40 The Catskill Fazrves.

Then he winked at our hero, and began to laugh. This was
Fairy Nip from the Berkshire Hills across the river, and his
garments were made entirely of pumpkin-blossom cloth. He
carried on his back a pack—for he was a fairy pedler—which
he unstrapped and opened.

“ Perhaps I may have something to please you, ladies. Here
is the latest thing in jackets—fly-wings trimmed with dandelion
down ; the effect is quite as good as real lace. My jewelry is
cheap; this set of spider’s eggs, necklace, bracelet, and ear-
drops, I will sell for a mere song. Want any patent medi- ~
cines? Try the Mountain-dew Tonic to make lazy people
work, or the Strawberry-seed Cordial for the appetite. As
to cosmetics, I can make the plainest fairy beautiful in five
seconds by using this Bee Powder.”

The Fairies were very much excited; they crowded around:
the tiny pedler, who sold his wares like wildfire. Queen Puff
left her spinning-wheel, and the Winter Fairies ran great risk-
of melting because they mas¢ peep at the pretty things. The
Summer Fairies showed the greatest fondness for finery, as
they were Indians. They bought mantles of scarlet poppy,
and strutted about to be admired; while of the spider-egg
chains they could not get enough.

When Nip had emptied his pack, he cut a caper, winked
again at Job, and climbed on the mouse’s back, which was -
a soft, velvet couch. The mouse looked like an elephant to:
Nip.

The Sprite of the Mountain Laurel began to speak:

“There are fairies in the New World just as much as in _
the Old, and it is time we should be known, Surely nature