"Silver sweet the music swells
Of the snow-white lily-bells,
And the sounding pink sea-shells.
"Hither—hither, haste away
To the fairies' frolic play;
'Tis the festive fairy-day."
Brighter grew the eyes of the sick boy, and his cheek flushed with excitement as he listened.
"Oh, how beautiful!" he murmured; "what dainty little rippling notes!"
"Listen again," said the Queen, with a gratified smile, for she liked to hear her peo ple praised; "listen! the island fairies are answering."
Was it magic that brought those tiny voices so far over the water? Surely it was, for there rose on the air a clear tinkling sound like the ringing of little glass bells; and Charley heard these words:
"Beaming moon—shimmering fountain—
Light, and deck the fairy dell;
We are coming to the mountain,
From the isle we love so well:
To the fairy ball we hie;
Thought-swift through the purple sky
We are hastening at the call;
'Tis the great midsummer ball.
"Open lily—blossom rose,
Shed around thy perfume light;
Heliotrope—thy sweets disclose
To the fragrant dews of night.
Dogwood grim we fairies banish;
Purple nightshade! fly! evanish!
We are hastening at the call;
'Tis the great midsummer ball.
"Chime hare-bells! clearly, sweetly,
Joy our hearts with blithe accord,
As we fairies neatly, featly,
Trip it o'er the dainty sward.
Velvet sod thy carpet spread,
With small buds enamellèd,
We are hastening at the call;
'Tis the great midsummer ball.
"Oh!" exclaimed the entranced boy, "how I should like to see the beautiful fairies dancing in the moonlight. May I, sweet lady?"