I have seen it, and I know
How we journey to that land;
Nodding poppies flash and glow
Down the path on either hand;
Jewel spray on silver sand
Brings the snow-white Fairy-boats;
Each, by elves and brownies manned,
As a lily floats.
Ho, sometimes you hear the bells
That the dancing Fairies wear!
Oft at night their music swells
Far and faintly on the air,
And sometimes the breezes bear
Calls blown on a Fairy-horn;
You have heard them, here and there,
In the summer morn.
Here's the secret: You must look
For the path with drowsy eyes:
Twixt the covers of a book
Half the wondrous secret lies.
Then if you are good and wise,
In a twinkling there you are—
Past the ending of the skies,
Fairy-land afar.
"The Banjo knows more about the Fairies than any one," said the Private Secretary. "It can tell you how they employ themselves all these long summer days." And thereupon the Banjo began:
Oh, do not think the Fairies can be idle all the while,
That they have nothing much to do but sit and sing and smile;
Each has a task he must perform—he must be smart and good
And do his work as carefully as real-sure people should.
Some Fairies have to hurry forth and waken all the leaves
And bid them come and dress the trees in dainty styles and weaves;
Some Fairies have to go with paint and some with rich perfume,
And tint and scent the flowers when they open into bloom.
The Jack-o'-lantern Fairies have to dance above the bogs
To make a light for all the concerts given by the frogs;
And others whisper to the bees and tell them where to look
For honey in a clover bloom that hides beside the brook.
And some come when the night is here and you have gone to sleep
They find your home and then upon your pillow they will creep,
And tell you dreams that you must dream; and then, you understand,
Next morning you may truly say you've been to Fairy-land.
"But now, in regard to this syrup, I wonder very much how it tastes," interrupted the King, returning to the matter that had been upon his mind, "tell me, how does it taste?"