Up and down she went , so busily peering and digging , that she never lifted up her eyes till something like a great white bird skimmed by so low she could not help seeing it . A pleasant laugh sounded behind her as she started up , and , looking round , she nearly sat down again in sheer surprise , for there close by was a slender little lady , comfortably established under a big umbrella . `` If there WERE any fairies , I 'd be sure that was one , '' thought Marjorie , staring with all her might , for her mind was still full of the old story ; and curious things do happen on birthdays , as every one knows . It really did seem rather elfish to look up suddenly and see a lovely lady all in white , with shining hair and a wand in her hand , sitting under what looked very like a large yellow mushroom in the middle of a meadow , where , till now , nothing but cows and grasshoppers had been seen . Before Marjorie could decide the question , the pleasant laugh came again , and the stranger said , pointing to the white thing that was still fluttering over the grass like a little cloud , -- `` Would you kindly catch my hat for me , before it blows quite away ? '' Down went basket and knife , and away ran Marjorie , entirely satisfied now that there was no magic about the new-comer ; for if she had been an elf , could n't she have got her hat without any help from a mortal child ? Presently , however , it did begin to seem as if that hat was bewitched , for it led the nimble-footed Marjorie such a chase that the cows stopped feeding to look on in placid wonder ; the grasshoppers vainly tried to keep up , and every ox-eye daisy did its best to catch the runaway , but failed entirely , for the wind liked a game of romps , and had it that day . As she ran , Marjorie heard the lady singing , like the princess in the story of the Goose-Girl , -- `` Blow , breezes , blow ! Let Curdkin 's hat go ! Blow , breezes , blow ! Let him after it go ! O'er hills , dales and rocks , Away be it whirled , Till the silvery locks Are all combed and curled . '' This made her laugh so that she tumbled into a clover-bed , and lay there a minute to get her breath . Just then , as if the playful wind repented of its frolic , the long veil fastened to the hat caught in a blackberry-vine near by , and held the truant fast till Marjorie secured it . `` Now come and see what I am doing , '' said the lady , when she had thanked the child . Marjorie drew near confidingly , and looked down at the wide-spread book before her . She gave a start , and laughed out with surprise and delight ; for there was a lovely picture of her own little home , and her own little self on the door-step , all so delicate , and beautiful , and true , it seemed as if done by magic . `` Oh , how pretty ! There is Rover , and Kitty and the robins , and me ! How could you ever do it , ma'am ? ''
said XXXXX , with a wondering glance at the long paint-brush , which had wrought what seemed a miracle to her childish eyes .
Goose-Girl Marjorie birthdays blackberry-vine daisy day door-step elf minute new-comer