Xarifa the dormouse sat upon a hazel twig that lay upon the moss;
she stitched busily. She was making the gold and scarlet pocket
handkerchief into a robe for Tuppenny. Tuppenny sat opposite to the
dormouse, holding two sides of the handkerchief while she sewed them
together. “It is a long seam, Xarifa.” “Shall I tell you a story to
pass the time?” “That would be lovely, Xarifa.” “Let me see, what shall
it be? I will tell you about Little Mouse.” “Who was Little Mouse,
Xarifa?” “I don’t know, Tuppenny; she was just a little mouse, and
she was asked to a wedding.” And she said ‘What shall I wear? What
shall I wear? There is a hole in my old gray gown, and the shops are
shut on a Wednesday.’ (You see, Tuppenny, it was the day before the
wedding and the shops were not open.) So she said—‘What shall I wear?
What shall I wear?’ And while Little Mouse was wondering there came
to the door of her little house an old buff green-striped caterpillar
man, with a band across his shoulder and a pack upon his back. And he
sang, ‘Any tape, any buttons, any needles, any pins? Any hooks, any
eyes, any silver safety-pins? Any ribbons, any braid, any thread of any
shade, any fine spotty muslin today, M’mm?’ He turned the band over his
head and stood the pack open on the doorstep, and showed Little Mouse
his wares. And she bought fine spotty muslin from the caterpillar man.
Little Mouse spread the muslin on her table, and she cut out a mob-cap
and tippet. Then she said ‘I have scissors and thimble and needles and
pins; but no thread. How shall I sew it? How shall I sew it?’
[Illustration]
Then by good luck there came to the door of her house a hairy brown
spider with eight little eyes. He, too, had a pack, a tin box on his
back; and his name was Webb Spinner. He sang ‘Spinneret, spinneret! the
best you can get! Reels and bobbins, bobbins and reels! White thread
and black, the best in my pack! Come buy from Webb Spinner!’ So Little
Mouse bought white thread, and she sewed her cap and tippet. (Hold it
straight please, Tuppenny.)
And while Little Mouse was sewing, a large moth came to the door,
selling—‘Silk, spun silk! Silk spun fine! Woven by the silk moth,
who’ll buy silk of mine?’ Her silk was apple-green, shot with thread of
gold and silver; and she had gold cord, and silken tassels, too. Little
Mouse bought silk enough to make herself a gown, and she trimmed it
with gold cord and tassels.
And when she was dressed, attired all in her best, she said—‘How can
I dance? how can I dance with the Fair Maids of France, with my little
bare feet?’
Then the wind blew the grass and whispered in the leaves; and the
fairies brought Little Mouse a pair of lady’s slippers. And Little
Mouse danced at the wedding.
“That is lovely, Xarifa,” said Tuppenny, “I would have liked to see the
dancing. Who were the Fair Maids of France, Xarifa?” “Little prim white
flowers with white double ruffs and green stockings.” “And the lady’s
slippers, were they flowers, too?” “Yes, Tuppenny; and so are the
Lambs’ toes, and Lady’s smocks, and Fox gloves.” “Do foxes wear gloves,
Xarifa?” “Perhaps. But their real name is folk’s gloves; fairy gloves.
The good folk, the fairies, wear them.” “Tell me about the fairies,
Xarifa.” “Another time I will, Tuppenny; my seam is finished, and Jenny
Ferret is boiling the kettle for tea.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]