Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-24
a Trip TO FafryIand.

TThe following is another contribution for
the Dispatch by Alyce d., aged fourteen,
whose ghost-story we published some time
ago. It's truly sprightIy nursery rhyme.l
Here IA tho story Of little Fritz
Who always lived on milk and gritz
When he was quite a little fellow
His eyes were blue his hair was yellow
But now | tell you, It's quite white.
1t turned that way in single night
And made his mother near die OF fright
To zee her son Ia such d plight
One night asleep In bis little room
lie heard \ knocking, boom! booIn!l boom u
The noise was repeated once, twice, thrice;
The door was locked. hut In rice
1t opened aud no saw lay,
Clad In myBtic, silk array
She nesred his bed, poor Fritz turned pale,
lie felt within his poor heart quail;
She neared his bed. low DER hiIa bent.
Poor frightened fritzl His voice found vent
In q stned. choking sob
AS under TIE clothes his head did bob.
Not a word was said, but out Of his bod
She took him and led him, ia spite OF his dread,
Into the garden, where she whispered low;
And soon I'm the SKY there came glow
glow Of red and piHkish light.
Which In TWO or three moments grew quite
bright;
And out OF a glow OF pink and red
Came a wonderful delicate new kind OF sled
Formed OF clouds OF salmon aud green
And all o'erspreAd with fairy sheen.
lnto this sled the fairy leapt-
Into II after her softly crep:
Little Fritz, who quaket all over
just as the baes In the fields shake the clover.
Then far above all clouds they fieW-
Far above the falling dew,
And into q land Of infinite space,
Where now and then fairy face
Peeped a. them through her veil OF lace
With such Qusint and airy grace.
Still on and on the sled 1t new
Until IL res he'd the SKY so blue
With myriads Of pin-holes tits all pricked
through,
And into the largest the sled fast flew;
ThOa out ia the land OF fairy lore
Oh ! IL war u Sondrous land Fritz saw
Peopled vi h fairies, pygmies In height,
With not much more than pygmy might
"Now, said the fairy. here We arc.
And the palace OF our queen Is not so far.
Then Iako my hand, my LITTLE Fritz,
And be suro you guard within your wits;
For should it hsppea you them lose
fear Queen Nab will be minus news"
Soon the palace came in sight
All lit up with fairy light,
With gsrdens and flowers and fragrance rare,
Which made the boy look Wild and stare.
Within the palace Fritz was led
After he had crept from the sled.
And up 10 her Queen the fairy sped
Hastily, softly, with airy tread.
"Queen Aab,n said the fairy, as low she bent
You SEQ I've brought you Whist you meant;
Here is a boy, and earthly born,
Who must be returned 10 his mother ere dawn !;
SO then, your Majesty, hasten thee pray,
For no must be back on earth by day.
"Come hither 20 me, my lad y Uhe Queen,
sand lot me soc what can be seen;
See II you my page can be.
For I've searched DER land and sea
But never yet have found the boy
Who was content 70 DO my Toy;
So II you'll stay with me, my chid,
Away from earth, whore all is wild.
! promise you I'll let you play
With me-Queon Mab--thO whole long day
IN let You De my little page,
IN place you high above the sage,
III have you know but 10Y and mirth,
For must have a child Of earth"
" No.s said Fritz. but he bowed his head;
+" want 10 be back In my own little bed;
] hate you for taxing inc way from my homo.
Aud leaving my mamma all alone:
And II ycu don't lei me go back right away
Ill cry aud scream and kick all day."
"Oh. take the boy, then.n poutea NAB,
- But nrst III give his head dab
OF my woodworking moonshine paint:
When his mother Gees him she'll surely faintS
"0ugh ~ screamed Fritz Twas ali In VAIN.
Down Queen Nab poured paint liko rain
Until his hair was snow, snow white,
Which made him look hideOgs fright
But soon the Queen her messenger spied
Soon the fairy WAS ~ her side.
And soon poor Fritz was Ia tho sled,
But not TOO soon, for him, In bed
February, 1859. ALYCE D.