I owe no penny I cannot pay,

I thank the river Dee

That turns the mill that grinds the corn

That feeds my babes and me."

"Good friend," said Hal, and sighed the while, 5

66

'Farewell, and happy be;

But say no more, if thou'dst be true,

That no one envies thee;

Thy mealy cap is worth my crown;

Thy mill my kingdom's fee;

Such men as thou are England's boast
O miller of the Dee!"

6

Quickly

CHARLES MACKAY.

There dwelt a mil- ler,hale and bold, Be-side the river Dee;

10

He worked and sang from morn till night, No lark more blithe than he; . And

this

the burden of his song For ev er used to be:

I

en - vy no - bod-y-no, not I— And no - bod-y en

vies me.

blithe (blith): gay, happy

burden (bur'dn): the part of a song that comes in again and again

doffed (doft): took off

hale (hal): strong and well
the Dee: a river in the western part
of England

HELPS TO STUDY

1. What was the "burden" of the miller's song? 2. Why was he so happy? 3. Why did the king envy him? 4. Why does he call the miller's cap "mealy"? 5. What does he mean by saying that such men are "England's boast"?

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Who was Grace Darling? Where did she live? What brave thing did she do? 2. Who was Captain John Smith? Tell the story of Pocahontas. 3. What is a jack-o'-lantern? Tell how some children once saved their lives with one. 4. Tell all you can about Franklin's useful life. Tell about his first day in Philadelphia. Explain the saying, "to pay too dear for the whistle." Tell the story of "the man with an ax to grind." 5. What made the Miller of the Dee such a happy man ?

THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON-LOW

There are many old stories in England and Ireland of the good deeds and the naughty pranks of the fairies. This poem tells of their kindness to people who needed help. The CaldonLow was one of the places where the fairies used to gather for their dances by night.

“And where have you been, my Mary,

And where have you been from me?" "I've been to the top of the Caldon-Low, The midsummer night to see!"

"And what did you see, my Mary,

All up on the Caldon-Low?"

"I saw the blithe sunshine come down, And I saw the merry winds blow."

"And what did you hear, my Mary, All up on the Caldon Hill?"

"I heard the drops of water made, And I heard the corn-ears fill."

"Oh, tell me all, my Mary

All, all that ever you know;

For you must have seen the fairies
Last night on the Caldon-Low."

5

10

15

"Then take me on your knee, mother,
And listen, mother of mine:

A hundred fairies danced last night,
And the harpers they were nine.

5" And their harp-strings sung so merrily,
And their dancing feet so small;
But oh! the sound of their talking
Was merrier far than all."

10

"And what were the words, my Mary,

That you did hear them say?"

"I'll tell you all, my mother,

But let me have my way.

"And some they played with the water, And rolled it down the hill;

15' And this,' they said, 'shall speedily turn The poor old miller's mill;

"For there has been no water Ever since the first of May;

And a busy man shall the miller be 20 By the dawning of the day!

66 6

Oh, the miller, how he will laugh,
When he sees the mill-dam rise!

The jolly old miller, how he will laugh,
Till the tears fill both his eyes!'

"And some they seized the little winds,
That sounded over the hill,
And each put a horn into his mouth,
And blew so sharp and shrill!

"And there,' said they, 'the merry

Away from every horn;

5

winds go,

10

And those shall clear the mildew dank
From the blind old widow's corn:

"Oh, the poor blind widow ——

Though she has been blind so long,

She'll be merry enough when the mildew's gone, 15 And the corn stands stiff and strong!'

"And some they brought the brown linseed,

And flung it from the Low:

'And this,' said they, 'by the sunrise,

In the weaver's croft shall grow!