The Linnet’s Fee by Annie A. Preston

Once I saw a wee brown linnet
Dancing on a tree,
Dancing on a tree.
How her feet flew every minute
As she danced at me-e-e;
How her feet flew every minute
As she danced at me!

“Sing a song for me, wee linnet,
Sing a song for me,
Sing a song for me.”
“Oh, Miss, if you’ll wait a minute,
Till my mate I see-e-e;
Oh, Miss, if you’ll wait a minute,
He will sing for thee.”

“Thank you, thank you, wee brown linnet,
For amusing me,
For amusing me;
You have danced for many a minute,
You must tired be-e-e,
You have sung for many minutes,
You must tired be.”

“Thanks would starve us,” cried the linnets,—
As he sung at me,
As she danced at me.
“Should you sing like this ten minutes,
You would want a fee-e-e;
Should you dance like this ten minutes
You would want a fee.”

“Pardon me, I pray, dear linnet,
Fly down from your tree,
Fly down from your tree.
I will come back in a minute
With some seed for thee-e-e;
I will come back in a minute
With some seed for thee.”