It was a cold evening in winter. Patsy was sound asleep in his bed. The good mother sat knitting socks for her husband; Mike was whittling a hockey stick to play with the next day. Little Katie was singing her rag doll to sleep, while Norah lay on the floor by the fireplace with eyes shut tight and breathing softly.
When her father touched her cheek and spoke to her, she sprang up with a sudden start.
"I've been dreaming. Oh, it was such a beautiful dream!" she exclaimed. "I was with the fairies in a big cave. They were having a party, and they looked just lovely. Indade, it was the sweetest dream I ever had."
"Do tell us about it," cried Katie. "Oh, do, Norah. And don't forget a single thing."
Norah's cheeks were rosy red, and her blue eyes sparkled as she painted the dream picture to the listening family.
She had been in the grand hall of a cave. It was like no other hall she had ever seen. The walls were shining with precious stones. Shining pendants hung from the ceiling and glistened in the light given by hundreds of fairy torches.
But the fairies themselves were the loveliest sight of all. Oh, they were such tiny creatures! The young lady fairies were all in white, and their soft, fair hair hung far down over their shoulders.
The young gentlemen fairies wore green jackets and white breeches.
The fairy queen had a golden crown on her head, and when she waved her golden wand, every one hastened to do her bidding.