THE MOCKING FAIRY

‘ Wo n't you look out of your window, Mrs. Gill?’

Quoth the Fairy, niddling, nodding in the garden;

‘ Ca n't you look out of your window, Mrs. Gill?’

Quoth the Fairy, laughing softly in the garden;

But the air was still, the cherry boughs were still,

And the ivy-tod‘ neath the empty sill,

And never from her window looked out Mrs. Gill

On the Fairy shrilly mocking in the garden.

‘ What have they done with you, you poor Mrs. Gill?’

Quoth the Fairy brightly glancing in the garden;

‘ Where have they hidden you, you poor old Mrs. Gill?’

Quoth the Fairy dancing lightly in the garden;

But night's faint veil now wrapped the hill,

Stark‘ neath the stars stood the dead-still Mill,

And out of her cold cottage never answered Mrs. Gill

The Fairy mimbling, mambling in the garden.