�Well, well, now what do I do with this mewling thing?� Snobbles asks himself.
The babe replies �Goo?�
�Hm, well that is a helpful comment. Very well I will take you to Florsa the Sage Fairy. Surely she will know what to do with an abandoned thing like you. Florsa collects lost bits you know. Well, of course you don�t know. You are human after all. Humph.�
So Snobbles picked up the parasol and its odd contents carefully and hopped over to the meadow of wild sage and thyme where the venerated Florsa had her modest home.
�Florsa? Florsa, please I have a babe here and I need some advise.� Snobbles called into the meadow. For what seemed like a very long time there was no answer and then the center of the meadow glowed from within and the lovely Florsa appeared out of the thin air.
�What is it you need help with noble rabbit? Oh, what is that you are carrying?� She queried.
�This is what I need your help with Great Fairy. Within there is a sleeping infant human! I found it at the abandoned farm in the cabbage patch.�
�Oh, a babe in the cabbage patch. Did you see any other around, noble rabbit?�
�No humans and no babes either. I was alone save the plants.�
�How unfortunate. I suggest that you hand me the babe and I will see more into its origins.� Snobbles handed the parasol to the Sage Fairy gently. �Oh, how sweet of a thing you have found. It is surely the cause of celebration. I say we shall alert the others and throw the babe a garden party. Maybe one of the guests could then take the poor thing in for surely I have no place for a human child in my modest meadow.�
�Yes, Great Fairy I shall alert the others and we shall celebrate this new one.�
So Snobbles went off into the surrounding farms, steams, meadows, and fields to call together a contingent of the fae of the area for the grand party. He invited Kidjo the Blackbird and Ginny the gnome from the east seeded field and Cudgle the boggle from the rich human�s farm. He invited all his friends and the mighty Fairies of the oaks and toadstools. The whole host of the local hidden world was expected at the party for the abandoned babe.
Snobbles arrived back to the Sage Fairy�s meadow to find it all decorated for a grand affair with steamers of flowers and glistening bowls to punch and cup after cup of tea set out on an elegant long mossy table. In the center of the scene wrapped in the softest looking cobweb blanket laid the babe cooing in its incomprehensible language.
The others arrived by ones and twos into the festive air of the garden party. Each of the guests brought a gift for the abandoned babe. Kidjo brought a shiny nickel from his nest, which the babe took in hand and sucked on. Cudgle gave the babe a left sock he had stolen from the drier of the rich farmer�s wife at which the child gave a hearty laugh. As for Snoggles himself he gave the babe packet of seeds he had found in the field with her.
�Maybe this once belonged to your own people.� Snoggles said softly to the babe who yawned in reply.
�I have the last gift for the child I assume?� Intoned the Royal Oak Fairy. All the party guest fell silent. �Yes, I suppose I do. This dear child is my gift.� He opened his hand showing a small sprig of green. �This is a piece of the magic of my people, a magic herb is you wish. By eating this simple sprig you will never lose your ability to see us dear child and your heart will remain pure though humans may raise you. Take this gift dear child and remember us always.�
The babe took the sprig in its small hand and into its mouth then it fell asleep.
�I have been giving this situation a great amount of consideration as we reveled. None of us here can keep a human child, for they grow too large for us to care for and would bring too much attention to our existence to be allowed. There is a widow woman who lives near my tree. She is kind to all creatures and I can think of no other who would more deserve such a special child. I propose that we leave to babe to her and visit them often. What say you?� The Royal Oak spoke.
There was a general murmur of conversation and then the Sage Fairy stepped up. �Yes, it seems just. At least this way we don�t lose the precious child completely. I think we all agree.�
And so it came to past that the Widow Murphy awoke one morning to the sound of a baby crying on her doorstep dressed in cobwebs and laying within a lime green parasol.
�Well, precious you are a lovely sight. Where be your parents little one? I will take you in and call on the authorities.� The Widow said softly cradling the babe. �You are a gift aren�t you? If your parents are not found�well, come on in.� They smiled at each other and all the denizens of the hidden world cheered their good deed.
The End
4-12-05