Gaelic Fairy Tales (1908)

8/9/2019 Gaelic Fairy Tales (1908)

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Na Daoine Sidheis Uirsgeulan eile


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GAELICFairy Tales


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PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.This litde book is printed and published in aidof the Comunn Gaidhealach through the kindnessof Mr. Nelson, as his contribution to the Feill.The version of the Good Housewife here given

is reprinted from Craignish Tales ("Waifs andStrays of Celtic Tradition," Vol. I.), by kind per-mission of Lord Archibald Campbell and Mr.


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PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.When tlie first edition of this little book was pub-lished, I was unaware of the name of the narratorof the version here given of the traditional tale,


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CLAR-INNSIDH.

I. Spiorad NA H-AOISE, .... .... .... gII. lOLAIRE LoCH-Tr^IG, .... .... .... 34


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NA DAOINE SIDHEIS UIRSGEULAN EILE.


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GAELIC FAIRY TALES.

I.


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10 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.sin, thuirt Ardan, mac mor an aireich, " Abhliadhna gus an diugh dh' fhalbh mophiuthar, ailleagan an fhuilt oir, agus isboid is briathra dhomhsa nach dean miFois no tamh a latha no dh' oidhche gusan lorgaich mi mach i, 's bidh mi airchomh-diol rithe fein."" A mhic," ars' 'athair, " ma bhoidich thusin cha bhac mise thu ; ach bhuineadh dhuit,


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. lo" A year to-day my sister, the little Jewelof the Golden Hair, went away, and it is avow and a word to me that I will not takerest nor repose day or night till I trace herout and share her fate."

" Son," quoth his father, " if thou didstvow that, I will not hinder thee ; but itwould have become thee, before the wordwent out of thy mouth, to ask thy father'sleave. Rise, wife, and prepare a bannock


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II SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.chaomhnadh air bonn, no eang, no ruighe,no feith. Bheireadh esan air a' ghaoithluath mhairt a bha roimhe ; ach a' ghaothluath mhairt a bha 'na dheadhaidh, chabheireadh i air. Mu dheireadh bhuail acrase. Suidhear air cloich ghlais a dh' itheadha' bhonnaich mhoir, thigeadh fitheach dubhan fhasaich agus suidhear air sgor craige osa chionn.


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. ninstep, or muscle or sinew. He would over-take the swift March wind that was beforehim, but the swift March wind that wasbehind him would not catch him up. Atlast hunger struck him. He sits on a graystone to eat the big bannock. The BlackRaven of the Wilderness comes and sits on asnout of rock above his head.

" A morsel, a morsel, son of Gorla of theFlocks," quoth the Raven.


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12 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.an fheasgar air ciaradhbha neoil dhubhadhorcha na h-oidhche a' tighinn, agus neoilshioda sheimh an latha a' triall; na h-eoinbheaga bhuchuUach, bhachallach, orbhuidhe'gabhail mu thamh ann am bun nam preas's am barraibh nan dos na h-innseaganlaoghacha lathacha, 's gach kite b' fhearra thaghadh iad ; ach ged a bha, cha robhmac mor Ghorla-nan-treud. Chunnaic e


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 12silken clouds of day journeying away ; thelittle, nestling, twittering, golden-yellow birdstaking rest at the foot of the bushes and inthe tops of the thicketsin the deer-haunteddells, and each place they chose as best ; butthough they were, not so the son of Gorlaof the Flocks. He saw a little house oflight far from him ; and though far fromhim, he was not long in reaching it.


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13 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE." a tha 'g iarraidh cosnaidhthalaidh do leusloinnearach mi a dh' iarraidh blaths agus fas-gadh na h-oidhche."

" Ma dh' fhanas tu agams'," arsa 'n seannduine, " gu ceann bliadhfia, a bhuachailleachdmo thri mairt mhaola odhar, gheibh thu dodhuais, is cha bhi fath talaich."

" Cha b' e mo chomhairle dha," arsanighean an fhuilt oir 's na cire airgid.


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14 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.danasbi dileasearb m' fhocalbi saoith-reach, 's cha bhi do shaothair gun duals."

Dh' fhalbh e mu chul na spreidhe, aguslean e lad. Cha robh e ach golrid air falbh,'nuair a chunnalc e coileach olr agus cearcalrgld a' rulth rolmhe air a' bhlar. Ghabhe air an tolr ; ach ged bha lad a nls agusa rlthlst, air lels, 'na ghlalc, dh' fhalrtllch


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 14trust my word ; be painstaking, and thy toilshall not be without reward."He went after the cattle, and followedthem. He was not long gone when he sawa golden cock and a silver hen runningbefore him on the plain. He gave chasebut though they were now and again as hethought in his grasp, he failed to hold themfast. He returned from the vain pursuit,


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15 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.mheas-deug nach fac' e. Toisichear air efein a shasuchadh leis na measaibh thugna mairt mhaola odhar an aghaidh dhachaidh,agus lean e iad. Bhleoghain gruagach anfhuilt oir iad, ach an aite bainne cha d'thainig ach nus glas. Thuig an seann duinemar bha :" Olaich gun fhirinn 's gun dilseachd,"ars' esan, " bhrist thu do ghealladh."


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 15the fruits. The dun polled cows turned theirfaces homewards, and he followed them. TheMaid with the Golden Hair milked them,but instead of good milk they gave only thinmilk. The Old Man understood how it was."Young man without truth and without

faithfulness," said he, " thou didst break thypromise."He lifted his magic rodhe strikes the


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1 6 . SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.shine anns gach doigh, mar sin thachairdo'n mhac mheadhonach ; agus 'na charraghcloiche tha esan an ceann tighe bothan ant-sleibh, mar chuimhneachan air bristeadhfocail agus coimhcheangail fasdaidh.

Latha agus bliadhna 'na dheidh so, thuirtam mac a b' oige, Caomhan donn an aigh," Tha nis tri laithean agus tri bliadhna o'na chain sinn mo phiuthar ailHdh. Dh'


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. i6end of the mountain bothy, as a reminder ofbroken troth and covenant of hiring.

A day and a year after this the youngestson. Brown Caomhan* of good fortune, said," There are now three days and three years

since we lost my beautiful sister. Thebrothers of my love departed to seek her.Now, father, if it is pleasing to thee, allowme to go after them and to share their fate,


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17 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.reachd an t-saoghail mhoir 's do mhalkchd'na lorg. Air beannachd mathar, 's mi nachdean tair."Thog Caomhan donn, mac Ghorla-nan-treud, air ; 's mar bha tigh 'athar 's amhathar 'ga fhagail sa' cheo, bha 'chridheIan. Thug e gu siubhal nan eangruigeardoire nan earbsuidhear fo chraoibh a dh'itheadh a' bhonnaich sin a dh' fhuin a


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 17Flocks, "lifted on himself," and his heart wasfull as the house of his father and motherwas left behind in the mist. He set off atbounding speed ; he reaches the wood of theroedeer ; he sits under a tree to eat thatbannock which his kind mother baked forhim.

" A morsel, a morsel," quoth the BlackRaven of the Wilderness. " A morsel for me,


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1 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.e am meas a bha boidheach aillidh do 'nt-sealladh ; ach cha do bhlais se e.Ghabh na tri mairt mhaola odhar seachad

air a' choille, 's rainig iad aonach farsuing airan robh falaisgam fraoch fada r'a theineghabh iad g'a ionnsuidh. Bha 'n fhalaisg a'sgaoileadh air an raon a' bagairt e fein 's namairt mhaola odhar a losgadh ; ach ghabhiad troimhpecha d' fheuch e am bacadh,


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. i8wood, and they reached a wide moor wherethere was a " heather-burning "the longheather on fire. They went towards it. Thefire was spreading on the plain, threateningto burn himself and the dun polled cows ;but they went through ithe did not try tostop them, for this was the promise he hadgiven. He followed them through the fire,and not a single hair of his head was burnt.

swollen with


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19 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.an tigh-aoraidh le suil bhuaireasach is 'anail'na uchd, a dh' innseadh gu'n robh 'n crodhmaol odhar anns a' ghart agus e dhol a machg' an saodach as.

" Imich uam," arsa Caomhan ; " b' usadhuit-sa, 'bhobuig, an cur as thu fein, naruith mar so 's an anail a' t' uchd a thoirt ansgeoil 'am ionnsuidh-sa^ eisdidh mise nabriathra taitneach."


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD, 19" Begone," said Caomhan ; " 'twere easier

for theCj thou booby, to put them out thy-self, than running thus and ' the breath inthy chest' to bring the tale to me. I willlisten to the acceptable words."A little while after that the same lad cameback, frenzy and fury in his eye, and hisbreath in his chest.

" Out, out, son of Gorla of the Bens," said


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20 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.eirich iad agus ghluais iad air an t-slighedhachaidh, agus lean Caomhan iad. Cha b'fhada bha e air an cul, 'nuair a chunnaic emachair fharsuing co lom 's gu faiceadh e 'ndealg bu chaoile air an lom lar ; agus mhoth-aich e capuU agus searrach 6g meanmnachlughmhor ag ionaltradh, agus iad co reamharfheolmhor ri ron a' chuain mhoir. " Tha soiongantach," arsa Caomhan donn. Faicear


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 20a mare and a fleet mettlesome young foalgrazing, and they as plump and fleshy as theseal of the great ocean. " This is extraor-dinary," quoth Brown Caomhan. A shortwhile after that he sees' another plain, under acrop of waste pasture, on which were a mareand a foal, in whose backs the awl of thebrogues would not stand for leanness.He sees after that a lochan of water, and


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21 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.do thir an dorchadais. B' eagalach an sgreucha thog iadbu chulaidh-oillt am bas-bhua-ladh bronach, Bha ceo agus neula dorchathairis air a' ghleann dhuaichnidh, dhubh, gusan robh iad a' triall, agus chuala Caomhantairneanach trom. " Tha so," ars' esan, " darireadh iongantach."Lean e na tri mairt mhaola odhar. Bha'n oidhche 'n sin a' cur roimhpe bhi fiadhaich,


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 21Caomhan heard heavy thundering. "Thatis indeed strange," said he.He followed the three dun polled cows.The night was then purposing to be a wild

one, nor had they knowledge of shelter ordwelling in which to put it past ; but whoshould meet Caomhan but the Dog of theGreat Mull ; and no sooner did the honesthelpmate and the good host meet him than


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22 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE." 'Nis," arsa madadh na maoile-moire, " slah

leat a Chaomhain ! Soirbheachadh leat geb' e ait' an teid thusonas 'nad shiubhal 's'nad ghluasad. Thairg mi aoigheachd, 's chado dhiult thu i ; ghabh thu gu cridheilsunndach na thairg mi, chuir thu oidhcheseachad ann an uaimh madadh na maoile-moiredh' earb thu asnaisg thu a chairdeas,agus cha mheallar thu. A nis thoir fainear


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 22I offered. Thou didst put past the nightin the cave of the Dog of the Great Mullthou didst trust in him, thou didst pledgehis friendship, and he will not deceive thee.Now, consider my words. If ever thou artin a hard case or strait in which fleetnessof foot and ready action will be of use tothee, think on the Dog of the Great Mullwish greatly for him, and I will be at thy


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23 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.d'a sgios agus an oidhche gu leir a churseachad maille ris.

Fhuair e gabhail aige 'n oidhche sin gumaith 's gu ro-mhaith comhla ri fitheachdubh choire-nah-creag, nam foghnadh feoila's sithionn ; 's an am falbh sa' mhaduinnthuirt e ris, " A Chaomhain mhic Ghorla-na-Beinne, thoir leat na dh' fhoghnas air dothuruscuid a' choigrich cha d' ionndraich


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 23He was entertained that night well and

very well with the Black Raven of the corrieof the crags, if flesh and venison wouldSuffice ; and at the time of going in themorning, he said to him,

"Caomhan, son of Gorla of the Peak,take with thee what will suffice thee forthy journeythe stranger's portion I nevermissed ;and remember my last words. If


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24 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.gharaidh r'a eisdeachd ach sgiamhail ismealanaich chat, is bhroc, is thaghan isfheocuUan, threoruich se e gun sgath guneagal gun sgiansgar, gu taiceil, foghanta,raideail gu robairneach, bior - shuileach,mion-eolach, gu beul cuirn, far an d' iarr eair trian d'a sgios agus an oidhche gu h-uilechur seachad comhla ris. Neor-thaing murd' fhuair e gabhail aige 'n oidhche sin comhla


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2 5 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.esan a shnamhas an sruth no thumas fo 'nfhairge freasdal duit, cuimhnich ormsa, 'sbidh mi ri d' thaobh."

Fhuair e na tri mairt mhaola odhar sanlagan san d' fhag e iaddh' eirich iad, agusmu airde 'n fheasgair sin fein rainig iadsanagus esan, gu sabhailte socair, bothan ant-sleibh.

Bha failte 's furan san tigh 'nuair rainig


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 25under the sea can do thee service, rememberme, and I will be at thy side."He found the three d.un polled cows inthe little hollow in which he had left them.They got up, and towards the height of the-same evening he and they reached safely andeasily the mountain bothy.

There was welcome and joy at meetingin the house when Caomhan arrived. He


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26 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.dochas," arsa Caomhan, " agus bidh e pailtni 's leoir leamsa. Aisig dhomh piutharmo ghraidh agus da bhrathair mo ruintha agad fo dhruidheachd, beo slan mardh' fhag iad tigh an athar ; agus bonn oirno tasdan airgid cha 'n 'eil a dhith airCaomhan."

" 'S ard t'iarradas, oganaich," arsa 'n seann-duine ; " tha duilgheadas eadar thu 's na dh'


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 26quoth Caomhan, " and it will be plentifulenough for me. Restore to me, alive andwell as when they left the house of theirfather, the sister of my affection and thebrothers of my love that thou hast underenchantment, and neither gold piece norsilver shilling will Caomhan want."

" Youth, thy request is high," said the OldMan. " There are difficulties between thee


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27 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.lach aillidh a' mhuineil 6ir, agus am breaca dh' aithnichear o gach breac ; is innsidhmise dhuit an sin mu phiuthar do ghaoil's mu dha bhrathair do ruin."

Dh' fhalbh Caomhan donn. Chaidhgruagach an fhuilt oir 's na cire airgid asa dheigh.

" A Chaomhain," deir i, " gabh mis-neach ; tha beannachd do mhathar agad


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 27neck, and the trout that can be known fromevery trout, and I will tell thee about thesister of thine affection and the two brothersof thy love."Brown Caomhan departed. The Maidenof the Golden Hair and Silver Comb wentafter him.

" .Caomhan," saith she, " take courage ;thou hast the blessing, of* thy mother andthe blessing of the poor. Thou didst stand


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28 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.madadh c6ir r'a thaobh ; agus an deidh dhacuairt no dha thoirt mu 'n bheinn, dh' fhag eeilid chaiseann an t-sleibh aig bonn a choise.Thug Caomhan 'na dheidh sin an lochan

air, agus faicear lach uaine a' mhuineil oirag itealaich os a chionn. " O ! " arsa Gaom-han, " nach robh agamsa nis fitheach dubhan fhasaich is laidire sgiath 's is geiresuil ! " Cha luaithe thubhairt e so, na chun-


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 28he had taken a cast or two round the moun-tain, he left the curly-haired hind at thesole of his foot.

After that Caomhan betook himself tothe lochan, and he sees the green duck ofthe golden neck flying above his head.

" Oh," said Caomhan, " that I had nowthe Black Raven of the Wilderness, strongestof wing and sharpest of eye ! "No sooner had he^ said this than he saw


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29 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE,e air dhachaidh, agus fagar an earb, an lach,agus am breac boidheach air stairsneachbothan an t-sleibh.

" Buaidh is piseach le Caomhan donn !arsa 'n seann duine. " Cha do chuir aghuala da rireadh ris, nach do chuir tuarthairis. Thig a stigh, a Chaomhain ; 's'nuair bhleoghnas gruagach an fhuilt oir 'sna cire airgid na tri mairt mhaola odhar,


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 29He started for home, and leaves the roe,

the duck, and the beautiful trout on thethreshold of the mountain bothy." Success and prosperity to Brown Caom-han ! " said the Old Man. " ' None ever sethis shoulder to it in earnest that did not winthrough.' Come in, Caomhan, and when theMaid of the Golden Hair and Silver Comb


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 30silver hen temptations of evilthe glamourthat gold and silver cast over the eyethoudidst remember thy promise ; thou didstwalk in the path of thy duty ; good fortunewas with Caomhan. The tempter tried theeagain under the form of a golden rod anda silver rod. These were apparently easierto catch ; but thou didst remember thypromise and didst follow the cattle.


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31 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.stigh's maith a fhuaras tu; aph lean ambuaireadair an sin fein thu. 'S maith afhreagair thu e' Eisdidh mise am focal.'"Chunnaic tu an t-ionaltradh 16m 's anfhalaire ard mheanmnach le 'searrach mear a'deanamh gairdeachais air. Mar sin gu trie,a Chaomhain, san t-saoghal : tha tigh nah-aoigheachd air uairibh gann ; ach tha sith,


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 31Thou answeredst him well : ' I will listen tothe word.'"Thou didst see the bare pasturage, andthe high-spirited mare with her playful colt

rejoicing on it. It is often thus, Caomhan,in the world : the house of hospitality isoften ill supplied, but peace, rejoicing, andprosperity are its prop. Thou didst see thepasture going waste, and every four-footed


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32 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.gach sanas, agus a nis tha iad a' caoidh gutruagh.

" Cha d' rinn thu tair air coibhneas agusaoigheachd nam bochd, ghabh thu ann ancairdeas na thairgeadh gu fialaidh ; cha donaraich thu an t-ainnisleis a so naisg thuan dilseachd. Sheas thu do ghealladhleanthu an spreidhchoisinn thu do dhuais


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD. 32"Thou didst not put contempt on the

friendliness and hospitality of the poor ; thoudidst accept in kindness what was generouslyoffered ; thou didst not shame the needyin this way thou didst bind friendship. Thoudidst stand to thy promisethou didst followthe cattlethou didst win thy reward. Itrusted thy courage. Difficulties did notterrify thee ; thou didst put thy shoulder to


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33 SPIORAD NA H-AOISE.'n 'eil druidheachd 'na h-innleachd. Dophiuthar, ailleagan an fhuilt oir 's na cireairgid, gheibh thu leat dhachaidh ; ach dobhraithrean, ged tha iad beo, rinn leisg is mi-dhilseachd iad 'nan allabanaich gun dachaidhgun charaid. Imich thusa chum tighe t'athar, a Chaomhain, agus taisg ann d'chridhe na chunnaic 's na chuala."


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THE SPIRIT OF ELD.33Golden Hair and the Silver Comb, thou

shalt take home with thee ; but thy brothers,though they are living, laziness and faithless-ness made of them wanderers, without homeand without friend. Go thou to thy father'shouse, Caomhan, and store in thy heart whatthou hast seen and heard."

" And who art thou that speakest ? " saidCaomhan." "


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II.

lOLAIRE LOCH-TREIG.Bha, roimhe seo, seann iolaire mhor a' tamhan Aird-mheadhoin Loch-Treig, far am


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35 lOLAIRE LOCH-TREIG.Cha robh duil bheo a thachradh oirre

ach nial na h-aoise bhi oirrenach farrai-deadh i, " Am fac' thu Oidhche-Bhealltuinnriamh cho fuar ris an oidhche 'n raoir ?ach chan fhac' a h-aon.

Coma, bha'n latha as a thoiseach, 's bha imar so ag cumail air a h-aghart gun chluain,gun chlos, gus an do thachair seann dreathan-donn coir oirre. " Failt air an dreathan,


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THE EAGLE OF LOCH TREIG. 35her, provided only the hue of age were onit, that she would not ask, " Didst ever seesuch a cold Beltane Eve as last night ?But none had seen it.

However, the day was but beginning,and she was keeping forward like this, with-out rest and without repose, till a kindly oldWren met her." Hail to the Wren, this yellow * day of


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36 lOLAIRE LOCH-TREIG.'san innean ag glanadh a ghuib. Chuir ifailte na Bealltuinn air a' ghobha, 's dh' innisi fath a turuis : " Am fac' thu riamh," ars ise," Oidhche-Bhealltuinn cho fuar ris an oidh-che 'n raoir ? " Thug an gobha glaomadhbochd air fhein, 's thuirt e nach faca riamh,agus nach cual' e iomradh air a leithid ; achgu'n robh seann udlaiche, bho chionn chan'eil fhios c'uin', a' tathaich Choill-Innse ; 's


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37 lOLAIRE LOCH-TREIG.m' aithne 's m' eolais ; agus ma ni thu guthaige 's an dol seachad, innis dha fath do thuruisagus gu'm fac' thu mise ; 's mur d' thainigcaochladh air, ni e do Ian di-beatha." Dh'aithris e 'n sin di gnothuichean araid a thachairri linn nan triath bu chuimhne leis am faicinn,mu euchdan a shinnsrean agus mu bhuil amhuirichinn. An uair a bha iad ag gabhail" maduinn mhath " le cheile, dh' earb is dh'


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THE EAGLE OF LOCH TREIG. 37far. We spent so long in each other's neigh-bourhood that I take delight, as you canunderstand, in his old belling, hoarse as heis, when I hear him in the dawn. He isthe oldest creature who survives to-day, sofar as my friends and acquaintances go ; andif you call upon him when going past, tellhim the reason of your journey, and thatyou have seen me ; and if change has not


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38 lOLAIRE LOCH-TREIG.a thagairt urram na h-aoise : ach an uaira bha iad a' dealachadh, thuirt an t-udlaichegu'n robh breac cam ann an lochan Choirena Ceanainn, air an do chuir e eolas an tratha bha e 'na laoighean 6g an cois a mhathara' tighinn a nail an Lairig-leacach a Beinn-a'-bhric. " Bha smalaich na h-aoise air anuair sin fhein," ars' esan, " agus ma tha nineagad, is fiach dhuit dol dh'a choimheadis


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THE EAGLE OF LOCH TREIG. 38antler fall on his shoulder-blade ; " but hesaid very, very leisurely* that he did notremember that he had ever seen one. Shefound him hospitable and courteous, andhe inquired kindly about the blind Ousel.They then gave a short space to story-tellingand genealogy, and the Eagle was about toclaim the honour of age ; but, when theywere separating, the Stag said that there was


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THE EAGLE OF LOCH TREIG. 39The Trout said that he hadone other

night, and that it was so cold that althoughhe was in the heat of his blood (that is,young and hot-blooded) , and in the" prime ofhis strength, he was obliged to begin to cutcapers through 'the water to keep warmth inhimself.

" And," said he, " one of the leaps that Itook, I jump out of the water and strike my


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE AND HERNIGHT LABOURS.

Reprinted from " Waifs and Strays of Celtic Tradition,"


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ni.A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH 'S OBAIR-

OIDHCHE.Aon uair o cheanna nan cian bha bean fear


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE AND HERNIGHT LABOURS.


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41 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH.Dh' eirich i 's nar dh' fhosgail i 'n dorus

thainig bean choimheach ann an deise ciar-uaine stigh seachad oirre 's shuidh i aig a'chuibheal-shniomh. Cha bu luaithe rinn isin na thainig buille na bu chruaidhe do'ndorus 's eibheach 's na ceart fhacail,

" lonnaraidh Mhor Mhaith Bhean-an-Tighe ! Fosgail an dorus 's co fad 's amhaireas dhomhsa gheibh thusa."


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 41door to me, for so long as I have you'llget."

She rose, and when she opened the doora strange-looking woman, dressed in shadedgreen, entered the house, passed her, andsat down at the spinning-wheel. She wasno sooner seated than a louder knockingcame, and a voice calling out the selfsamewords,


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42 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH.thainig an ath-te le barrachd stairirich 'snar fhuair i stigh thoisich i air tlamadh.Bha iad a-nis a' tighinn na bu chaise 's nabu luaithe aon as deidhinn aoin le farum's gleadhraich na bu mhotha 's na b'airdegus an robh an tigh loma Ian diu 's iad uilean greim. Thoisich an sin an obair da-rireadh, cireadh, cardadh, tarruing, tlamadh,cuigealadh ; shniomh 'bheart-fhighe gu luath,


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 44told her to return home, and stand on thehillock at her own door, and cry out as loudas she could three times, " Burg Hill is onfire

! " The company would then rush outto see for themselves ; and when she gotthem outside, she was to disarrange, reverse,overturn, and upset everything they had beenworking with. She returned with the know-ledge given her ; and when she reached the


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45 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH." Mo bhean 's mo phaisdean,Mo chaise 's mo ghogan ime,Mo mhic 's mo nigheanan,

'S mo chisteachan m6ra mine,Mo chlr 's mo chardan,An snath 's a' chuigealjMo bh6 's a' bhuarach,'S na cuachan bainne,Eich 's ria h-iallan,Cliabhan 's cinnean,


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 45My comb and wool-cards,Thread and distaiF,Cow and fetter,Horses and traces.Harrows and hoard,And the ground bursting,My hammers and anvil.Burg Hill is on fire.And if Burg Hill is burnt,My pleasant occupationsAnd merriments are gone,"


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46 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH.fhighe, am bum luaidh bharr an teine, 's marsin a sios. 'S gann a bha i uUamh dheth so,'s i air toiseachadh air deasachadh do mhuinn-tir an tighe, na thill na Daoine Coire air aisag iarraidh stigh 's ag eibheach,

" lonnaraidh Mh6r Mhaith Bhean-an-Tighe ! Leig a stigh sinn."

" Cha'n urrainn mi," ors ise, " 's molamhan 's an taois."

Sin ghlaoidh iad ris chuibhle "


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 46the fairy company returned, knocking foradmission, and calling out,

" Tall Inary, good housewife, let us in."" That I cannot," she answered ; " my

hands are in the dough measure."They then called to the Spinning-wheel,

" Good Spinning-wheel, get up and open thedoor to us."

" How can I," said the Spinning-wheel," when I am without a band ? "


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47 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH.Bhriodail iad a nis air a' bhurn-luaidh an lei-geil stigh ag radhainn ris. " 'Bhurn-luaidhnach fhosgail thu 'n dorus ? "

" Cha'n urrainn mi 's mi bharr an teine,"ors' am burn-luaidh.

Bha iad thun toirt thairis 's a' fas neo-fhaighidneach 's air a cheann mu dheireadhthug iad an aghaidh, 's rinn iad an gearanris a bhonnach bheag a' bha'g a bhruich


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 47" FuUing-water, will you not open the

door ?" I cannot, when I am ofF the fire," said

the FuUing-water.They were getting exhausted and impa-

tient, and as a last resource they turned andmade their complaint to the little Bannockthat was toasting on the hearth, and saidto it,

" Little Bannock of good fortune, open


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48 A BHEAN TIGHE MHATH.dh' iarradh , oirre dheanamh leis a' bhurn-luaidh 's thog i Ian cuaiche 's thilg i thairisair Fear-an-Tighe e. Dhiiisg esan gun dail.Bha an t-am aige. Dh' eirich e 's dh'fhos-gail e 'n dorus 's sguir an upraid.


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THE GOOD HOUSEWIFE. 48lifted a cogful, and threw it over the good-man, who awoke immediately. It was hightime for him. He rose, opened the door,and the uproar ceased.


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Documents

Gaelic Fairy Tales (1908)