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‹Better GutenbergThe Book of Joyous ChildrenAn Impromptu Fairy-Tale · 3 of 43Contents›

The Book of Joyous Children

by James Whitcomb Riley

3 of 43 · Contents · Download EPUB

An Impromptu Fairy-Tale

When I wuz ist a little bit
   o’ weenty-teenty kid
I maked up a Fairy-tale,
   all by myse’f, I did:—

I

Wunst upon a time wunst
   They wuz a Fairy King,
An’ ever’thing he have wuz gold—,
   His clo’es, an’ ever’thing!
An’ all the other Fairies
   In his goldun Palace-hall
Had to hump an’ hustle—
   ’Cause he wuz bosst of all!

II

He have a goldun trumput,
   An’ when he blow’ on that,
It’s a sign he want’ his boots,
   Er his coat er hat:

They’s a sign fer ever’thing,—
   An’ all the Fairies knowed
Ever’ sign, an’ come a-hoppin’

When the King blowed!

III

Wunst he blowed an’ telled ’em all:
   “Saddle up yer bees—
Fireflies is gittin’ fat
   An’ sassy as you please!—
Guess we’ll go a-huntin’!”

   So they hunt’ a little bit,
Till the King blowed “Supper-time,”
   Nen they all quit.

IV

Nen they have a Banqut
   In the Palace-hall,
An’ ist et! an’ et! an’ et!
   Nen they have a Ball;
An’ when the Queen o’ Fairyland
   Come p’omenadin’ through,
The King says an’ halts her,—
   “Guess I’ll marry you!”

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