Emma Gelders Sterne

“ You know, when the moon shines the fairies leave their flower homes and dance in the meadow until daylight. So when the first ray of moonlight climbed down the sky, up jumped the purple pansy fairy and sang:
“Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,
The fairies will dance on the meadow till morn.”
Little Boy Blue sat up and rubbed one eye, but before he could rub the other eye the pansy fairy had whisked him out of the room and down the stairs and into the meadow below the garden gate. He didn’t forget the blue horn with the golden stars—the pansy fairy saw to that. ”

“ He dropped down by the hay-stack in the meadow and before the morning sun could creep through the grasses he was fast asleep.
The fairies hurried to the garden and cuddled in the flowers, for if they don’t get in their beds in time the sun will change them into butterflies and they must fly all day from flower to flower with nowhere to rest. And they get so sleepy. ”

“ Out of the roses lovely fairies, all in pink;
And out of the water-lily nearest the fountain,
The queen of the fairies, in a white satin dress and golden crown.
She could open the gate by herself and she led the fairies out on the green grass and they danced while Little Boy Blue played sweet music.
All night long they danced and danced, until first thing you know they heard a sound. It was the cock telling them that morning was on the way.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo
The sun is after you.
The fairies all must go to sleep,
And so must Little Boy Blue. ”