"And now, my children," she continued as she turned again toward the Twins, "let us take the King's shadow in the coach, and return to the royal palace. I am sure that by careful labor I can restore this poor, dear shadow to its original shape."
As she spoke she was about to step again into the coach, when all at once she turned toward the Enchanted Banjo, as though she had heard it speak.
"What is it, good Banjo?" she asked. "And why do you laugh as though you would split yourself? Is it anything you want to tell us?"
"I was just thinking, your Majesty," replied the Enchanted Banjo, "while we have all been talking about Wishing Wands and the like, about a funny thing of that sort that once happened within my own experience. I made up a song about it the other night, and if you care to hear it, I will sing it to you."
"Very well," said the Fairy Queen; and so the Banjo began, in a rich, full voice:
THE COME-ALL-YE OF PAT McGLORY
Come all ye fine young gintlemin, I'll tell to ye a story
Concernin' one that I knew well; his name was Pat McGlory.
One mornin' whin the cow had died that helped him run his dairy
He sat him down an' cried an' cried—when up there leapt a Fairy.
O, ho, ho, ho! Um, ha, ha, ha!
The Fairy wore a golden crown, wid di'monds in aich wing,
An' anny one would know at once he was the Fairy King.
He looked one moment at poor Pat—this splendid little Fairy—
Then whispered soft an' sootherin': "Ye'll have a bran' new dairy."
He waved his wand a time or two, an' Pat got lean an' slim,
An' whin the Fairy started off, why Pat wint after him!
O, ho, ho, ho! Um, ha, ha, ha!
He popped into a hole that was near by thim in the ground
An' Pat came slidin' after him wid: "King, where are we bound?"
The king he answered not a word, but stopped and touched a stone
An' there they were in one big hall befoor a golden throne.
The king he sat upon the throne, an' thin he said, said he:
"Because I like you, Pat, my lad, I'll give you wishes three."
O, ho, ho, ho! Um, ha, ha, ha!
Thin Pat he thought about the things he needed most right now,
An' said: "I can't make up my mind. I wisht I had a cow."
The king he waved his shinin' wand, and said: "Look by yer side."
An' there there stood a splindid cow—'twas all of four feet wide.
Thin Pat he started out wid her, an' first thing that he knew
He found th' cow was far too wide, he couldn't drive her through.
O, ho, ho, ho! Um, ha, ha, ha!