A fairy went a-marketing
-
She bought a little
fish;
She put it in
a crystal bowl
Upon a golden
dish.
An hour she sat
in wonderment
And watched its
silver gleam,
And then she gently
took it up
And slipped it
in a stream.
A fairy went a-marketing
-
She bought a colored
bird;
It sang the sweetest,
shrillest song
That ever she
had heard.
She sat beside
its painted cage
And listened half
the day,
And then she opened
wide the door
And let it fly
away.
A fairy went a-marketing
-
She bought a winter
gown
All stiched about
with gossamer
And lined with
thistledown.
She wore it all
the afternoon
With prancing
and delight,
Then gave it to
a little frog
To keep him warm
at night.
A fairy went a-marketing
-
She bought a gentle
mouse
To take her tiny
messages,
To keep her tiny
house.
All day she kept
its busy feet
Pit-patting to
and fro,
And then she kissed
its silken ears,
Thanked it, and
let it go.