THE robin is the fairies' page;

They keep him neatly dressed
For country service or for town
In dapper livery of brown

And little scarlet vest.

On busy errands all day long

He hurries to and fro
With watchful eyes and nimble wings-
There are not very many things.

The robin doesn't know.

And he can tell you, if he will,

The latest fairy news :
The quaint adventures of the King,
And whom the Queen is visiting,

And where she gets her shoes.
And lately, when the fairy Court

Invited me to tea,
He stood behind the Royal Chair;
And here, I solemnly declare,
When he discovered I was there,

That robin winked at me.