Once Upon a Time and Other Child-Verses

Mary Freeman

Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman

Once Upon a Time and Other Child-Verses

PREFACE

TRUSTING to the sweet charity of little folk

To find some grace, in spite of halting rhyme

And frequent telling, in these little tales,

I say again: – Now, once upon a time!

ONCE UPON A TIME

NOW, once upon a time, a nest of fairies

Was in a meadow 'neath a wild rose-

tree;

And, once upon a time, the violets clustered

So thick around it one could scarcely see;

And, once upon a time, a troop of children

Came dancing by upon the flowery ground;

And, once upon a time, the nest of fairies,

With shouts of joy and wonderment they

found;

And, once upon a time, the fairies fluttered

On purple winglets, shimmering in the sun;

And, once upon a time, the nest forsaking,

They flew off thro' the violets, every one;

And, once upon a time, the children followed

With loud halloos along the meadow green;

And, once upon a time, the fairies vanished,

And never more could one of them be seen;

And, once upon a time, the children sought

them

For many a day, but fruitless was their quest,

For, once upon a time, amid the violets,

They only found the fairies' empty nest.

THE SICK FAIRY

BREW some tea o' cowslips, make some

poppy-gruel,

Serve it in a buttercup – ah, 'tis very cruel,

That she is so ailing, pretty Violetta!

Locust, stop your violin, till she's feeling better.

THE ENCHANTED TALE OF BANBURY CROSS

"Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,

To see an old woman jump on a white horse;

With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,

She shall make music wherever she goes."

– Old Nursery Rhyme.

PRAY show the way to Banbury Cross,"

Silver bells are ringing ;

"To find the place I'm at a loss,"

Silver bells are ringing.

"Pass six tall hollyhocks red and white;

Then, turn the corner toward the right,

Pass four white roses; turn once more,

Go by a bed of gilly-flower,

And one of primrose; turn again

Where, glittering with silver rain,

There is a violet-bank; then pass

A meadow green with velvet grass,

Where lovely lights and shadows play,

And white lambs frolic all the day,

Where blooming trees their branches toss —

Then will you come to Banbury Cross."

The white horse arched his slender neck,

Silver bells are ringing;

Snow-white he was without a speck,

Silver bells are ringing.

An old wife held his bridle-rein,

(The king was there with all his train),

Her gray hair fluttered in the wind,

Her gaze turned inward on her mind;

And not one face seemed she to see

In all that goodly company.

Gems sparkled on her withered hands;

Her ankles gleamed with silver bands

On which sweet silver bells were hung,

And always, when she stirred, they rung.

The white horse waited for the start,

Silver bells are ringing;

Before him leapt his fiery heart,

Silver bells are ringing.

Up on his back the old wife sprung,

Her silver bells, how sweet

they rung!

She gave her milk-white

steed the rein,

And round they swept,

and round again.

A merry sight it was

to see,

And the silver bells

The Old Wife.

rang lustily.

The gallant horse with gold was shod;

So fleetly leapt he o'er the sod,

He passed the king before he knew,

And past his flying shadow flew.

A pretty sight it was, forsooth,

Silver bells are ringing;

For dame and children, maid and youth,

Silver bells are ringing.

The princess laughed out with delight,

And clapped her hands, so lily-white —

The darling princess, sweet was she

As any flowering hawthorn-tree.

She stood beside her sire, the king,

And heard the silvery music ring,

And watched the white horse, o'er the

Sweep round, and round, and round again

Until the old wife slacked his pace

Before the princess' wondering face,

Then snatched her up before they knew,

Silver bells are ringing;

And with her from their vision flew,

Silver bells ar