The Unfriendly Fairies

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

The Unfriendly Fairies

I Went into the fairy Wood And in the grass 1 jound A ring of tiny toadstools All scattered on the ground. Their little tops were crooked, Each had a crooked stem; Seoen red, and seven brown, I stood and counted them. I found a little fairy house, Its doorstep painted blue. And a tiny fairy garden Where golden daisies grew. I found an elderberry bush, I found an apple tree, Its branches hung with apples red, As pretty as could be. But the Wood was hushed and silent, The leaves and grass Were still, No sound of fairy piping came From any secret hill. The fairy folk I heard had gone, As slill as mice they stayed, And watched me from their hiding place Until I felt afraid. They didn't Want a mortal child About their wood to play, Unfriendly little fairies, So I had to go away. —iAlic« A. Kenny.