“I am asked to the ball to-night, to-night; What shall I wear, for I must look right?” “Search in the fields for a lady-smock; Where could you find you a prettier frock?” “I am asked to the ball to-night, to-night; What shall I do for my jewels bright?” “Trouble you not for a brooch or a ring, A daisy-chain is the properest thing.” “I am asked to the ball to-night, to-night; What shall I do if I shake with fright?” “When you are there you will understand That no one is frightened in Fairyland.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ USEFUL HINTS Fairy flannel is the skin of peaches, Fairy brushes are the nuts of beeches, Velvet bulrushes are fairy pillows, Fairy muffs are made of pussy-willows. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE FAIRY FLUTE My brother has a little flute Of gold and ivory, He found it on a summer night Within a hollow tree. He plays it every morning And every afternoon, And all the little singing-birds Listen to the tune. He plays it in the meadows, And everywhere he walks The flowers start a-nodding And dancing on their stalks. He plays it in the village, And all along the street The people stop to listen, The music is so sweet. And none but he can play it And none can understand, Because it is a fairy flute And comes from Fairyland. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE APPLE-TREE I stood beneath the apple-tree, The apples were so good to see; Very high above my head I saw them shining round and red. A robin sang a tiny song, And after I had waited long A fairy in the apple-tree Threw an apple down to me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A STRANGE PAIR