356 
MARY HOWITT. 
‘ Then take me on your knee, mother, 
And listen, mother of mine: 
A hundred fairies danced last night, 
And the harpers they were nine. 
‘ And merry was the glee of the harp-strings, 
And their dancing feet so small; 
But, oh, the sound of their talking 
Was merrier far than all I’ 
< And what were the words, my Mary, 
That you did hear them say V 
‘ I’ll tell you all, my mother— 
But let me have my way ! 
‘ And some they played with the water, 
And rolled it down the hill ; 
“ And this,” they said, “ shall speedily turn, 
The poor old miller’s mill; 
“ Bor there has been no water, 
Ever since the first ol May ] 
And a busy man shall the miller be 
By the dawning of the day ! 
« Oh, the miller ; how he will laugh, 
When he sees the mill-dam rise ! 
The jolly old miller, how he will laugh, 
Till the tears fill both his eyes !” 
