176 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

All limp are they for want of rain,

But thou canst make them fresh again.

To freshen them, if thou wilt take

The water of the Crystal Lake,

Once more will they bloom bright and gay,
And thou mayst go upon thy way.”

Wassa looked about her, and perceived, for
the first time, that flowers grew on either side
of the path, but the stalks were withered, and
the blossoms dingy and shrivelled.

“Am I expected to dip up all the water from
that lake?” said Wassa indignantly; “I can
never do it.”

The unknown voice answered : —

“ Drop by drop, from mist and dew
Are fed the lakes and ocean blue.
Here must thou stay till it is done,
For thou canst not go back alone.”

“Tt is useless for me to resist,’ said Wassa
with a sigh. “It is true I cannot. go back
alone, so I must go on.”

As soon as these words were spoken, a cup
of gold fell at Wassa’s feet, and, picking it up,
she filled it at the lake. The instant the rim
touched the water, she knew it was a fairy cup,
for, small as it was, so much water ran into it