excerpt from Sam's Three Wishes; or Life's Little Whirligig by Walter De La Mare "I'm thinking and thinking," said old Sam Shore, " 'Twere somebody knocking I heard at the door." From the clock popped the cuckoo and cuckooed out eight, As there in his chair he wondering sate . . . 5 "There's no one I knows on would come so late, A-clicking the latch of an empty house With nobbut1 inside 'un but me and a mouse. . . . Maybe a-waking in sleep I be, And 'twere out of a dream came that tapping to me." 10 At length he cautiously rose, and went, And with thumb upon latch awhile listening bent, Then slowly drew open the door. And behold! There stood a Fairy!—all green and gold, Mantled2 up warm against dark and cold, 15 And smiling up into his candle shine, Lips like wax, and cheeks like carmine3, As saucy and winsome a thing to see As are linden buds on a linden tree. Stock-still in the doorway stood simple Sam, 20 A-ducking his head, with "Good-e'en to 'ee, Ma'am." Dame Fairy she nods, and cries clear and sweet, " 'Tis a very good-e'en, sir, when such folks meet. I know thee, Sam, thou though wist not of me, And I'm come in late gloaming4 to speak with thee; 25 Though my eyes do dazzle at glint of your rush, All under this pretty green fuchsia bush." Sam ducked once more, smiling simple and slow. Like the warbling of birds her words did flow, And she laughed, very merry, to see how true 30 Shone the old man's kindness his courtesy through. And she nodded her head, and the stars on high Sparkled down on her smallness from out of the sky. "A friend is a friend, Sam, and wonderful pleasant, And I'm come for old sake's sake to bring thee a present. 35 Three wishes, three wishes are thine, Sam Shore, Just three wishes—and wish no more, All for because, ruby-ripe to see, The pixy-pears burn in yon hawthorn tree, And your old milch cow, wheresoever she goe