Elfin Skates

They wheel'd me up the snow-clear'd garden way,
And left me where the dazzling heaps were thrown;
And as I mused on winter sports once known,
Up came a tiny man to where I lay.
He was six inches high; his beard was grey
As silver frost; his coat and cap were brown,
Of mouse's fur; while two wee skates hung down
From his wee belt, and gleam'd in winter's ray.

He clamber'd up my couch, and eyed me long.
'Show me thy skates,' said I; 'for once, alas!
I too could skate. What pixie mayst thou be?'
'I am the king', he answered, 'of the throng
Called Winter Elves. We live in roots, and pass
The summer months asleep. Frost sets us free.'