Page:Collected poems vol 2 de la mare.djvu/161

 '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. . . "There's no one I knows on would come so late, A-clicking the latch of an empty house With nobbut 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." 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, Mantled up warm against dark and cold, And smiling up into his candle shine, Lips like wax, and cheeks like wine, As saucy and winsome a thing to see As are linden buds on a linden tree.