MABEL ON MIDSUMMER DAYA STORY OF THE OLDEN TIME
“Arise!my maiden, Mabel,”The mother said: “arise!For the golden sun of MidsummerIs shining in the skies.“Arise! my little maiden,For thou must speed away,To wait upon thy grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.“And thou must carry with theeThis wheaten cake so fine,This new-made pat of butter,This little flask of wine.“And tell the dear old body,This day I cannot come,For the goodman went out yestermorn,And he is not come home.“And more than this, poor AmyUpon my knee doth lie;I fear me, with this fever-painThe little child will die!“And thou canst help thy grandmother;The table thou canst spread,Canst feed the little dog and bird,And thou canst make her bed.“And thou canst fetch the waterFrom the Lady-well hard by,And thou canst gather from the woodThe fagots brown and dry;“Canst go down to the lonesome glen,To milk the mother-ewe;This is the work, my Mabel,That thou wilt have to do.“But listen now, my Mabel:This is Midsummer Day,When all the Fairy peopleFrom Elfland come away.“And when thou’rt in the lonesome glen,Keep by the running burn,And do not pluck the strawberry flower,Nor break the lady-fern.“But think not of the Fairy folk,Lest mischief should befall;Think only of poor Amy,And how thou lov’st us all.“Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,If thou the Fairies see,And give them kindly answerIf they should speak to thee.“And when into the fir-woodThou goest for fagots brown,Do not, like idle children,Go wandering up and down;“But fill thy little apron,My child, with earnest speed;And that thou break no living boughWithin the wood, take heed.“For they are spiteful BrowniesWho in the wood abide;So be thou careful of this thing,Lest evil should betide.“But think not, little Mabel,Whilst thou art in the wood,Of dwarfish, wilful Brownies,But of the Father good.“And when thou goest to the spring,To fetch the water thence,Do not disturb the little stream,Lest this should give offence.“For the Queen of all the FairiesShe loves that water bright;I’ve seen her drinking there, myself,On many a Summer night.“But she’s a gracious lady,And her thou need’st not fear;Only disturb thou not the stream,Nor spill the water clear.”“Now all this I will heed, mother,Will no word disobey,And wait upon the grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.”
“Arise!my maiden, Mabel,”The mother said: “arise!For the golden sun of MidsummerIs shining in the skies.“Arise! my little maiden,For thou must speed away,To wait upon thy grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.“And thou must carry with theeThis wheaten cake so fine,This new-made pat of butter,This little flask of wine.“And tell the dear old body,This day I cannot come,For the goodman went out yestermorn,And he is not come home.“And more than this, poor AmyUpon my knee doth lie;I fear me, with this fever-painThe little child will die!“And thou canst help thy grandmother;The table thou canst spread,Canst feed the little dog and bird,And thou canst make her bed.“And thou canst fetch the waterFrom the Lady-well hard by,And thou canst gather from the woodThe fagots brown and dry;“Canst go down to the lonesome glen,To milk the mother-ewe;This is the work, my Mabel,That thou wilt have to do.“But listen now, my Mabel:This is Midsummer Day,When all the Fairy peopleFrom Elfland come away.“And when thou’rt in the lonesome glen,Keep by the running burn,And do not pluck the strawberry flower,Nor break the lady-fern.“But think not of the Fairy folk,Lest mischief should befall;Think only of poor Amy,And how thou lov’st us all.“Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,If thou the Fairies see,And give them kindly answerIf they should speak to thee.“And when into the fir-woodThou goest for fagots brown,Do not, like idle children,Go wandering up and down;“But fill thy little apron,My child, with earnest speed;And that thou break no living boughWithin the wood, take heed.“For they are spiteful BrowniesWho in the wood abide;So be thou careful of this thing,Lest evil should betide.“But think not, little Mabel,Whilst thou art in the wood,Of dwarfish, wilful Brownies,But of the Father good.“And when thou goest to the spring,To fetch the water thence,Do not disturb the little stream,Lest this should give offence.“For the Queen of all the FairiesShe loves that water bright;I’ve seen her drinking there, myself,On many a Summer night.“But she’s a gracious lady,And her thou need’st not fear;Only disturb thou not the stream,Nor spill the water clear.”“Now all this I will heed, mother,Will no word disobey,And wait upon the grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.”
“Arise!my maiden, Mabel,”The mother said: “arise!For the golden sun of MidsummerIs shining in the skies.
“Arise!my maiden, Mabel,”
The mother said: “arise!
For the golden sun of Midsummer
Is shining in the skies.
“Arise! my little maiden,For thou must speed away,To wait upon thy grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.
“Arise! my little maiden,
For thou must speed away,
To wait upon thy grandmother
This live-long Summer Day.
“And thou must carry with theeThis wheaten cake so fine,This new-made pat of butter,This little flask of wine.
“And thou must carry with thee
This wheaten cake so fine,
This new-made pat of butter,
This little flask of wine.
“And tell the dear old body,This day I cannot come,For the goodman went out yestermorn,And he is not come home.
“And tell the dear old body,
This day I cannot come,
For the goodman went out yestermorn,
And he is not come home.
“And more than this, poor AmyUpon my knee doth lie;I fear me, with this fever-painThe little child will die!
“And more than this, poor Amy
Upon my knee doth lie;
I fear me, with this fever-pain
The little child will die!
“And thou canst help thy grandmother;The table thou canst spread,Canst feed the little dog and bird,And thou canst make her bed.
“And thou canst help thy grandmother;
The table thou canst spread,
Canst feed the little dog and bird,
And thou canst make her bed.
“And thou canst fetch the waterFrom the Lady-well hard by,And thou canst gather from the woodThe fagots brown and dry;
“And thou canst fetch the water
From the Lady-well hard by,
And thou canst gather from the wood
The fagots brown and dry;
“Canst go down to the lonesome glen,To milk the mother-ewe;This is the work, my Mabel,That thou wilt have to do.
“Canst go down to the lonesome glen,
To milk the mother-ewe;
This is the work, my Mabel,
That thou wilt have to do.
“But listen now, my Mabel:This is Midsummer Day,When all the Fairy peopleFrom Elfland come away.
“But listen now, my Mabel:
This is Midsummer Day,
When all the Fairy people
From Elfland come away.
“And when thou’rt in the lonesome glen,Keep by the running burn,And do not pluck the strawberry flower,Nor break the lady-fern.
“And when thou’rt in the lonesome glen,
Keep by the running burn,
And do not pluck the strawberry flower,
Nor break the lady-fern.
“But think not of the Fairy folk,Lest mischief should befall;Think only of poor Amy,And how thou lov’st us all.
“But think not of the Fairy folk,
Lest mischief should befall;
Think only of poor Amy,
And how thou lov’st us all.
“Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,If thou the Fairies see,And give them kindly answerIf they should speak to thee.
“Yet keep good heart, my Mabel,
If thou the Fairies see,
And give them kindly answer
If they should speak to thee.
“And when into the fir-woodThou goest for fagots brown,Do not, like idle children,Go wandering up and down;
“And when into the fir-wood
Thou goest for fagots brown,
Do not, like idle children,
Go wandering up and down;
“But fill thy little apron,My child, with earnest speed;And that thou break no living boughWithin the wood, take heed.
“But fill thy little apron,
My child, with earnest speed;
And that thou break no living bough
Within the wood, take heed.
“For they are spiteful BrowniesWho in the wood abide;So be thou careful of this thing,Lest evil should betide.
“For they are spiteful Brownies
Who in the wood abide;
So be thou careful of this thing,
Lest evil should betide.
“But think not, little Mabel,Whilst thou art in the wood,Of dwarfish, wilful Brownies,But of the Father good.
“But think not, little Mabel,
Whilst thou art in the wood,
Of dwarfish, wilful Brownies,
But of the Father good.
“And when thou goest to the spring,To fetch the water thence,Do not disturb the little stream,Lest this should give offence.
“And when thou goest to the spring,
To fetch the water thence,
Do not disturb the little stream,
Lest this should give offence.
“For the Queen of all the FairiesShe loves that water bright;I’ve seen her drinking there, myself,On many a Summer night.
“For the Queen of all the Fairies
She loves that water bright;
I’ve seen her drinking there, myself,
On many a Summer night.
“But she’s a gracious lady,And her thou need’st not fear;Only disturb thou not the stream,Nor spill the water clear.”
“But she’s a gracious lady,
And her thou need’st not fear;
Only disturb thou not the stream,
Nor spill the water clear.”
“Now all this I will heed, mother,Will no word disobey,And wait upon the grandmotherThis live-long Summer Day.”
“Now all this I will heed, mother,
Will no word disobey,
And wait upon the grandmother
This live-long Summer Day.”
Away tripped little Mabel,With the wheaten cake so fine,With the new-made pat of butter,And the little flask of wine.And long before the sun was hot,And the Summer mist had cleared,Beside the good old grandmotherThe willing child appeared.And all her mother’s messageShe told with right good-willHow that the father was away,And the little child was ill.And then she swept the hearth up clean,And then the table spread,And next she fed the dog and bird,And then she made the bed.“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Ten paces down the dell,And bring in water for the day—Thou know’st the Lady-well.”The first time that good Mabel went,Nothing at all saw she,Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,That sat upon a tree.The next time that good Mabel went,There sat a lady brightBeside the well,—a lady small,All clothed in green and white.A curtsey low made Mabel,And then she stooped to fillHer pitcher at the sparkling spring,But no drop did she spill.“Thou art a handy maiden,”The Fairy lady said;“Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yetThe Fairy Spring troublèd.“And for this thing which thou hast done,Yet may’st not understand,I give to thee a better giftThan houses or than land.“Thou shalt do well whate’er thou dost,As thou hast done this day—Shalt have the will and power to please,And shalt be loved alway.”Thus having said, she passed from sight,And naught could Mabel see,But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,Upon the leafy tree.
Away tripped little Mabel,With the wheaten cake so fine,With the new-made pat of butter,And the little flask of wine.And long before the sun was hot,And the Summer mist had cleared,Beside the good old grandmotherThe willing child appeared.And all her mother’s messageShe told with right good-willHow that the father was away,And the little child was ill.And then she swept the hearth up clean,And then the table spread,And next she fed the dog and bird,And then she made the bed.“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Ten paces down the dell,And bring in water for the day—Thou know’st the Lady-well.”The first time that good Mabel went,Nothing at all saw she,Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,That sat upon a tree.The next time that good Mabel went,There sat a lady brightBeside the well,—a lady small,All clothed in green and white.A curtsey low made Mabel,And then she stooped to fillHer pitcher at the sparkling spring,But no drop did she spill.“Thou art a handy maiden,”The Fairy lady said;“Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yetThe Fairy Spring troublèd.“And for this thing which thou hast done,Yet may’st not understand,I give to thee a better giftThan houses or than land.“Thou shalt do well whate’er thou dost,As thou hast done this day—Shalt have the will and power to please,And shalt be loved alway.”Thus having said, she passed from sight,And naught could Mabel see,But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,Upon the leafy tree.
Away tripped little Mabel,With the wheaten cake so fine,With the new-made pat of butter,And the little flask of wine.
Away tripped little Mabel,
With the wheaten cake so fine,
With the new-made pat of butter,
And the little flask of wine.
And long before the sun was hot,And the Summer mist had cleared,Beside the good old grandmotherThe willing child appeared.
And long before the sun was hot,
And the Summer mist had cleared,
Beside the good old grandmother
The willing child appeared.
And all her mother’s messageShe told with right good-willHow that the father was away,And the little child was ill.
And all her mother’s message
She told with right good-will
How that the father was away,
And the little child was ill.
And then she swept the hearth up clean,And then the table spread,And next she fed the dog and bird,And then she made the bed.
And then she swept the hearth up clean,
And then the table spread,
And next she fed the dog and bird,
And then she made the bed.
“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Ten paces down the dell,And bring in water for the day—Thou know’st the Lady-well.”
“And go now,” said the grandmother,
“Ten paces down the dell,
And bring in water for the day—
Thou know’st the Lady-well.”
The first time that good Mabel went,Nothing at all saw she,Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,That sat upon a tree.
The first time that good Mabel went,
Nothing at all saw she,
Except a bird, a sky-blue bird,
That sat upon a tree.
The next time that good Mabel went,There sat a lady brightBeside the well,—a lady small,All clothed in green and white.
The next time that good Mabel went,
There sat a lady bright
Beside the well,—a lady small,
All clothed in green and white.
A curtsey low made Mabel,And then she stooped to fillHer pitcher at the sparkling spring,But no drop did she spill.
A curtsey low made Mabel,
And then she stooped to fill
Her pitcher at the sparkling spring,
But no drop did she spill.
“Thou art a handy maiden,”The Fairy lady said;“Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yetThe Fairy Spring troublèd.
“Thou art a handy maiden,”
The Fairy lady said;
“Thou hast not spilt a drop, nor yet
The Fairy Spring troublèd.
“And for this thing which thou hast done,Yet may’st not understand,I give to thee a better giftThan houses or than land.
“And for this thing which thou hast done,
Yet may’st not understand,
I give to thee a better gift
Than houses or than land.
“Thou shalt do well whate’er thou dost,As thou hast done this day—Shalt have the will and power to please,And shalt be loved alway.”
“Thou shalt do well whate’er thou dost,
As thou hast done this day—
Shalt have the will and power to please,
And shalt be loved alway.”
Thus having said, she passed from sight,And naught could Mabel see,But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,Upon the leafy tree.
Thus having said, she passed from sight,
And naught could Mabel see,
But the little bird, the sky-blue bird,
Upon the leafy tree.
“And now go,” said the grandmother,“And fetch in fagots dry;All in the neighbouring fir-wood,Beneath the trees they lie.”Away went kind, good Mabel,Into the fir-wood near,Where all the ground was dry and brown,And the grass grew thin and sear.She did not wander up and down,Nor yet a live branch pull,But steadily of the fallen boughsShe picked her apron full.And when the wildwood BrowniesCame sliding to her mind,She drove them thence, as she was told,With home-thoughts sweet and kind.But all that while the BrowniesWithin the fir-wood still,They watched her how she picked the wood,And strove to do no ill.“And oh! but she is small and neat!”Said one; “’twere shame to spiteA creature so demure and meek,A creature harmless quite!”“Look only,” said another,“At her little gown of blue,At her kerchief pinned about her head,And at her little shoe!”“Oh! but she is a comely child,”Said a third; “and we will layA good-luck penny in her path,A boon for her this day,—Seeing she broke no living wood,No live thing did affray!”With that the smallest penny,Of the finest silver ore,Upon the dry and slippery path,Lay Mabel’s feet before.With joy she picked the penny up,The Fairy penny good;And with her fagots dry and brownWent wandering from the wood.“Now she has that,” said the Brownies,“Let flax be ever so dear,’Twill buy her clothes of the very best,For many and many a year.”
“And now go,” said the grandmother,“And fetch in fagots dry;All in the neighbouring fir-wood,Beneath the trees they lie.”Away went kind, good Mabel,Into the fir-wood near,Where all the ground was dry and brown,And the grass grew thin and sear.She did not wander up and down,Nor yet a live branch pull,But steadily of the fallen boughsShe picked her apron full.And when the wildwood BrowniesCame sliding to her mind,She drove them thence, as she was told,With home-thoughts sweet and kind.But all that while the BrowniesWithin the fir-wood still,They watched her how she picked the wood,And strove to do no ill.“And oh! but she is small and neat!”Said one; “’twere shame to spiteA creature so demure and meek,A creature harmless quite!”“Look only,” said another,“At her little gown of blue,At her kerchief pinned about her head,And at her little shoe!”“Oh! but she is a comely child,”Said a third; “and we will layA good-luck penny in her path,A boon for her this day,—Seeing she broke no living wood,No live thing did affray!”With that the smallest penny,Of the finest silver ore,Upon the dry and slippery path,Lay Mabel’s feet before.With joy she picked the penny up,The Fairy penny good;And with her fagots dry and brownWent wandering from the wood.“Now she has that,” said the Brownies,“Let flax be ever so dear,’Twill buy her clothes of the very best,For many and many a year.”
“And now go,” said the grandmother,“And fetch in fagots dry;All in the neighbouring fir-wood,Beneath the trees they lie.”
“And now go,” said the grandmother,
“And fetch in fagots dry;
All in the neighbouring fir-wood,
Beneath the trees they lie.”
Away went kind, good Mabel,Into the fir-wood near,Where all the ground was dry and brown,And the grass grew thin and sear.
Away went kind, good Mabel,
Into the fir-wood near,
Where all the ground was dry and brown,
And the grass grew thin and sear.
She did not wander up and down,Nor yet a live branch pull,But steadily of the fallen boughsShe picked her apron full.
She did not wander up and down,
Nor yet a live branch pull,
But steadily of the fallen boughs
She picked her apron full.
And when the wildwood BrowniesCame sliding to her mind,She drove them thence, as she was told,With home-thoughts sweet and kind.
And when the wildwood Brownies
Came sliding to her mind,
She drove them thence, as she was told,
With home-thoughts sweet and kind.
But all that while the BrowniesWithin the fir-wood still,They watched her how she picked the wood,And strove to do no ill.
But all that while the Brownies
Within the fir-wood still,
They watched her how she picked the wood,
And strove to do no ill.
“And oh! but she is small and neat!”Said one; “’twere shame to spiteA creature so demure and meek,A creature harmless quite!”
“And oh! but she is small and neat!”
Said one; “’twere shame to spite
A creature so demure and meek,
A creature harmless quite!”
“Look only,” said another,“At her little gown of blue,At her kerchief pinned about her head,And at her little shoe!”
“Look only,” said another,
“At her little gown of blue,
At her kerchief pinned about her head,
And at her little shoe!”
“Oh! but she is a comely child,”Said a third; “and we will layA good-luck penny in her path,A boon for her this day,—Seeing she broke no living wood,No live thing did affray!”
“Oh! but she is a comely child,”
Said a third; “and we will lay
A good-luck penny in her path,
A boon for her this day,—
Seeing she broke no living wood,
No live thing did affray!”
With that the smallest penny,Of the finest silver ore,Upon the dry and slippery path,Lay Mabel’s feet before.
With that the smallest penny,
Of the finest silver ore,
Upon the dry and slippery path,
Lay Mabel’s feet before.
With joy she picked the penny up,The Fairy penny good;And with her fagots dry and brownWent wandering from the wood.
With joy she picked the penny up,
The Fairy penny good;
And with her fagots dry and brown
Went wandering from the wood.
“Now she has that,” said the Brownies,“Let flax be ever so dear,’Twill buy her clothes of the very best,For many and many a year.”
“Now she has that,” said the Brownies,
“Let flax be ever so dear,
’Twill buy her clothes of the very best,
For many and many a year.”
“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Since falling is the dew—Go down unto the lonesome glen,And milk the mother-ewe.”All down into the lonesome glen,Through copses thick and wild,Through moist, rank grass, by trickling streams,Went on the willing child.And when she came to the lonesome glen,She kept beside the burn,And neither plucked the strawberry-flower,Nor broke the lady-fern.And while she milked the mother-eweWithin this lonesome glen,She wished that little AmyWere strong and well again.And soon as she had thought this thought,She heard a coming sound,As if a thousand Fairy folkWere gathering all around.And then she heard a little voice,Shrill as the midge’s wing,That spake aloud: “A human childIs here, yet mark this thing!—“The lady-fern is all unbroke,The strawberry-flower unta’en!What shall be done for her who stillFrom mischief can refrain?”“Give her a Fairy cake!” said one;“Grant her a wish!” said three;“The latest wish that she hath wished,”Said all, “whate’er it be!”Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,And from the lonesome glenUnto the good old grandmotherWent gladly back again.Thus happened it to Mabel,On that Midsummer Day,And these three Fairy blessingsShe took with her away.’Tis good to make all duty sweet,To be alert and kind;’Tis good, like little Mabel,To have a willing mind.Mary Howitt
“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Since falling is the dew—Go down unto the lonesome glen,And milk the mother-ewe.”All down into the lonesome glen,Through copses thick and wild,Through moist, rank grass, by trickling streams,Went on the willing child.And when she came to the lonesome glen,She kept beside the burn,And neither plucked the strawberry-flower,Nor broke the lady-fern.And while she milked the mother-eweWithin this lonesome glen,She wished that little AmyWere strong and well again.And soon as she had thought this thought,She heard a coming sound,As if a thousand Fairy folkWere gathering all around.And then she heard a little voice,Shrill as the midge’s wing,That spake aloud: “A human childIs here, yet mark this thing!—“The lady-fern is all unbroke,The strawberry-flower unta’en!What shall be done for her who stillFrom mischief can refrain?”“Give her a Fairy cake!” said one;“Grant her a wish!” said three;“The latest wish that she hath wished,”Said all, “whate’er it be!”Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,And from the lonesome glenUnto the good old grandmotherWent gladly back again.Thus happened it to Mabel,On that Midsummer Day,And these three Fairy blessingsShe took with her away.’Tis good to make all duty sweet,To be alert and kind;’Tis good, like little Mabel,To have a willing mind.Mary Howitt
“And go now,” said the grandmother,“Since falling is the dew—Go down unto the lonesome glen,And milk the mother-ewe.”
“And go now,” said the grandmother,
“Since falling is the dew—
Go down unto the lonesome glen,
And milk the mother-ewe.”
All down into the lonesome glen,Through copses thick and wild,Through moist, rank grass, by trickling streams,Went on the willing child.
All down into the lonesome glen,
Through copses thick and wild,
Through moist, rank grass, by trickling streams,
Went on the willing child.
And when she came to the lonesome glen,She kept beside the burn,And neither plucked the strawberry-flower,Nor broke the lady-fern.
And when she came to the lonesome glen,
She kept beside the burn,
And neither plucked the strawberry-flower,
Nor broke the lady-fern.
And while she milked the mother-eweWithin this lonesome glen,She wished that little AmyWere strong and well again.
And while she milked the mother-ewe
Within this lonesome glen,
She wished that little Amy
Were strong and well again.
And soon as she had thought this thought,She heard a coming sound,As if a thousand Fairy folkWere gathering all around.
And soon as she had thought this thought,
She heard a coming sound,
As if a thousand Fairy folk
Were gathering all around.
And then she heard a little voice,Shrill as the midge’s wing,That spake aloud: “A human childIs here, yet mark this thing!—
And then she heard a little voice,
Shrill as the midge’s wing,
That spake aloud: “A human child
Is here, yet mark this thing!—
“The lady-fern is all unbroke,The strawberry-flower unta’en!What shall be done for her who stillFrom mischief can refrain?”
“The lady-fern is all unbroke,
The strawberry-flower unta’en!
What shall be done for her who still
From mischief can refrain?”
“Give her a Fairy cake!” said one;“Grant her a wish!” said three;“The latest wish that she hath wished,”Said all, “whate’er it be!”
“Give her a Fairy cake!” said one;
“Grant her a wish!” said three;
“The latest wish that she hath wished,”
Said all, “whate’er it be!”
Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,And from the lonesome glenUnto the good old grandmotherWent gladly back again.
Kind Mabel heard the words they spake,
And from the lonesome glen
Unto the good old grandmother
Went gladly back again.
Thus happened it to Mabel,On that Midsummer Day,And these three Fairy blessingsShe took with her away.
Thus happened it to Mabel,
On that Midsummer Day,
And these three Fairy blessings
She took with her away.
’Tis good to make all duty sweet,To be alert and kind;’Tis good, like little Mabel,To have a willing mind.
’Tis good to make all duty sweet,
To be alert and kind;
’Tis good, like little Mabel,
To have a willing mind.
Mary Howitt
Mary Howitt