THE
FAIRY NIGHTCAPS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF
THE FIVE NIGHTCAP BOOKS, "AUNT FANNY'S STORIES,"
ETC., ETC.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON & COMPANY,
443 & 445 BROADWAY.
LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN.
1861.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by
FANNY BARROW,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
TO MASSA CHARLES,
WHOSE MOST LOVABLE QUALITIES WERE BUT FAINTLY
PORTRAYED IN THE
FIRST NIGHTCAP BOOK,
THIS
THE SIXTH AND LAST OF THE SERIES,
IS AFFECTIONATELY
Dedicated.
GOING TO THE MIDSUMMER BALL.
PREFACE TO THE CHILDREN.
Dear Children,
[Pg 7]Here is the last Nightcap book, making six in all. The story of "TheThree Little Fishes" was taken (but very much altered) from a cleverbook for grown folks, written, I believe, nearly two hundred yearsago; but all the rest is true, "real true."
I have written them out with my heart full of love and good wishesfor you, and you, and YOU; and my only desire in return is,that down in a cosy corner of your dear little hearts, you will keep warm,one kind thought of your loving
AUNT FANNY.
CONTENTS.
- THE FAIRIES' LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEY DID IN THEBEAUTIFUL HOLLOW, 9
- THE CHILDREN'S LIFE; WITH THEIR JOURNEY TO WEST POINT, 37
- THE FAIRIES' LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE MIDSUMMER BALL, 77
- THE CHILDREN'S LIFE; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF IDLEWILD, THE STAG DANCE,THE BATTLE OF THE FAIRIES, &c., 145
- THE DEATH OF CHARLEY, 209
FAIRY NIGHTCAPS.
THE FAIRIES' LIFE.
[Pg 9]In the deep shadow of the Highlands, at the foot of the old Crow NestMountain, is a wild and beautiful hollow, closed around on every sideby tall trees, interlaced together by the clasping tendrils of thehoneysuckle, and the giant arms of luxuriant wild grape-vines.
The mossy edge of this magic circle is[Pg 10] thickly embroidered withviolets, harebells, perfumed clover-blossoms, and delicate, featheryferns. A little brook, overhung with grasses and whispering leaves,dances and dimples in the bright sunlight and soft moonbeams, and thentrips away, to offer the wild-rose leaves that have fallen upon hisbosom to his beloved tributary lord, the great Hudson River.
Not a bat dare spread his unclean leathern wings across this charmedplace, and the very owls that wink and blink in t