A green hobgoblin,     Small but quick, Went out walking     With a black thorn stick. He was full of mischief,     Full of glee, He frightened all     That he could see. He saw a little maiden     In a wood. He looked as fierce     As a goblin shoulder. He crept by the hedge row,     He said, "Boo!" "Boo!" laughed the little girl,     "How are you?" "What!" said the goblin,     "Aren't you afraid?" "I think you're funny,"     Said the maid. "Ha!" said the goblin,     Sitting down flat. "You think I'm funny?     I don't like that. "I'm very frightening.     You should flee!" "You're cunning," she said,     "As you can be!" Then she laughed again,     And went away. But the goblin stood there     All that day. A beetle came by, and     "Well?" it said. But the goblin only     Shook his head. "For I am funny,"     He said to it. "I thought I was alarming,     And I'm not a bit. "If I'm amusing,"     He said to himself, "I won't be a goblin,     I'll be an elf! "For a goblin must be goblin     All the day, But an elf need only     Dance and play." So the little green goblin     Became an elf. And he dances all day,     And he likes himself. Florence Page Jaques.