More English Fairy Tales, part 15 · page 21 2101"Goode'en to ye, Brooklet, Brooklet," says she; "I'm seeking the stars in the sky to play with.checked by a teacher102Have you seen any?"103"Yes, indeed, my bonny lassie," said the Brooklet. "104They glint on my banks at night.105Paddle about, and maybe you'll find one."106So she paddled and she paddled and she paddled, but ne'er a one did she find.107So on she went till she came to the Good Folk.108"Goode'en to ye, Good Folk," says she; "I'm looking for the stars in the sky to play with.109Have ye seen e'er a one?"110"Why, yes, my bonny lassie," said the Good Folk. "111They shine on the grass here o' night.112Dance with us, and maybe you'll find one."113And she danced and she danced and she danced, but ne'er a one did she see.114So down she sate; I suppose she wept.115"Oh dearie me, oh dearie me," says she, "I've swam and I've paddled and I've danced, and if ye'll not help me I shall never find the stars in the sky to play with."116But the Good Folk whispered together, and one of them came up to her and took her by the hand and said, "If you won't go home to your mother, go forward, go forward; mind you take the right road.117Ask Four Feet to carry you to No Feet at all, and tell No Feet at all to carry you to the stairs without steps, and if you can climb that--"118"Oh, shall I be among the stars in the sky then?" cried the lassie.119"If you'll not be, then you'll be elsewhere," said the Good Folk, and set to dancing again.120So on she went again with a light heart, and by-and-by she came to a saddled horse, tied to a tree.121"Goode'en to ye, Beast," said she; "I'm seeking the stars in the sky to play with.122Will you give me a lift, for all my bones are an-aching."123"Nay," said the horse, "I know nought of the stars in the sky, and I'm here to do the bidding of the Good Folk, and not my own will."124"Well," said she, "it's from the Good Folk I come, and they bade me tell Four Feet to carry me to No Feet at all."125"That's another story," said he; "jump up and ride with me."126So they rode and they rode and they rode, till they got out of the forest and found themselves at the edge of the sea.127And on the water in front of them was a wide glistening path running straight out towards a beautiful thing that rose out of the water and went up into the sky, and was all the colours in the world, blue and red and green, and wonderful to look at.128"Now get you down," said the horse; "I've brought ye to the end of the land, and that's as much as Four Feet can do.129I must away home to my own folk."130"But," said the lassie, "where's No Feet at all, and where's the stair without steps?"131"I know not," said the horse, "it's none of my business neither.132So goode'en to ye, my bonny lassie;" and off he went.133So the lassie stood still and looked at the water, till a strange kind of fish came swimming up to her feet.134"Goode'en to ye, big Fish," says she, "I'm looking for the stars in the sky, and for the stairs that climb up to them.135Will ye show me the way?"136"Nay," said the Fish, "I can't unless you bring me word from the Good Folk."137"Yes, indeed," said she. "138They said Four Feet would bring me to No Feet at all, and No Feet at all would carry me to the stairs without steps."139"Ah, well," said the Fish; "that's all right then.140Get on my back and hold fast."141And off he went--Kerplash!--into the water, along the silver path, towards the bright arch.142And the nearer they came the brighter the sheen of it, till she had to shade her eyes from the light of it.143And as they came to the foot of it, she saw it was a broad bright road, sloping up and away into the sky, and at the far, far end of it she could see wee shining things dancing about.1 2← previousMore English Fairy Tales, part 14next →More English Fairy Tales, part 16↑ back to More English Fairy TalesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg14241/29/page/2/