120 The Catskill Fatrtes.

of the sum I had received from the Nixies for the magic drum.
I did not discover this until I was home; but I call it mean,
as it was a fair trade. So I was popped into the porcelain bowl
of the pipe, the magician blew a cloud of smoke, and away I

went up to the earth’s surface and daylight again.”

Job was much amused at the idea of Nip rowing a match.

“Do you believe you would have won without the snuff?”

“I daresay I could with practice,” said Nip. “You should
have seen the Fairy Regatta in line, though!”

“T wish you had kept the drum,” said Job.

“So do I. Perhaps I will go to the match next year. I
don’t mind telling you that I practice every spare moment in
a walnut-shell which I keep in the horse-trough.”

Fairies may have plans for the future, just as mortals say
“JT will go to a new school in the spring.” Queen Puff had
finished her dream-thread by this time, and set aside her wheel.

“ The last of it will serve for morning dreams just before the
children awake to look into their stockings,” she said, smooth-
ing her apron and folding her hands in her lap.

Then all kept silence while she told the following story.