, 260 THE GOLD OF FAIRNILEE.

 

she went to the well to draw water, and as she
was coming back she heard a loud scream in
her house. Then her heart leaped, and fast
she ran and flew to the cradle; and there she
saw an awful sight—not her own bairn, but a
withered imp, with hands like a mole’s, and a
face like a frog’s, and a mouth from ear to ear,
and two great staring eyes.”

“What was it?” asked Jeanie, in a trem-
bling voice.

“A fairy’s bairn that had not thriven,” said
nurse; ‘‘and when their bairns do not thrive,.
they just steal honest folks’ children and carry
them away to their own country.”

“‘ And where’s that?” said Randal.

“Tt’s under the ground,” said nurse, “‘and
there they have gold and silver and diamonds ;
and there’s the Queen of them all, that’s as.
beautiful as the day. She has yellow hair down
to her feet, and she has blue eyes, like the sky
on a fine day, and her voice like all the mavises.
singing in the spring. And she is aye dressed
in green, and all her court in green; and she.
rides a white horse with golden bells on the
bridle.”

‘“«T would like to go there and see her,” said
Randal.

“‘Oh, never say that, my bairn; you never
know who may hear you! And if you go there,.
how will you come back again? and what will
your mother do, and Jean here, and me that’s.