The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Fairies of the Night
“Some have bedding for the Insects,—
Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds.”
THE FAIRIES OF THE NIGHT.
WHEN the world is calmly sleeping,
Through the quiet summer nights,
From the Forest’s depths come creeping
Swarms of tiny Nymphs and Sprites.
Moving slowly, all on tip-toe,
At the Forest’s edge they stay.
Till the last hues of the daylight
O’er the hill-tops fade away.
Then across the fields they scamper,
Each one carrying on his back
Various tools to do his work with,
Done up in a cobweb sack.
Some have bedding for the Insects,
Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds;
Monstrous music-books, containing
Lullabies that have no words.
Others carry tiny cradles
For the little baby Toads;
While behind the rest come rushing
Many Gnomes with curious loads.
There are Barrels, Tanks, and Bottles
Filled with dew, clear to the brinks;
And these Gnomes, with silver goblets
Give the Flowers their evening drinks.
“Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes,
Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop.”
Now, when all this work is finished
And the whole World calmly dreams,
More Nymphs from the woods come skipping,
Heading for the Fields and Streams.
They’re a band of sweet musicians,
Rich in melody and song;
Hurrying to their wondrous concert,
That will last the whole night long.
In the hot June nights, this music
Through your chamber window floats,
Sounding now like rippling brooklets,
Then the Tree-toad’s warbling notes.
From the grass a steady chorus,—
Buzzings, chirps, and croakings,—show
How this Fairy Band is playing,
Loud and fast, or soft and slow.
Though most all the world is sleeping,
There are some who hear them play,
Who prefer the quiet of Evening
To the light and noise of Day.
Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes,
Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop,
Till the Sun, the King of Fairies,
Sends his rays to bid them stop.