"I bought a dog, and the dog pleased me;
I tied my dog behind a tree;
Dog said——"
"Bow-wow!" said a little curly dog, as Davie came around the spreading roots of the tree. There stood a little short-legged duck tied to the guinea's leg, and to the duck's leg was fastened the wisest-looking Scotch terrier, with spectacles on his nose and a walking-cane in his paw.
The whole group looked up at Davie, who now felt perfectly confident He sat down on a stone close by, and continued his song:
"I had a horse, and my horse pleased me;
I tied my horse behind a tree."
Davie stopped and looked down the little brown path. Then he clapped his hands in great delight; for there came the little old man leading by a golden bridle a snow-white pony, no bigger than Davie's Newfoundland dog.
"Sure enough, it is a boy!" said the pony, as the old man tied his bridle to the dog's hind leg, and then hurried away. "I thought so! Boys are always bothering [people]."
"Who are you, and where did you all come from?" asked delighted Davie.
"Why," said the pony, "we belong to the court of Her Majesty the Queen of the Fairies. But, of course, when the song in which any of the court voices are wanted, is sung, they all have to go."
"I'm sure I'm very sorry," said Davie. "But why haven't I ever seen you all before?"