Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/117

 'Many, many centuries have I lived on earth in fact, I may say that you see before you that "oldest inhabitant" so frequently referred to in the newspapers. My youth was a happy one,— how happy I do not now like to recall. We fairies then were the great folk in England. Perhaps you have heard of England?'

"I mentioned that I had, and was in the habit of making a visit there every year.

"This pleased the fairy. 'Ah! that is a country,' he went on. 'Such moonlight! such woods! such delightful society! Sherwood Forest now! Many and many a night have I danced and made merry there in the days of bold Robin Hood! But that was long, long ago.

When we little people heard that a ship was to cross the sea, and bring a colony of English to settle on these shores, we held a meeting to consider what was to be done. There were children among the colonists. Now it is a fixed