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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke
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A Fairy Tale
For the Mark Twain Dinner, December 5, 1905
Some three-score years and ten ago A prince was born at Florida, Mo.; And though he came incognito, With just the usual yells of woe, The watchful fairies seemed to know Precisely what the row meant; For when he was but five days old, (December fifth as I’ve been told,) They pattered through the midnight cold, And came around his crib, to hold A “Council of Endowment.”
“I give him Wit,” the eldest said, And stooped above the little bed, To touch his forehead round and red. “Within this bald, unfurnished head, Where wild luxuriant locks shall spread And wave in years hereafter, I kindle now the lively spark, That still shall flash by day and dark, And everywhere he goes shall mark His way with light and laughter.”
The fairies laughed to think of it That such a rosy, wrinkled bit Of flesh should be endowed with Wit! But something serious seemed to hit The mind of one, as if a fit Of fear had come upon her. “I give him Truth,” she quickly cried, “That laughter may not lead aside To paths where scorn and falsehood hide,— I give him Truth and Honour!”
“I give him Love,” exclaimed the third; And as she breathed the mystic word, I know not if the baby heard, But softly in his dream he stirred, And twittered like a little bird, And stretched his hands above him. The fairy’s gift was sealed and signed With kisses twain the deed to bind: “A heart of love to human-kind, And human-kind to love him!”
“Now stay your giving!” cried the Queen. “These gifts are passing rich I ween; And if reporters should be mean Enough to spy upon this scene, ‘Twould make all other babies green With envy at the rumour. Yet since I love this child, forsooth, I’ll mix your gifts, Wit, Love and Truth, With spirits of Immortal Youth, And call the mixture Humour!”
The fairies vanished with their glittering train;But here’s the Prince with all their gifts,—Mark Twain.
< < < The Little-Neck Clam
The Ballad of the Solemn Ass > > >
American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke
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