; All in the neighbouring fir-wood, Beneath the trees they lie.”
Away went kind, good Mabel, Into the fir-wood near, Where all the ground was dry and brown, And the grass grew thin and sear.
She did not wander up and down, Nor yet a live branch pull, But steadily of the fallen boughs She picked her apron full.
And when the wildwood Brownies Came sliding to her mind, She drove them thence, as she was told, With home-thoughts sweet and kind.
But all that while the Brownies Within the fir-wood still, They watched her how she picked the wood, And strove to do no ill.
“And oh! but she is small and neat!” Said one; “’twere shame to spite A creature so demure and meek, A creature harmless quite!”
“Look only,” said another, “At her little gown of blue, At her kerchief pinned about her head, And at her little shoe!”