A Fairy Went A-Marketing

By: Rose Fyleman
Illustrated by: Jamichael Henterly

A fairy went a-marketing,
she bought a little fish;
she put it in a crystal bowl
upon a golden dish.

An hour she sat in wonderment
and watched its silver gleam,
and then she gently took it up
and slipped it in a stream.

A fairy went a-marketing
she bought a coloured bird;
it sang the sweetest, shrillest song
that she had ever heard.

She sad beside it's painted cage
and listened half the day,
and then she opened wide the door,
and let it fly away.

A fairy went a-marketing
she bought a winter gown
all stiched about with gossamer
and lined with thistledown.

She wore it all afternoon
with prancing and delight,
then gave it to a little frog
to keep him warm at night.

A fairy went a-marketing
she bought a gentle mouse
to take her tiny messages,
and keep her tiny house.

All day she kept its busy feet
pit-patting to and fro,
and then she kissed it's silken ears,
thanked it, and let it go.