d that he had met Mr. Fox.

THE TELL-TALE GOBLIN

[Illustration: The Tell-Tale Goblin]

Once upon a time there was a Little Fairy who loved to wander by the
river, and as the Fairy Queen does not like her subjects to go too near
the water, the Little Fairy had to steal away.

Always when they held a revel this Little Fairy would fly away from the
dance and wander down by the river to watch the ripple of the water as
it flowed over the pebbles and stones.

One night a Goblin, who always watched the fairies, happened to be
sitting under a bush and saw the Little Fairy.

"What is she doing here all alone?" he said to himself. "She has run
away from her sisters, and I am quite sure the Queen does not know
where she is. I'll watch her, and if she is up to mischief I'll tell
the Queen. Maybe she will give me a new red coat for telling her."

Now, this little tell-tale Goblin began to watch, and pretty soon he
saw a mist rise from the river; then it looked like foam, all silvery,
in the moonlight.

And then suddenly as he watched, the goblin saw a handsome youth rise
from the river and hold out his arms to the Little Fairy standing on
the bank.

"Ah-ha!" said the Goblin. "She has a lover, has she? Well I'll tell
the Queen and I guess these midnight meetings will be stopped, and I am
sure now I shall get a new coat for telling."

The River Youth called to the Fairy just then, and the Goblin forgot
the red coat to watch what happened.

"Come, my love," called the White Youth, "take the willow path and you
will be safe from the water."

The Little Fairy flew to the willow tree beside the river and tripped
lightly along a slender bough which dipped its tip into the water.

When she reached the end the White Youth was there to take her in his
arms. He carried her to the middle of the river, where there was a
little island, and the watching Goblin saw them sit upon the soft green
grass in the moonlight, but he could not hear what they said.

"I'll run and tell her Queen and let her catch them," said the Goblin,
and, forgetting that his red coat could be plainly seen in the
moonlight, he jumped up and ran along the river bank toward the dell.

"Oh, oh!" cried the Little Fairy, with alarm, when she saw the Goblin,
"whatever will become of me? There is a Goblin, and I am sure he has
seen me and is going to tell the Queen. Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be
banished."

The River Youth, who really was a Rive