“It is all true,” cried the old woman, “I can prove it to you; just ask me to change something and you will see for yourself.”
“Well,” said Isabelle, “if you are a powerful fairy, turn your crooked staff into a little bird.”
“O, that is very easy,” said the old woman, and she swung her staff around her head three times saying:—
“O crooked staff, become a bird,
And let thy tuneful voice be heard;
Fly all about the trees and land,
Then light on Isabelle’s fair hand.”
In the twinkling of an eye the crooked staff had disappeared and a little yellow bird began to fly over their heads, singing all the time.
Isabelle watched it as it flew over the trees and all at once it came right down into her hand.