The brains of nightingales, With unctuous fat of snails, Between two cockles stewed, Is meat that's easily chewed; Tails of worms, and marrow of mice, Do make a dish that's wondrous nice. The grasshopper, gnat, and fly, Serve us for our minstrelsy; Grace said, we dance a while, And so the time beguile; And if the moon doth hide her head, The glow-worm lights us home to bed. On tops of dewy grass So nimbly do we pass, The young and tender stalk Ne'er bends when we do walk; Yet in the morning may be seen Where we the night before have been. THE SEA PRINCESS In a palace of pearl and sea-weed, Set round with shining shells, Under the deeps of the ocean, The little Sea Princess dwells. Sometimes she sees the shadows Of great whales passing by, Or white-winged vessels sailing Between the sea and sky. And when through the waves she rises, Beyond the breakers' roar, She hears the shouts of the children At play on the sandy shore. Or sees the ships' sides tower Above like a wet, black wall; Or shouts to the roaring breakers, And answers the sea-gull's call. But, down in the quiet waters, Better she loves to play, Making a sea-weed garden-- Purple and green and gray; Stringing with pearls a necklace, Or learning curious spells From the water-witch, gray and ancient, And hearing the tales she tells. Out in the stable her sea-horse Champs in his crystal stall; And fishes with scales that glisten Come leaping forth at her call. So the little Sea Princess Is busy and happy all day, Just as the human children Are busy and happy at play. And when the darkness gathers Over the lonely deep, On a bed of velvet sea-weed The Princess is rocked to sleep. LONG AGO When the fairies used to live here, Long ago, There was never any dark, Or any snow; But the great big sun kept shining All the night, And the roses just kept blooming, Oh, so bright! Then the little children never Teased their mothers; And little sisters always Loved their brothers. And they played so very gently-- But, you know, That was when the fairies lived here, Long ago. THISTLE-TASSEL[G] BY FLORENCE HARRISON Thistle-Tassel, Thistle-Tassel, Dancing in the sunlight; Thistle-Tassel, Thistle-Tassel, With your silver wings, Will you come and live with me In my little nursery, Down beside a royal city, Where the river sings? Little Lady, Little Lady, Stepping in the sunlight; Little Lady, Little Lady, Where the rivers run, What have you to give to me, In your pretty nursery, Fairer than a shady valley, Brighter than the sun?