THE BOYS AND GIRLS BOOK : OF ENCHANTMENT WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS STRAHAN AND COM PANY L IM IT E D 34 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON TH E LAST NEW S OF F A IR IE S . TH E H E la s t n e w s o f th e F a irie s ! A n d v e r y r e lia b le n e w s to o , u p o n e v id e n c e a s g o o d a s o n e c a n g e t w ith re g a rd to m o s t d o u b tfu l th in g s . s o v e ry la te n e ith e r— n o t m u c h h a lf a c e n tu ry o ld . m o re N ot th a n T h a t is , it c a n b e little m o r e th a n th ir ty y e a r s s in c e th e p e r s o n w h o saw th e th e s to ry o f h is s e e in g fa irie s to ld th e m to th e p e rs o n w h o to ld m e — th e n a b o y a n d n o w o n ly a m id d le -a g e d m a n . A m an, to o , w h o s e tr u th f u ln e s s a n d h o n e s ty a r e p r o ­ v e r b ia l in th e v illa g e w h e r e h e liv e s — w h ic h I d o n o t in te n d to p a rtic u la riz e m o re th a n b y s a y in g it w a s th e W e s t R id in g o f Y o r k s h ir e . I m y s e lf h a v e a h v a y s h a d a lu rk in g b e lie f in T h e r e is a n f a ir ie s . non e vero e ben trevato: I ta lia n p ro v e rb , Se w h ic h m e a n s , f r e e ly t r a n s la t e d — “ I f it i s n ’t t r u e i t o u g h t t o b e .” A n d I s till th in k , th a t if th e r e a r e n o t f a ir ie s b e v e ry n ic e if th e re it w o u ld w Te r e to be. S u c h a s th e fa iry g o d m o th e r o f C in d e r e lla , a n d th e p r e tty h a r m le s s c r e a tu r e s o f th e M id ­ sum m er and N i g h t ’s Puck. D re a m — O b e ro n , T ita n ia , Q ueen O r th e c a r r ie d a w a y T h o m a s th e o f F a i r ie s w ’h o R hym er and th e y o u n g T a m la n e , a s w ’c r e a d o f i n o l d S c o t c h b a lla d s . O r th e b ro w n ie s a n d th e p ix ie s , th e c o b o ld s a n d U n d in e — a ll e a rth , a n d th e g n o m e s , th e N e c k a n d th e th o s e v a rio u s e lv e s o f w a te r, u n d e r th e e a rth , w ith w h ic h th e fa iry m y th o lo g y o f d if f e r e n t n a tio n s m a k e s u s a c q u a in te d . I w a s w e ll r e a d in it o n c e , b u t h a v e n e a r ly f o r g o tte n it n o w . S till, I p r ic k u p m y e a r s lik e a n o ld h o r s e a t s o u n d o f th e h u n t, w h e n e v e r th e r e is th e s lig h te s t r e f e r e n c e to w h a t is c a lle d f o lk -lo r e . M a n y a t i m e , w h e n I w ’a s a c h i l d , I u s e d t o t h i n k h o w d e l i g h t f u l i t w o u l d be to c a t c h a fa iry — a little c re a tu re no b ig g e r th a n a d o ll, o n ly a liv e — THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES, q u ite a liv e , fu ll o f p ra n k s a n d p re tty w a y s. H o w e n c h a n tin g to p la y w ith it, a n d ta lk to it, a n d c u d d le i t ! O n ly it m ig h t n o t u n d e r s ta n d c u d d lin g ; b e a b le to c o n v e r s e w ith m e in p la in E n g lis h , o r a n d w h e th e r it w o u ld w o u ld ta lk u n in te llig ib le fa iry la n g u a g e , w a s a p o in t o n w h ic h I n e v e r c o u ld n o t m a tte r m u c h , a s I n e v e r c a u g h t m y f a ir y . I t d id s a tis f y m y m in d . B u t I c e r ta in ly s h o u ld h a v e s e t a tr a p fo r it, o r g o n e e n d le s s w a n d e r in g s m o o rs in s e a rc h o f it, h a d a b o u t th e w o o d s a n d I e v e r h e a rd th e s to r y , o r th e tw o s to rie s , w h ic h I a m a b o u t to te ll to y o u ; th o u g h o f c o u rs e I d o n o t e x p e c t y o u to b e lie v e th e m . M y in fo rm a n t w a s, a s I h a v e s a id , a m id d le -a g e d m a n , w h o m I m e t la st I s h a ll n o t g iv e h is n a m e — le s t h e m ig h t n o t lik e s u m m e r in Y o rk sh ire . it, o r lik e to b e c o n s id e r e d r e s p o n s ib le fo r m y v e r s io n o f th e s to r y , th o u g h I h a v e g iv p n it a s a c c u r a te ly a s I c o u ld m e re ly c a ll h im T h e re fo re I s h a ll re m e m b e r. “ J o h n .” O n e d a y J o h n c a m e to t e a ; a n d c a p ita l c o m p a n y h e w a s ,— s e lf - e d u c a te d , a n d v e ry w e ll e d u c a te d to o , fo r w h a t I s u p p o s e w o u ld b e c a lle d “ o n e o f th e w o rk in g c la s s e s .” A s if th e “ u p p e r ” c la s s e s d id n o t w o rk h a rd e n o u g h a ls o s o m e tim e s ! H ig h ly in te llig e n t b y n a tu r e , w ith a s tr o n g s h r e w d Y o r k ­ s h ire w it, a n d a w a y o f e x p re s s in g h im s e lf th a t a t o n c e s a id w h a t h e m e a n t to s a y in th e b e s t m a n n e r p o s s ib le . N o a tte m p t w h a te v e r a t “ s h o w in g o f f ,” o r a p p e a r in g o t h e r t h a t h e w a s : a n in te n s e ly h o n e s t m a n , w h o s e w o r d w a s h is b o n d , a n d w h o s e ju d g m e n t m ig h t b e f a ir ly tr u s te d w h e r e h e h a d h a d a n o p p o r tu n i ty o f f o r m i n g it. o n a ll p o in ts M o d e s t— r a th e r r e tirin g th a n n o t— y e t w ith p le n ty o f s e lf - r e s p e c t; a n d a q u ie t c o n v ic tio n th a t “ a m a n ’s a m a n f o r a ’ t h a t .” S u c h is th e s o r t o f m a n y h o s e s o c ie ty I lik e — b e h is r a n k in lif e w h a t it m a y . A n d I c a n tru ly s a y th a t th o u g h I h a v e s p e n t m a n y a p le a s a n t e v e n in g w ith th e c e le b ra te d m e n o f th e e a r th , I n e v e r s p e n t a p le a s a n te r th a n w ith m y frie n d J o h n . T o w a r d s th e c lo s e o f it, a f te r h e h a d b e e n g iv in g u s e n d le s s s to r ie s a b o u t th e h a b its a n d m a n n e r s o f th e la s t g e n e r a tio n in th e v illa g e w h e r e h e h a d b e e n b o m a n d re a re d , a n d w h ic h h e h a d s c a rc e ly e v e r q u itte d , a n d ended he m had w ith a n a c c o u n t o f th e v a r io u s c u r io s itie s o f th e n e ig h b o u r h o o d , e n tio n e d a la r g e c a v e , c a p a b le o f h o ld in g f o u r te e n p e o p le , w h ic h w a s o n th e m o o r h a r d b y , a n d w a s c a lle d “ th e F a ir ie s ’ H o u s e .” “ W h a t!” s a id I e a g e rly , “ a re th e r e a n y fa irie s in th is p a rt o f Y o rk ­ s h ire ? ” John lo o k e d at m e w ith a q u e e r tw in k le o f th e eye. “The fo lk s h e r e a b o u ts u s e d to th in k s o — a t le a s t th e y d id b e fo re w e h a d M e c h a n ic s e I n s t it u t e s a n d t h o s e s o r t o f th in g s t o t e l l u s it w a s n ’t p o s s ib le . B ut som e THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' BOOK OF ENCHANTMENT 66 o f th e o ld p e o p le b e lie v e d in th e m fo r a lo n g tim e . it w a s s a id W hen I w as a boy, th a t if y o u c r e p t q u ie tly in to th e F a irie s ’ H o u s e y o u m ig h t s e e th e m th e r e — p r o v id e d y o u w e r e e a r ly e n o u g h in th e m o r n in g .” P ra y , J o h n , d id y o u e v e r s e e a fa iry ? ” I p u t th e “ A n d d id y o u g o ? q u e s tio n h a lf-la n g h in g , le s t h e m ig h t s u s p e c t I w a s in e a rn e st. “ W e l l, m a ’a m ,” r e p l i e d J o h n w i t h g r a v e p o l i t e n e s s , “ I c a n ’t s a y t h a t I B ut I e v e r d id . have know n th e m , o r a t le a s t firm ly th o s e th a t sa w b e lie v e d s o .” “ W h a t! in th e p r e s e n t g e n e r a tio n ? ” “ V e ry n e a rly . d e c la re d T h a t is , w h e n I w a s a la d p o s itiv e ly h e h a d s e e n f a ir ie s . n o b o d y e v e r c o n tr a d ic te d h im . “ The knew o n e o ld m a n w h o B e s id e s , h e w a s a m a n t h a t y o u w o u ld n ’t lik e to c o n tr a d ic t f o r n o th in g , w a s W illia m “ A n d w h o w a s W illia m I H e w a s s o s tro n g u p o n it th a t B u tte r f ie ld .” B u tte rfie ld ? ” b a th m a n a t th e W e lls h e re , fo r m a n y m a n y y e a rs, a n d r e s p e c ta b le m a n to o . a m ost H e n e v e r g o t d ru n k — a s m o s t p e o p le d id in th o s e d a y s — a n d h e n e v e r to ld a lie th a t I e v e r h e a r d o f .” “ B u t h e m ig h t h a v e m a d e a m is ta k e , o r f a n c ie d th in g s ? ” “ N o , h e w a s n ’t g i v e n t o f a n c ie s , n o r l i k e l y t o m a k e m i s t a k e s . c o m m o n s h a r p f e llo w w a s W illia m B u tte r f ie ld . An un­ B e s id e s , o f te n a n d o f te n a s h e to ld th e s to r y , h e n e v e r a lte r e d it o n e b it.” “ A n d h e to ld it to y o u y o u rs e lf ? ” “ A y ; I r e m e m b e r th e d a y q u ite w e ll. W e w e r e s ittin g o n th e b e n c h o u ts id e th e p u b lic h o u s e d o o r — h e n e v e r w e n t in s id e ; h e s a id a ll th e b e e r in th e w o r ld w a s n o t w o r th a g la s s o f th e W e lls w a te r s . I w as a boy, but a b ig g is h b o y — o ld e n o u g h to lik e th e c o m p a n y o f m y e ld e r s a n d b e tte r s , and I used to g o a b o u t a g o o d d e a l w ith th is W illia m B u tte rf ie ld , w h o h a d s u c h a lo t o f q u e e r s to r ie s to te ll, e s p e c ia lly a b o u t h is W e lls , o f w h ic h h e w a s v e r y p r o u d .” ( H e r e I o u g h t to e x p la in th a t “ th e W e lls ” a re th e p r in c ip a l f e a tu r e o f th e v illa g e w h e r e J o h n liv e s , w h ic h th e y a r e f a s t c h a n g in g f r o m a v illa g e in to a f lo u ris h in g to w n .) “ A n d it w a s a t th e W e lls ,” J o h n c o n tin u e d , “ th a t h e s a w , o r fa n c ie d h e s a w , th e f a ir ie s .” “ D o te ll m e a ll a b o u t it,” I a s k e d e a g e rly . A n d J o h n to ld m e . I w is h I c o u ld g iv e a n y th in g lik e th e g ra p h ic w o rd s in w h ic h h e d id s o ; b u t a s I c a n n o t, I h a d b e tte r g iv e it in m y o w n . T h e W e lls w e r e o r ig in a lly a m o o r la n d s p r in g o n th e h ill- s id e , s u p p o s e d to h a v e s o m e m e d ic in a l p r o p e r tie s , b u t a t a n y r a te p r o d u c in g a n u n lim ite d THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES, s u p p ly o f v e r y p u r e a n d d e lic io u s w a te r. O v e r th e m ^7 is n o w e r e c te d a h a n d s o m e b u ild in g , a n d o u ts id e th e r e a r e b e n c h e s w h e r e p e o p le m a y s it about and Y o rk s h ire . th e s p r in g a d m ir e th e v ie w u p a n d d o w n th e d a le , o n e o f th e fin e s t in B u t i n J o h n ’s b o y h o o d t h e W e l l s w e r e l e f t o p e n t o t h e s k y — b e in g m e re ly le d in to a r e s e r v o ir , w h ic h w a s e n c lo s e d by a c irc u la r w a ll, e ig h t fe e t h ig h , a n d u s e d a s a s o r t o f b a th . T h is b a th w a s e n te re d k e p t th e k e y . b y a s m a ll d o o r , o f w h ic h W illia m B u tte rfie ld I t w a s h is b u s in e ss to lo c k it u p th e la s t th in g a t n ig h t, a n d g o b a c k to o p e n it th e first th in g in th e m o rn in g . H e d id th is d a y a fte r d a y , a n d y e a r a fte r y e a r, w ith o u t s e e in g a n y th in g u n til o n e m id s u m m e r m o rn in g . I in q u ir e d p a r tic u la r ly , a n d f o u n d o u t f r o m J o h n w ith o u t te llin g h im th e re a s o n w h y — th e n e ith e r m y frie n d fa c t th a t it was upon W h i c h w ra s a c u r i o u s ju st b e fo re d a w n . John n o r W illia m m id s u m m e r m o r n in g , a n d c o in c id e n c e , a s I a m B u tte rfie ld had c e rta in th e s lig h te s t id e a t h a t S t J o h n ’s E v e — o r t h e n i g h t b e f o r e m i d s u m m e r - d a y — a n d t h e m a g i c h o u r “ b e tw e e n th e n ig h t a n d th e d a y ,” is , a c c o r d in g to a ll p o p u la r s u p e r­ s titio n , th e f a v o u r ite tim e w h e n th e f a ir ie s a r e a b r o a d , a n d d is p o s e d to m a k e th e m s e lv e s v is ib le . W illia m B u tte r f ie ld g o t u p th a t m o r n in g , h e d e c la re d , n o m o r e e x p e c tin g to s e e a n y th in g “ q u e e r ” th a n o n a n y o th e r m o rn in g . H e had g o n e to b e d a t h is u s u a l h o u r , a n d r o s e a s u s u a l, p e r f e c tly s o b e r a n d c o o l- h e a d e d ; c lim b in g th e s te e p a s c e n t o f th e m o o r w ith a c tiv e fe e t, a n d n o tic in g n o th in g in p a r tic u la r , e x c e p t th a t it w a s a v e r y f in e m id s u m m e r m o r n in g , c o o l, g r e y , a n d s till, f o r th e s u n w a s n o t u p , a n d th e o n ly s o u n d a lo n g th e h ill- s id e w a s th e c r y o f o n e s o lita r y c u c k o o in th e d i s ta n c e ; it b e in g s o e a r ly th a t n o o th e r b ir d s w e r e a w a k e . B u tte rfie ld th o u g h t h e h a d m a d e s o m e m ista k e a s to th e h o u r; h o w e v e r, it m a tte r e d little , s o h e w e n t c h e e r f u lly o n h is w a y , a n d c o m in g to th e c ir ­ c u la r w a ll, d r e w h is b ig k e y o u t o f h is p o c k e t, try in g to o p e n th e d o o r. B u t th e re w a s s o m e th in g “ u n c a n n y ” a b o u t i t ; it re fu s e d to b e u n lo c k e d , o r r a th e r th e k e y tu r n e d r o u n d a n d r o u n d in th e k e y h o le q u ite e a s ily , b u t th e d o o r s tu c k fa s t A s o fte n a s h e trie d to p u s h it o p e n , it w a s p u s h e d b a c k a g a in H o r n i n s i d e ; a n d h e f a n c ie d h e h e a r d w ith in th e e n c lo s u r e a ru s h in g a n d a s c ra m b lin g , a s if a tro o p o f ra b b its o r ra ts , a c c o m p a n ie d b y a n o i s e n o t u n l i k e c h i l d r e n ’s l a u g h t e r , o n l y i t w a s s u c h v e r y s h r i l l t h i n la u g h te r, a s if th e c h ild re n had b e e n tin y b a b ie s , e x c e p t th a t n e w -b o rn b a b ie s n e v e r la u g h e d ; w h ic h W illia m B u tte rfie ld , w h o h a d o n e o f h is o w n a t h o m e , w a s w e ll a w a re o f. 68 THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' BOOK OF ENCHANTMENT A t la s t, w ith o n e s te a d y p u s h , h e fo rc e d th e d o o r o p e n , a n d th e n — w h a t d o y o u th in k h e sa w ? I r e p e a t I d o n o t e x p e c t you t o b e l i e v e t h e s t o r y , b u t h e b e l i e v e d i t , a n d k e p t firm in h is b e lie f a s lo n g a s h e liv e d . A ll o v e r th e w e ll, s k im m in g o n its s u rfa c e lik e w a te r-s p id e rs , o r d ip p in g in to it a s if th e y w e re ta k in g a b a th , w a s a s w a rm o f little p e o p le , th e b ig g e s t o f th e m n o t a b o v e e ig h te e n in c h e s h ig h ; y e t th e y s e e m e d p e rfe c t human beings. They b a th e d w ith a ll th e ir c lo th e s o n ; a n d B u tte r f ie ld THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES. n o tic e d th a t th e y w e re d re s s e d fro m h e a d th e c o lo u r o f g ra ss h o p p e rs . w e re s o a g ile , a n d h a v e trie d to fo o t in g re e n — a s g re e n a s T h e r e w a s s u c h a q u a n tity o f th e m , a n d th e y liv e ly , a n d fro lic s o m e , th a t h e fe lt h e m ig h t a s s o o n to c a tc h th e m a s if th e y h a d s h o a l o f m in n o w s . 69 b e e n a s w a rm o f M a y -flie s o r a H e o n ly s to o d a n d s ta r e d in m u te a m a z e m e n t, th o u g h n o t e x a c tly a f r a id ; in d e e d , h e w a s n o t th e s o r t o f y o u n g m a n to b e a fra id . O n ly b a d a re m en c o w a rd s, a n d B u tte r f ie ld w a s a v e r y g o o d fe llo w in h is w a y . h a rd ly te ll h o w lo n g , fo r h is to n g u e S o h e s to o d a n d s ta re d , h e c o u ld s e e m e d fro z e n to th e ro o f o f h is m o u th . A t la s t, w ith a v e ry g re a t e ffo rt, h e c a lle d o u t, “ H a llo th e r e ! ” in h is b lu n t Y o r k s h ir e w a y , it b e in g th e o n ly th in g h e c o u ld f in d to s a y . I m m e d ia te ly th e little p e o p le b e g a n to “ s q u ittle ” o ff, ju s t lik e m in n o w s w h e n y o u th r o w a s to n e in a m o n g th e m . b lin g , h e a d T h e y w e n t tu m b lin g a n d s c ra m ­ o v e r h e e ls a n d h e e ls o v e r h e a d ; in d e e d , th e ir lim b s s e e m e d m a d e o f in d ia - r u b b e r , a n d th e y b o u n d e d o v e r th e e ig h t- fo o t w a ll lik e s o m a n y in d ia -ru b b e r b a lls ; n o t in s ile n c e , h o w e v e r, b u t w ith s u c h a g re a t b u z z in g a n d h u m m in g , lik e a s w a r m o f g ig a n tic b lu e b o ttle flie s , th a t th e y q u i t e c o n f u s e d B u t t e r f i e l d ’s f a c u l ti e s . c la r e d , “ lik e a b ig f o o l,” m a k in g H e s to o d g a p in g a t th e m , h e d e ­ n o a tte m p t to c a tc h th e m , u n til th e y h a d a ll d is a p p e a r e d , o n e a f te r th e o th e r , o v e r th e h ig h w a ll, le a v in g d o o r, a n d lo o k e d in e v e ry d ire c tio n u p a n d d o w n th e h ill-s id e . w a s n o th in g w h ic h th e T h e n h e c a m e to h is s o b e r s e n s e s, a n d ru s h e d o u t to th e w a te r e m p ty . to be s e e n , e x c e p t a g re a t s tirrin g w a s g r o w in g ta ll a n d am ong th e B u t th e re b ra c k e n — g r e e n — a s if a tr o o p o f h a r e s o r r a b b its , o r som e s u c h s m a ll a n im a ls , w e r e s to o d w a tc h in g , a n d th in k in g s c a m p e r in g w h a t a s tu p id ro u n d , re d s u n p o p p e d u p h is h e a d th r o u g h it. A n d w h ile h e ass h e h ad b e e n , th e b ig , f r o m th e h o r iz o n , a n d s h o t h is f ir s t a r r o w o f lig h t f r o m e a s t to w e s t a lo n g th e d a le . B u tte r f ie ld r a n b a c k in s id e th e w a ll, a n d s e a rc h e d a ll a b o u t th e b a th , b u t i t w a s q u ie t a n d s ile n t a n d th e s u r f a c e o f th e w a te r p e r f e c tly m o tio n ­ le s s , lo o k in g e x a c tly a s it h a d lo o k e d f o r s o m a n y y e a r s , a n d a s it d id c o n ­ tin u e to lo o k fo r m a n y y e a rs a fte r, fo r h e n e v e r s a w th e fa irie s a g a in . T h e w h o le th in g h a d p a s s e d s o lik e a d r e a m , th a t h e r u b b e d h is e y e s a n d p in c h e d h im se lf to s e e if h e w e re q u ite a w a k e y e t; b u t w h e th e r h e w a s d re a m in g o r n o t, n o o n e b u t h im s e lf c o u ld e v e r k n o w . The story seemed so strange, and even ridiculous, that he was a good while before he told it to anybody; besides, he had an idea that if they were fairies, his seeing them might be unlucky, and might bring some THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' BOOK OF ENCHANTMENT. 70 h a rm to h is w ife a n d c h ild . B u t as n o h a rm e v e r c a m e — in d e e d , b e in g a h u n c o m m o n ly s te a d y a n d in d u s trio u s y o u n g m a n , h e ra th e r p ro s p e re d in th e w o r ld th a n o th e r w is e — B u tte rf ie ld to o k c o u r a g e a n d to ld h is w if e , a n d o f c o u r s e s h e to ld e v e r y b o d y ; a n d b y th e tim e h e g re w to b e a n o ld m a n , a n d p e o p le h a d g ra d u a lly c e a s e d to b e lie v e th a t th e r e w e re s u c h th in g s a s f a ir ie s , h e u s e d to te ll th e s to r y v e r y o f te n in d e e d to a ll s o r ts o f p e r s o n s : s o m e b e l i e v e d i t a n d s o m e d i d n ’t , b u t n o b o d y e v e r d o u b t e d t h a t W i l l i a m B u tte rf ie ld b e lie v e d it, a n d h e b e in g a m a n o f s u c h u n d o u b te d tr u th f u l­ n e s s , it w a s a v e ry g re a t p u z z le to a g o o d m a n y . B u t o n e th in g w a s c e r­ ta in , h e n e v e r s a w th e fa irie s a g a in . “ A n d d id a n y b o d y e ls e in th e D a le e v e r s e c th e m , J o h n ? ” a s k e d I, w h e n w e c a m e to a p a u s e in th e s to ry . J o h n lo o k e d a t m e a s if to m a k e s u re th a t I w a s n o t q u iz z in g h im , a n d a n s w e r e d c a u tio u s ly , “ Y e s , th e r e w e r e s e v e r a l s to r ie s a b r o a d o f f o lk w h o s a id th e y h a d s e e n th e m , b u t th e y w e r e g e n e r a lly s tu p id f o lk , o r d r u n k e n f o lk , q u ite d if f e r e n t f r o m W illia m B u tte rfie ld . T h e m o s t r e lia b le o f th e m w a s a m a n n a m e d H e n y R o u n d e ll, w h o d e c la re d h e h a d s e e n th e m o n c e i n t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g , a t h i s s i s t e r ’s f a r m , t e n m i l e s o f f .” “ D id y o u h e a r th e s to ry fro m h im se lf, th e n ? ” “ N o ,” s a i d J o h n h o n e s t ly , “ I c a n ’t s a y I d i d . I n e v e r k n e w th e m a n m y s e lf, b u t h e w a s w e ll k n o w n in th e s e p a r ts , a n d b o r e a v e r y g o o d c h a r c te r to o . A s h re w d fe llo w h e w a s , w h o k n e w q u ite w e ll tlie d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n a p o u n d a n d a s h illin g ; a n d a s te a d y c h u r c h - g o e r , w h ic h o f te n s to ^ d in h is w a y , b e c a u s e th e m o s t o f th e ric h fo lk h e r e w e re th e n I n d e p e n d e n ts , a n d d is lik e d h a v in g to d o w ith C h u r c h p e o p le . S o he m ust have h ad a c o n s c i e n c e , y o u s e e , m a ’a m , ” I a g re e d , a n d b e g g e d J o h n to te ll m e , e v e n if it w e r e o n ly b y h e a r s a y , th e s to r y . H e n r y R o u n d e ll, it s e e m e d , w a s n e v e r a n y th in g b e y o n d a la b o u r in g m a n h im s e lf , b u t a s is te r o f h is w a s m a r r ie d to a p r o s p e r o u s f a r m e r , a n d liv e d a t a p la c e c a lle d W a s h b u rn D e ll. a n y w o rk th a t c a m e to h a n d . e x c e e d in g ly lo n e ly , a n d T h e r e h e o fte n h ire d h im s e lf, d o in g I t w a s a la rg e fa rm , a n d fa r a w a y fro m p a rts o f it w e re a n y c o tta g e o r h u m a n h a b ita tio n . T o o n e o f th e s e d is ta n t fie ld s h e w a s o n c e s e n t to h o e tu rn ip s . to s ta rt o ff lo n g b e f o r e d a w n , ta k in g s e e in g a c r e a tu r e till h e r e tu r n e d h is fo o d w ith h im , a n d H e used o f te n n o t. to th e fa rm a t th e c lo se o f d a y . O n e m o r n in g h e r o s e , s o e a r ly it w a s a litio s t in th e m id d le o f th e n ig h t, a n d s ta r te d o ff fo r th e fie ld , w h ic h h e r e a c h e d lo n g b e fo re s u n ris e . thought somehow H e lo o k e d q u e e r lik e , in th e m is ty d a w n , th a t th e tu r n ip s * THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES. 7i h a d g ro w n e v e r s o m u c h g re e n e r a n d h ig h e r s in c e h e le ft th e m o v e rn ig h t, a n d th a t th e ir le a v e s w e r e s tir r in g s tr a n g e ly . W h e n h e lo o k e d a g a in , h e s a w th a t w h a t w a s m o v in g a b o u t w a s n o t th e tu rn ip -le a v e s a t a ll. e v e r y r o w o f th e m w a s a r o w o f little m e n , a ll d r e s s e d w ith tin y h o e s in th e ir h a n d s . m a in ; a n d B e tw e e n in g re e n , a n d a ll T h e y w e r e h o e in g a w a y w ith m ig h t a n d c h a tte r in g a n d s in g in g to th e m s e lv e s m e a n w h ile , b u t in a n o d d , s h rill, c ra c k e d v o ic e , lik e a lo t o f fie ld -c ric k e ts . T hey had h a ts o n th e ir h e a d s , s o m e th in g in th e s h a p e o f fo x g lo v e -b e lls, R o u n d e ll th o u g h t, b u t h e w a s n o t n e a r e n o u g h to d is tin g u is h th e m p la in ly , o n ly h e w a s q u ite c e rta in th e y w e re a ll d re s s e d in g re e n , ju s t th e s a m e c o lo u r a s th e tu rn ip « le a v e s . H e c r e p t c a u tio u s ly f o r w a rd , a n d p e e re d th ro u g h th e b a rs o f th e g a te , h id in g h im s e lf a s m u c h a s h e c o u ld th e w h ile . B u t u n fo rtu n a te ly h e le a n t to o h e a v ily o n th e to p r a il; a n d th o u g h h e h a d fa s te n e d th e g a te h im s e lf o v e rn ig h t, a n d it lo o k e d a s if it w e re f a s te n e d s till, a s s o o n a s h e to u c h e d it it s w u n g o p e n w ith a g re a t b a n g , a n d h e f e ll r ig h t f la t w ith h is f a c e in th e m u d . T h e n , w h i r r ’— w h i r r ! o f f w e n t t h e l i t t l e m e n , l i k e i n n u m e r a b l e c o v e y s o f p a rtrid g e s. W h e n H e n ry g o t u p , h e c o u ld n o t s e e a s in g le o n e o f th e m ; a n d s tr a n g e .to s a y , th o u g h h e s e a r c h e d u p a n d d o w n th e r o w s o f tu r n ip s in e v e r y d ir e c tio n , h e c o u ld n o t f in d a n y o f th e ir h o e s . a n d y e t th e tu rn ip s w e re h o e d h im se lf. A n d th e little u p a s w e ll a s h e c o u ld S u c h tin y h o e s ! h a v e d o n e th e m p e o p le s e e m e d s o b u s y a n d s o m e r r y ; it w a s a s ig h t w h ic h , th o u g h it o n ly la s te d a m in u te o r tw o , h e d e c la r e d h e n e v e r fo rg o t U n lik e W illia m B u tte r f ie ld , h e w e n t a n d to ld it im m e d ia te ly to e v e r y ­ b o d y h e k n e w ; a n d if h e h a d n o t b e e n s u c h a n e x c e e d in g ly r e s p e c ta b le m a n , a l l w o u l d h a v e b e e n s e t d o w n a t o n c e t o a m e r e d r u n k a r d ’s f a n c y . A s it w a s, h e q u ite w as v e ry m u c h la u g h e d a t : p e o p le th o u g h t h e w a s n o t r ig h t in h is h e a d , o r t h a t h is b r a in s h a d “ g o n e w o o l- g a th e r in g .” B u t h e s tu c k s te a d ily to h is s to r y , a n d n e v e r w e n t h o e in g w ith o u t a f u ll c o n v ic tio n th a t, if h e g o t u p s u re to s e e th e fa iry fa rm la b o u re rs . tu rn ip s a g a in e a r ly e n o u g h , h e s h o u ld be A n d w h e n h e n e v e r d id s e e th e m , h e s till p e r s is te d — if th e tu r n ip s w e r e p a r tic u la r ly g r e e n o r w e ll g r o w n — th a t th e little m e n , w ith th e ir little h o e s , m u s t h a v e » b e e n th e re in th e n ig h t. “ A n d th e y o n ly d id g o o d , a n d n e v e r h a r m ? ” I a s k e d . “ N o n e o f th e tu r n ip s w e r e m is s in g ? f o r f a ir ie s a r e g r e a t th ie v e s , y o u k n o w .” “ A r e th e y ? ” s a id J o h n , to o c iv il to la u g h , b u t THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' BOOK OF ENCHANTMENT. 72 “ W e l l, m a ’a m , I d o n ’t t e l l y o u a n y m o r e am u sed . a n d I w a rn e d t h a n I ’v e h e a r d — it s e c o n d - h a n d — n o t lik e W illia m y o u th a t I o n ly h e a rd I s u p p o s e a ll w ise a n d c le v e r p e o p le w o u ld s a y th a t B u t t e r f i e l d ’s s t o r y . b o th s to rie s w e re g re a t n o n s e n s e , a n d th a t it w a s im p o s s ib le th e r e c o u ld b e s u c h t h i n g s a s f a i r i e s .” “ I m p o s s ib le is a la rg e w o rd , Jo h n , m o re th a n m any p e o p le h a v e a r ig h t to u s e .” John a g r e e d to th is , a n d u n c o n s c io u s ly p u t in to h is b ro a d Y o rk s h ire th e s a m e s e n tim e n t w h ic h S h a k e s p e a r e p u ts in to th e m o u th o f H a m l e t : “ T h e r e a r e m o re th in g s in h e a v e n a n d e a rth , H o r a tio , T h a n a r e d r e a m e d o f in y o u r p h ilo s o p h y ." “ B u t s t il l ,” h e a d d e d , “ i f f a i r i e s a r e n o t i m p o s s i b le , I c a n ’t s a y t h e y ’r e v e ry lik e ly . .s e e th e m Y ou A n d I n e v e r sa w th e m e x c e p t W illia m m y s e lf, n o r k n e w a n y o n e w h o B u tte r f ie ld . d id B u t h e w a s a p u z z le , I c o n f e s s . s e e , m a ’a m , w h e n a n h o n e s t m a n , w h o s e w o r d y o u h a v e n o r e a s o n to d o u b t, lo o k s y o u in s o , i t ’s r a t h e r h a r d th e fa c e a n d to lo o k te lls y o u h e h a s re a lly s e e n s o a n d h im in th e fa c e b a c k a g a in a n d te ll h im h e h a s n ’t .” a c k n o w le d g e d ; “ n o r, p e r h a p s , is it a lw a y s “ V e r y h a r d ,” I c e s s a r y ’. B u t, J o h n , to c o m e to th e p o in t, w h a t d o y o u q u ite n e ­ y o u rs e lf th in k a b o u t th e m a tte r ? ” “ T h e m a tte r o f f a ir ie s ? ” r e p e a te d J o h n , c a u tio u s ly , a n d e v id e n tly n o t lik in g to c o m m it h im s e lf to o m u c h e ith e r w a y . he to o k th e o n ly c o u rs e B u t b e in g h a rd p re s s e d , o p e n to a m a n o f h is g o o d c o m m o n c le v e r e n o u g h to fe e l th a t th e r e m a y b e th in g s b e y o n d enough “ W e ll,” to a llo w th is , w h ile s till n o t g iv in g a n sw e re d J o h n , a t le n g th — g iv in g w is e st m a n a liv e c a n in th e sen se — h im , a n d h o n e s t to a n y f o o lis h c r e d u lity . w ise s t a n s w e r th a t th e g i v e a b o u t m a n y t h i n g s — “ W e ll , m a ’a m , a l l I c a n s a y is , I r e a l l y d o n ’t k n o w .” W h ic h is m y o p in io n to o o n th e s u b je c t.