I have come down to get some good
water to make tea for my father's supper. He has been working all
day, and our well has gone dry. May I please have some of your spring
water?"
"Well, little girl, as you talk so nice, you can have some. Tell the
little folks to open the briars for you."
So she went on and came to a briar patch and saw down at the roots
little people, not much longer than your finger. Mary spoke so kindly to
them; said she would be so glad if they would open a path for her to
walk in, she would thank them so much; so they began to pull the briars
back until there was a good path. Mary thanked them and went on until
she came to the spring and there was a rabbit jumping up and down in
it. Mary said: "Please Mr. Rabbit, don't muddy the water for I would
like to get a bucket of nice clean water to take home to make tea for
supper." The rabbit ran off and she dipped her bucket full of pure
water.
Then she looked down the branch, and there was a little lamb that had
fallen in and was lying down, and could not get up. The lamb said:
"Little girl, please pick me up and lay me on the grass to dry." Mary
stepped on some rocks till she got to the lamb and lifted him up and
laid him on the bank to dry. The lamb said: "When you go home, spit
in your mother's hand." Mary thought that would not be right, but she
said nothing. She went back through the briar patch and the little folks
held them from scratching her, and the little old man spoke nicely to her
and the gate opened for her.
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