4
miserable, because they had no children.
The poor woman declared, with tears
in her eyes, that she should be the hap-
piest creature in the world, if she had a
son; and although he was no bigger than
her husband's thumb, she would be quite
satisfied.
Merlin was so much amused with the
idea of a boy no bigger than a man's
thumb, that he determined to pay a visit
to the queen of the fairies, and request
her to gratify the wishes of the poor wo-
man. When he had accomplished his
(illegible text)arney, Merlin thought on the kind
treatment he had received at the cottage,
and the comical whim of the little man
again suggested itself; and, being on an
intimate footing with Queen Mab, he
told her the purpose of his visit, and re-
quested her to grant the desire of the
countryman's wife.
The droll fancy of such a little per-
sonage among the human race pleased
the queen of the fairies exceedingly and
she told Merlin that the wish of the poor
woman should be granted. According-
ly, in a short time after, the ploughman's
wife was safely delivered of a son, who,
