Nixie

Have you ever heard of the nixie? It's a water fairy, and just like a river, the nixie's appearance changes according to where you find it. In Germany, it's a man-like spirit who lures women and children into the water with his enchanting song. The English nixie is sometimes called a "neck" or a "knucker," and takes the form of a dragon.

In the United States, the most common place to find a nixie isn't in the water, but in your mailbox! If you've ever mailed out a letter to a friend who has moved, then when your letter is returned to you it will have the word "nixie" stamped on it to mean that the letter carrier couldn't find them.

We were glad yesterday to receive a different sort of fairy in the mail. Several fairies, in fact, all tramping about on the envelope and letterhead of our correspondent Connie. We especially like the Latin motto she's adopted, and the little picture of Mr. Punch in his saucer-shaped dogsled. Run faster, Toby!