If you meet a fairy Don’t run away; She won’t want to hurt you, She’ll only want to play. Show her round the garden, Round the house too, She’ll want to see the kitchen (I know they always do). Find a tiny present To give her when she goes, They love silver paper And little ribbon bows. I knew a little girl once Who saw twenty-three Playing in the orchard As jolly as could be. They asked her to dance with them To make a twenty-four; She ran to the nursery And hid behind the door. Hid behind the nursery door— (What a thing to do!) She grew up very solemn And rather ugly too. If you meet a fairy Remember what I say, Talk to her nicely And don’t run away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAIRY LORE Fairies learn to dance before they learn to walk; Fairies learn to sing before they learn to talk; Fairies learn their counting from the cuckoo’s call; They do not learn Geography at all. Fairies go a-riding with witches on their brooms And steal away the rainbows to brighten up their rooms; Fairies like a sky-dance better than a feast; They have a birthday once a week at least. Fairies think the rain as pretty as the sun; Fairies think that trespass-boards are only made for fun; Fairies think that peppermint’s the nicest thing they know; I _always_ take a packet when I go. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EVERY FAIRY HAS A STAR Every fairy has a star Where all her tiny treasures are, And there her faithful gnome, As soon as she goes out at night Against the window sets a light To guide his lady home. And at the open door he stands And waves his little twinkling hands As down to earth she goes; Then sits and waits the long night through, And sometimes sings a song or two And sometimes has a doze.