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diff --git a/old/8675-h.htm.2021-01-26 b/old/8675-h.htm.2021-01-26 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d40f261 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8675-h.htm.2021-01-26 @@ -0,0 +1,3542 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Welsh Fairy-tales and Other Stories, by Anonymous + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + .side { float: right; font-size: 75%; width: 25%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; margin-left: 0.8em; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + pre {font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Welsh Fairy-Tales And Other Stories, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Welsh Fairy-Tales And Other Stories + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: P. H. Emerson + + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8675] +This file was first posted on July 31, 2003 +Last Updated: May 14, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELSH FAIRY-TALES AND OTHER *** + + + + +Text file produced by Delphine Lettau, Charles Franks and the people at DP + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + WELSH FAIRY-TALES AND OTHER STORIES + </h1> + <h2> + By Anonymous + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Collected And Edited By P. H. Emerson + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + To <br /> <br /> Leonard, Sybil, Gladys, And Zoe. + </h4> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AUTHOR’S NOTE. + </h2> + <p> + These tales were collected by me whilst living in Anglesea during the + winter 1891-2. + </p> + <p> + With the exception of the French story, they were told me and I took them + down at the time. + </p> + <p> + Particulars respecting the narratives will be found in the Notes. + </p> + <p> + In most cases I have done but little “editing”, preferring to give the + stories as told. + </p> + <p> + The old book referred to in the Notes I bought from a country bookseller, + who knew neither its author, title, or date, but I have since been + informed the book is Williams’ <i>Observations on the Snowdon Mountains</i>, + published in 1802, a book well known to students of Celtic literature. + </p> + <p> + P. H. E. + </p> + <p> + CLARINGBOLD, BROADSTAIRS. <i>April 1894</i>. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> AUTHOR’S NOTE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE FAIRIES OF CARAGONAN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE CRAIG-Y-DON BLACKSMITH. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> OLD GWILYM. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE BABY-FARMER. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> THE OLD MAN AND THE FAIRIES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> TOMMY PRITCHARD. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> KADDY’S LUCK. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE STORY OF GELERT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> ORIGIN OF THE WELSH. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> CROWS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> ROBERT ROBERTS AND THE FAIRIES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE FAIRY OF THE DELL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> ELLEN’S LUCK. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE FAIRIES’ MINT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE PELLINGS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE LONG-LIVED ANCESTORS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE GIANTESS’S APRON-FULL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> GWRGAN FARFDRWCH’S FABLE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE STORY OF THE PIG-TROUGH. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> BILLY DUFFY AND THE DEVIL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> THE STORY OF JOHN 0’ GROATS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> EVA’S LUCK. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE FISHERMEN OF SHETLAND. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> THE PASTOR’S NURSE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_NOTE"> NOTES. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FAIRIES OF CARAGONAN. + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time a lot of fairies lived in Mona. + </p> + <p> + One day the queen fairy’s daughter, who was now fifteen years of age, told + her mother she wished to go out and see the world. + </p> + <p> + The queen consented, allowing her to go for a day, and to change from a + fairy to a bird, or from a bird to a fairy, as she wished. + </p> + <p> + When she returned one night she said: + </p> + <p> + “I’ve been to a gentleman’s house, and as I stood listening, I heard the + gentleman was witched: he was very ill, and crying out with pain.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I must look into that,” said the queen. + </p> + <p> + So the next day she went through her process and found that he was + bewitched by an old witch. So the following day she set out with six other + fairies, and when they came to the gentleman’s house she found he was very + ill. + </p> + <p> + Going into the room, bearing a small blue pot they had brought with them, + the queen asked him: + </p> + <p> + “Would you like to be cured?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, bless you; yes, indeed.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon the queen put the little blue pot of perfume on the centre of + the table, and lit it, when the room was instantly filled with the most + delicious odour. + </p> + <p> + Whilst the perfume was burning, the six fairies formed in line behind her, + and she leading, they walked round the table three times, chanting in + chorus: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Round and round three times three, + We have come to cure thee.” + </pre> + <p> + At the end of the third round she touched the burning perfume with her + wand, and then touched the gentleman on the head, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Be thou made whole.” + </p> + <p> + No sooner had she said the words than he jumped up hale and hearty, and + said: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear queen, what shall I do for you? I’ll do anything you wish.” + </p> + <p> + “Money I do not wish for,” said the queen, “but there’s a little plot of + ground on the sea-cliff I want you to lend me, for I wish to make a ring + there, and the grass will die when I make the ring. Then I want you to + build three walls round the ring, but leave the sea-side open, so that we + may be able to come and go easily.” + </p> + <p> + “With the greatest of pleasure,” said the gentleman; and he built the + three stone walls at once, at the spot indicated. + </p> + <h3> + II. + </h3> + <p> + Near the gentleman lived the old witch, and she had the power of turning + at will into a hare. The gentleman was a great hare hunter, but the hounds + could never catch this hare; it always disappeared in a mill, running + between the wings and jumping in at an open window, though they stationed + two men and a dog at the spot, when it immediately turned into the old + witch. And the old miller never suspected, for the old woman used to take + him a peck of corn to grind a few days before any hunt, telling him she + would call for it on the afternoon of the day of the hunt. So that when + she arrived she was expected. + </p> + <p> + One day she had been taunting the gentleman as he returned from a hunt, + that he could never catch the hare, and he struck her with his whip, + saying “Get away, you witchcraft!” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon she witched him, and he fell ill, and was cured as we have seen. + </p> + <p> + When he got well he watched the old witch, and saw she often visited the + house of an old miser who lived near by with his beautiful niece. Now all + the people in the village touched their hats most respectfully to this old + miser, for they knew he had dealings with the witch, and they were as much + afraid of him as of her; but everyone loved the miser’s kind and beautiful + niece. + </p> + <h3> + III. + </h3> + <p> + When the fairies got home the queen told her daughter: + </p> + <p> + “I have no power over the old witch for twelve months from to-day, and + then I have no power over her life. She must lose that by the arm of a + man.” + </p> + <p> + So the next day the daughter was sent out again to see whether she could + find a person suited to that purpose. + </p> + <p> + In the village lived a small crofter, who was afraid of nothing; he was + the boldest man thereabouts; and one day he passed the miser without + saluting him. The old fellow went off at once and told the witch. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I’ll settle his cows to-night!” said she, and they were taken sick, + and gave no milk that night. + </p> + <p> + The fairy’s daughter arrived at his croft-yard after the cows were taken + ill, and she heard him say to his son, a bright lad: + </p> + <p> + “It must be the old witch!” + </p> + <p> + When she heard this, she sent him to the queen. + </p> + <p> + So next day the fairy queen took six fairies and went to the croft, taking + her blue pot of perfume. When she got there she asked the crofter if he + would like his cows cured? + </p> + <p> + “God bless you, yes!” he said. + </p> + <p> + The queen made him bring a round table into the yard, whereon she placed + the blue pot of perfume, and having lit it, as before, they formed in line + and walked round thrice, chanting the words: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Round and round three times three, + We have come to cure thee.” + </pre> + <p> + Then she dipped the end of her wand into the perfume, and touched the cows + on the forehead, saying to each one: + </p> + <p> + “Be thou whole.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon they jumped up cured. + </p> + <p> + The little farmer was overjoyed, and cried: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, what can I do for you? What can I do for you?” + </p> + <p> + “Money I care not for,” said the queen, “all I want is your son to avenge + you and me.” + </p> + <p> + The lad jumped up and said: + </p> + <p> + “What I can do I’ll do it for you, my lady fairy.” + </p> + <p> + She told him to be at the walled plot the following day at noon, and left. + </p> + <h3> + IV. + </h3> + <p> + The next day at noon, the queen and her daughter and three hundred other + fairies came up the cliff to the green grass plot, and they carried a + pole, and a tape, and a mirror. When they reached the plot they planted + the pole in the ground, and hung the mirror on the pole. The queen took + the tape, which measured ten yards and was fastened to the top of the + pole, and walked round in a circle, and wherever she set her feet the + grass withered and died. Then the fairies followed up behind the queen, + and each fairy carried a harebell in her left-hand, and a little blue cup + of burning perfume in her right. When they had formed up the queen called + the lad to her side, and told him to walk by her throughout. They then + started off, all singing in chorus: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Round and round three times three, + Tell me what you see.” + </pre> + <p> + When they finished the first round, the queen and lad stopped before the + mirror, and she asked the lad what he saw? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + It is the witch that I see,” + </pre> + <p> + said the lad. So they marched round again, singing the same words as + before, and when they stopped a second time before the mirror the queen + again asked him what he saw? + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + It is a hare that I see,” + </pre> + <p> + said the lad. + </p> + <p> + A third time the ceremony and question were repeated. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + The hares run up the hill to the mill.” + </pre> + <p> + “Now,” said the queen, “there is to be a hare-hunting this day week; be at + the mill at noon, and I will meet you there.” + </p> + <p> + And then the fairies, pole, mirror, and all, vanished and only the empty + ring on the green was left. + </p> + <h3> + V. + </h3> + <p> + Upon the appointed day the lad went to his tryst, and at noon the Fairy + Queen appeared, and gave him a sling, and a smooth pebble from the beach, + saying: + </p> + <p> + “I have blessed your arms, and I have blessed the sling and the stone. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Now as the clock strikes three, + Go up the hill near the mill, + And in the ring stand still + Till you hear the click of the mill. + Then with thy arm, with power and might, + You shall strike and smite + The devil of a witch called Jezabel light, + And you shall see an awful sight.” + </pre> + <p> + The lad did as he was bidden, and presently he heard the huntsman’s horn + and the hue and cry, and saw the hare running down the opposite hill-side, + where the hounds seemed to gain on her, but as she breasted the hill on + which he stood she gained on them. As she came towards the mill he threw + his stone, and it lodged in her skull, and when he ran up he found he had + killed the old witch. As the huntsmen came up they crowded round him, and + praised him; and then they fastened the witch’s body to a horse by ropes, + and dragged her to the bottom of the valley, where they buried her in a + ditch. That night, when the miser heard of her death, he dropped down dead + on the spot. + </p> + <p> + As the lad was going home the queen appeared to him, and told him to be at + the ring the following day at noon. + </p> + <h3> + VI. + </h3> + <p> + Next day all the fairies came with the pole and mirror, each carrying a + harebell in her left-hand, and a blue cup of burning perfume in her right, + and they formed up as before, the lad walking beside the queen. They + marched round and repeated the old words, when the queen stopped before + the mirror, and said: + </p> + <p> + “What do you see?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + It is an old plate-cupboard that I see.” + </pre> + <p> + A second time they went round, and the question, was repeated. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + The back is turned to me.” + </pre> + <p> + A third time was the ceremony fulfilled, and the lad answered + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I see, I see, the mirror tells me, + A spring-door is open to me.” + </pre> + <p> + “Buy that plate-cupboard at the miser’s sale,” said the queen, and she and + her companions disappeared as before. + </p> + <h3> + VII. + </h3> + <p> + Upon the day of the sale all the things were brought out in the road, and + the plate-cupboard was put up, the lad recognising it and bidding up for + it till it was sold to him. When he had paid for it he took it home in a + cart, and when he got in and examined it, he found the secret drawer + behind was full of gold. The following week the house and land, thirty + acres, was put up for sale, and the lad bought both, and married the + miser’s niece, and they lived happily till they died. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CRAIG-Y-DON BLACKSMITH. + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time an old blacksmith lived in an old forge at Craig-y-don, + and he used to drink a great deal too much beer. + </p> + <p> + One night he was coming home from an alehouse very tipsy, and as he got + near a small stream a lot of little men suddenly sprang up from the rocks, + and one of them, who seemed to be older than the rest, came up to him, and + said, + </p> + <p> + “If you don’t alter your ways of living you’ll die soon; but if you behave + better and become a better man you’ll find it will be to your benefit,” + and they all disappeared as quickly as they had come. + </p> + <p> + The old blacksmith thought a good deal about what the fairies had told + him, and he left off drinking, and became a sober, steady man. + </p> + <p> + One day, a few months after meeting the little people, a strange man + brought a horse to be shod. Nobody knew either the horse or the man. + </p> + <p> + The old blacksmith tied the horse to a hole in the lip of a cauldron (used + for the purpose of cooling his hot iron) that he had built in some + masonry. + </p> + <p> + When he had tied the horse up he went to shoe the off hind-leg, but + directly he touched the horse the spirited animal started back with a + bound, and dragged the cauldron from the masonry, and then it broke the + halter and ran away out of the forge, and was never seen again: neither + the horse nor its master. + </p> + <p> + When the old blacksmith came to pull down the masonry to rebuild it, he + found three brass kettles full of money. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OLD GWILYM. + </h2> + <p> + Old Gwilym Evans started off one fine morning to walk across the Eagle + Hills to a distant town, bent upon buying some cheese. On his way, in a + lonely part of the hills, he found a golden guinea, which he quickly put + into his pocket. + </p> + <p> + When he got to the town, instead of buying his provisions, he went into an + alehouse, and sat drinking and singing with some sweet-voiced quarrymen + until dark, when he thought it was time to go home. Whilst he was + drinking, an old woman with a basket came in, and sat beside him, but she + left before him. After the parting glass he got up and reeled through the + town, quite forgetting to buy his cheese; and as he got amongst the hills + they seemed to dance up and down before him, and he seemed to be walking + on air. When he got near the lonely spot where he had found the money he + heard some sweet music, and a number of fairies crossed his path and began + dancing all round him, and then as he looked up he saw some + brightly-lighted houses before him on the hill; and he scratched his head, + for he never remembered having seen houses thereabouts before. And as he + was thinking, and watching the fairies, one came and begged him to come + into the house and sit down. + </p> + <p> + So he followed her in, and found the house was all gold inside it, and + brightly lighted, and the fairies were dancing and singing, and they + brought him anything he wanted for supper, and then they put him to bed. + </p> + <p> + Gwilym slept heavily, and when he awoke turned round, for he felt very + cold, and his body seemed covered with prickles; so he sat up and rubbed + his eyes, and found that he was quite naked and lying in a bunch of gorse. + </p> + <p> + When he found himself in this plight he hurried home, and told his wife, + and she was very angry with him for spending all the money and bringing no + cheese home, and then he told her his adventures. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you bad man!” she said, “the fairies gave you money and you spent it + wrongly, so they were sure to take their revenge.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BABY-FARMER. + </h2> + <p> + Old Kaddy was a baby-farmer, and one day she went to the woods to gather + sticks for her fire, and whilst she was gathering the sticks she found a + piece of gold, and took it home; but she never told anyone she had found + the money, for she always pretended to be very poor. + </p> + <p> + But though she was so poor, she used to dress two of her children in fine + clothes; but the others, whom she did not like, she kept in the filthiest + rags. + </p> + <p> + One day a man knocked at her door, and asked to see the children. + </p> + <p> + He sat down in her little room, and she went and brought the ragged little + boy and girl, saying she was very poor, and couldn’t afford to dress them + better; for she had been careful to hide the well-dressed little boy and + girl in a cockloft. + </p> + <p> + After the stranger had gone she went to the cockloft to look for her + well-dressed favourites, but they had disappeared, and they were never + seen afterwards, for they were turned into fairies. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE OLD MAN AND THE FAIRIES. + </h2> + <p> + Many years ago the Welsh mountains were full of fairies. People used to go + by moonlight to see them dancing, for they knew where they would dance by + seeing green rings in the grass. + </p> + <p> + There was an old man living in those days who used to frequent the fairs + that were held across the mountains. One day he was crossing the mountains + to a fair, and when he got to a lonely valley he sat down, for he was + tired, and he dropped off to sleep, and his bag fell down by his side. + When he was sound asleep the fairies came and carried him off, bag and + all, and took him under the earth, and when he awoke he found himself in a + great palace of gold, full of fairies dancing and singing. And they took + him and showed him everything, the splendid gold room and gardens, and + they kept dancing round him until he fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + When he was asleep they carried him back to the same spot where they had + found him, and when he awoke he thought he had been dreaming, so he looked + for his bag, and got hold of it, but he could hardly lift it. When he + opened it he found it was nearly filled with gold. + </p> + <p> + He managed to pick it up, and turning round, he went home. + </p> + <p> + When he got home, his wife Kaddy said: “What’s to do, why haven’t you been + to the fair?” + </p> + <p> + “I’ve got something here,” he said, and showed his wife the gold. + </p> + <p> + “Why, where did you get that?” + </p> + <p> + But he wouldn’t tell her. Since she was curious, like all women, she kept + worrying him all night—for he’d put the money in a box under the bed—so + he told her about the fairies. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, when he awoke, he thought he’d go to the fair and buy a lot + of things, and he went to the box to get some of the gold, but found it + full of cockle-shells. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TOMMY PRITCHARD. + </h2> + <p> + Tommy Pritchard was going to school one day, and on his way he thought he + heard somebody singing on the other side of a stone wall by the road, so + he climbed up and looked over, and there underneath a stone he saw a + sixpence, so he took it. + </p> + <p> + Every morning after that, when he went to school, he used to look in the + same place, and he always found a sixpence. + </p> + <p> + His father noticed he was always spending money in the sweet-shop, so he + began to think Tommy was stealing from somebody, and one day he asked him + where he got the money. Tommy wouldn’t tell at first, but his father + threatened to beat him, so he told him where he got his sixpences. + </p> + <p> + Next morning he went to look in the same place for his sixpence, and he + found nothing but a cockle-shell. And he never saw anything but a + cockle-shell there afterwards. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + KADDY’S LUCK. + </h2> + <p> + There was a tall young woman whom the fairies used to visit, coming + through the keyhole at night. She could hear them dancing and singing in + her room, but in the morning they used to go the way they had come, only + they always left her some money. + </p> + <p> + When she got married she chose a tall husband like herself, and they had a + fine big child. + </p> + <p> + One night they went to a fair, and they got to one side to hear the + fairies; for some people could tell when the fairies were coming, for they + made a noise like the wind. Whilst they were waiting she told her husband + how the fairies used to leave her money at night. + </p> + <p> + When they got home they found their baby all right, and went to bed. But + next morning the young mother found her child had been changed in the + night, and there was a very little baby in the cradle. And the child never + grew big, for the fairies had changed her child for spite. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF GELERT. + </h2> + <h3> + (AS CURRENT IN ANGLESEA) + </h3> + <p> + It was somewhere about 1200, Prince Llewellyn had a castle at Aber, just + abreast of us here; indeed, parts of the towers remain to this day. His + consort was the Princess Joan; she was King John’s daughter. Her coffin + remains with us to this day. Llewellyn was a great hunter of wolves and + foxes, for the hills of Carnarvonshire were infested with wolves in those + days, after the young lambs. + </p> + <p> + Now the prince had several hunting-houses—sorts of farm houses, one + of them was at the place now called Beth-Gelert, for the wolves were very + thick there at this time. Now the prince used to travel from farm-house to + farm-house with his family and friends, when going on these hunting + parties. + </p> + <p> + One season they went hunting from Aber, and stopped at the house where + Beth-Gelert is now—it’s about fourteen miles away. The prince had + all his hounds with him, but his favourite was Gelert, a hound who had + never let off a wolf for six years. + </p> + <p> + The prince loved the dog like a child, and at the sound of his horn Gelert + was always the first to come bounding up. There was company at the house, + and one day they went hunting, leaving his wife and the child, in a big + wooden cradle, behind him at the farm-house. + </p> + <p> + The hunting party killed three or four wolves, and about two hours before + the word passed for returning home, Llewellyn missed Gelert, and he asked + his huntsmen: + </p> + <p> + “Where’s Gelert? I don’t see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, indeed, master, I’ve missed him this half-hour.” + </p> + <p> + And Llewellyn blew his horn, but no Gelert came at the sound. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, Gelert had got on to a wolves’ track which led to the house. + </p> + <p> + The prince sounded the return, and they went home, the prince lamenting + Gelert. “He’s sure to have been slain—he’s sure to have been slain! + since he did not answer the horn. Oh, my Gelert!” And they approached the + house, and the prince went into the house, and saw Gelert lying by the + overturned cradle, and blood all about the room. + </p> + <p> + “What! hast thou slain my child?” said the prince, and ran his sword + through the dog. + </p> + <p> + After that he lifted up the cradle to look for his child, and found the + body of a big wolf underneath that Gelert had slain, and his child was + safe. Gelert had capsized the cradle in the scuffle. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Gelert! Oh, Gelert!” said the prince, “my favourite hound, my + favourite hound! Thou hast been slain by thy master’s hand, and in death + thou hast licked thy master’s hand!” He patted the dog, but it was too + late, and poor Gelert died licking his master’s hand. + </p> + <p> + Next day they made a coffin, and had a regular funeral, the same as if it + were a human being; all the servants in deep mourning, and everybody. They + made him a grave, and the village was called after the dog, Beth-Gelert—Gelert’s + Grave; and the prince planted a tree, and put a gravestone of slate, + though it was before the days of quarries. And they are to be seen to this + day. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ORIGIN OF THE WELSH. + </h2> + <p> + Many years ago there lived several wild tribes round the King of Persia’s + city, and the king’s men were always annoying and harassing them, exacting + yearly a heavy tribute. Now these tribes, though very brave in warfare, + could not hold their own before the Persian army when sent out against + them, so that they paid their yearly tribute grudgingly, but took revenge, + whenever they could, upon travellers to or from the city, robbing and + killing them. + </p> + <p> + At last one of the tribesmen, a clever old chieftain, thought of a cunning + plan whereby to defeat the Persians, and free themselves from the yearly + tribute. And this was his scheme: + </p> + <p> + The wild wastes where these tribes lived were infested with large birds + called “Rohs”, {Footnote: Pronounced softly.} which were very destructive + to human beings—devouring men, women, and children greedily whenever + they could catch them. Such a terror were they that the tribes had to + protect their village with high walls, {Footnote: Can this have anything + to do with the idea of walling-in the cuckoo?} and then they slept + securely, for the Roh hunted by night. This old chieftain determined to + watch the birds, and find out their nesting-places; so he had a series of + towers built, in which the watchmen could sleep securely by night. These + towers were advanced in whatever direction the birds were seen to + congregate by night. The observers reported that the Roh could not fly, + but ran very swiftly, being fleeter than any horse. + </p> + <p> + At length, by watching, their nesting-places were found in a sandy plain, + and it was discovered that those monstrous birds stole sheep and cattle in + great numbers. + </p> + <p> + The chieftain then gave orders for the watchmen to keep on guard until the + young birds were hatched, when they were commanded to secure fifty, and + bring them into the walled town. The order was carried out, and one night + they secured fifty young birds just out of the egg, and brought them to + the town. + </p> + <p> + The old chieftain then told off fifty skilful warriors, a man to each + bird, to his son being allotted the largest bird. These warriors were + ordered to feed the birds on flesh, and to train them for battle. The + birds grew up as tame as horses. Saddles and bridles were made for them, + and they were trained and exercised just like chargers. + </p> + <p> + When the next tribute day came round, the King of Persia sent his + emissaries to collect the tax, but the chieftains of the tribes insulted + and defied them, so that they returned to the king, who at once sent + forward his army. + </p> + <p> + The chieftain then marshalled his men, and forty-six of the Rohs were + drawn up in front of the army, the chief getting on the strongest bird. + The remaining four were placed on the right flank, and ordered at a signal + to advance and cut off the army, should they retreat. + </p> + <p> + The Rohs had small scales, like those of a fish, on their necks and + bodies, the scales being hidden under a soft hair, except on the upper + half of the neck. They had no feathers except on their wings. So they were + invulnerable except as to the eyes—for in those days the Persians + only had bows and arrows, and light javelins. When the Persian army + advanced, the Rohs advanced at lightning speed, and made fearful havoc, + the birds murdering and trampling the soldiers under foot, and beating + them down with their powerful wings. In less than two hours half the + Persian army was slain, and the rest had escaped. The tribes returned to + their walled towns, delighted with their victory. + </p> + <p> + When the news of his defeat reached the King of Persia he was wroth beyond + expression, and could not sleep for rage. So the next morning he called + for his magician. + </p> + <p> + “What are you going to do with the birds?” asked the king. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I’ve been thinking the matter over,” replied the magician. + </p> + <p> + “Cannot you destroy all of them?” + </p> + <p> + “No, your majesty; I cannot destroy them, for I have not the power; but I + can get rid of them in one way; for though I cannot put out life, I have + the power of turning one life into some other living creature.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, what will you turn them into?” asked the king. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll consider to-night, your majesty,” replied the magician. + </p> + <p> + “Well, mind and be sure to do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I’ll be sure to do it, your majesty.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The next day, at ten, the magician appeared before the king, who asked: + </p> + <p> + “Have you considered well?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, your majesty.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, how are you going to act?” + </p> + <p> + “Your majesty, I’ve thought and thought during the night, and the best + thing we can do is to turn all the birds into fairies.” + </p> + <p> + “What are fairies?” asked the king. + </p> + <p> + “I’ve planned it all out, and I hope your majesty will agree.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I’ll agree, as long as they never molest us more.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, your majesty, I’m going to turn them to fairies—small living + creatures to live in caves in the bowels of the earth, and they shall only + visit people living on the earth once a year. They shall be harmless, and + hurt nothing; they shall be fairies, and do nothing but dance and sing, + and I shall allow them to go about on earth for twenty-four hours once a + year and play their antics, but they shall do no mischief.” + </p> + <p> + “How long are the birds to remain in that state?” asked the king. + </p> + <p> + “I’ll give them 2,000 years, your majesty; and at the end of that time + they are to go back into birds, as they were before. And after the birds + change from the fairy state back into birds, they shall never breed more, + but die a natural death.” + </p> + <p> + So the tribes lost their birds, and the King of Persia made such fearful + havoc amongst them that they decided to leave the country. + </p> + <p> + They travelled, supporting themselves by robbery; until they came to a + place where they built a city, and called it Troy, where they were + besieged for a long time. + </p> + <p> + At length the besiegers built a large caravan, with a large man’s head in + front; the head was all gilded with gold. When the caravan was finished + they put 150 of the best warriors inside, provided with food, and one of + them had a trumpet. Then they pulled the caravan, which ran upon eight + broad wheels, up to the gates of the city, and left it there, their army + being drawn up in a valley near by. It was, agreed that when the caravan + got inside the gates the bugler should blow three loud blasts to warn, the + army, who would immediately advance into the city. + </p> + <p> + The men on the ramparts saw this curious caravan, and they began wondering + what it was, and for two or three days they left it alone. + </p> + <p> + At last an old chieftain said, “It must be their food.” + </p> + <p> + On the third day they opened the gates, and attaching ropes, began to haul + it into the city; then the warriors leaped out, and the horn blew, and the + army hurried up, and the town was taken after great slaughter; but a + number escaped with their wives and children, and fled on to the Crimea, + whence they were driven by the Russians, so they marched away along the + sea to Spain, and bearing up through France, they stopped. Some wanted to + go across the sea, and some stayed in the heart of France: they were the + Bretoons. {Footnote: Bretons.} The others came on over in boats, and + landed in England, and they were the first people settled in Great + Britain: they were the Welsh. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CROWS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + One black crow, bad luck for me. + Two black crows, good luck for me. + Three black crows, a son shall be born in the family. + Four black crows, a daughter shall be born in the family. + Five black crows shall be a funeral in the family. + Six black crows, if they fly head on, a sudden death. + Seven black crows with their tails towards you, death within seven + years. +</pre> + <p> + There was a young man, not so very long ago, who had been to sea for + years. He was married, but had no children. He was one of the most + spirited men you ever saw. He used to complain of his dreams. He said, + “All at once last Sunday I was up in the air, and I saw the vessel I was + in going at great speed, making for a mountain, and I tried as hard as I + could to keep her from the mountain. I don’t believe I was asleep at all, + I could see it so plainly. I went along in the air, looking at seven black + crows all the time. I got dizzy, and the vessel seemed to lower on to the + earth. The vessel lowered within a few hundred feet of the earth, and I + saw what I thought were fairies. I thought I had been there for days; in + truth, it seemed to me I had been up there for three days, and that I + could hear the fairies with mournful sounds drawing a coffin. I watched + and watched, and saw seven crows on the coffin. It seemed as if they were + going to bury someone. Whilst the coffin was going the seven crows flew up + and bursted, and the heavens were illuminated more strongly than by the + sun. Then I lost sight of the fairies, but saw some big giants in white + walking about, and there was a big throne with a roof to it. And all at + once I was in total darkness, but I could hear things flapping about, + flying through the air. Then I saw the moon rising and all the stars, and + all sorts of objects flying through the air. And one came to me, and put + his hand upon my shoulder, saying: <i>‘Prepare to meet us to-morrow.‘</i> + After that everything went dark again. The first thing I knew I was in a + ship steering, and the seven black crows were in front of me. I had a + great trouble to steer my vessel. And as I went on the vessel struck a + steeple, and exploded, and I awoke. Whereupon I jumped out of bed, looking + very pale.” + </p> + <p> + I left him on the beach at 11.30, after he told me this, when he went + home. When he got home he could see seven black crows on the house. Other + people could see the crows, but could not count them. He saw them all + perched head on. He went into the house, and said, + </p> + <p> + “There is something in these crows, Jane; see them on the roof.” + </p> + <p> + She cried out and ran out and looked, but could not see the seven. After + that he didn’t seem to be himself, though there was nothing the matter + with him. A week afterwards, I went out on the Sunday morning after + breakfast, and there was a seat on the beach, and on it sat this man, + Johnny, and another man. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Johnny, you look very pale,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “Do I?” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Yes! indeed you do,” I replied. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don’t know, I have had such dreams.” + </p> + <p> + “What will they have been, then?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “That I was in a full-rigged ship, with all sails set; I was all alone, + but could see nothing, only seven black crows. I counted them, but my wife + could see nothing, but she could hear something.” + </p> + <p> + That same day, when he went home, he said to his wife: + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Jane, there is something coming over me,” and he fell down dead. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ROBERT ROBERTS AND THE FAIRIES. + </h2> + <p> + Robert Roberts was a carpenter who worked hard and well; but he could + never keep his tongue still. One day, as he was crossing a brook, a little + man came up to him and said: + </p> + <p> + “Robert Roberts, go up to the holly tree that leans over the road on the + Red-hill, and dig below it, and you shall be rewarded.” + </p> + <p> + The very next morning, at daybreak, Robert Roberts set out for the spot, + and dug a great hole, before anyone was up, when he found a box of gold. + He went to the same place twice afterwards, and dug, and found gold each + time. But as he grew rich, he began to boast and hint that he had + mysterious friends. One day, when the talk turned on the fairies, he said + that he knew them right well, and that they gave him money. Robert Roberts + thought no more of the matter until he went to the spot a week afterwards, + one evening at dusk. When he got to the tree, and began to dig as usual, + big stones came rolling down the bank, just missing him, so that he ran + for his life, and never went near the place again. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FAIRY OF THE DELL. + </h2> + <p> + In olden times fairies were sent to oppose the evil-doings of witches, and + to destroy their power. About three hundred years ago a band of fairies, + sixty in number, with their queen, called Queen of the Dell, came to Mona + to oppose the evil works of a celebrated witch. The fairies settled by a + spring, in a valley. After having blessed the spring, or “well”, as they + called it, they built a bower just above the spring for the queen, placing + a throne therein. Near by they built a large bower for themselves to live + in. + </p> + <p> + After that, the queen drew three circles, one within the other, on a nice + flat grassy place by the well. When they were comfortably settled, the + queen sent the fairies about the country to gather tidings of the people. + They went from house to house, and everywhere heard great complaints + against an old witch; how she had made some blind, others lame, and + deformed others by causing a horn to grow out of their foreheads. When + they got back to the well and told the queen, she said: + </p> + <p> + “I must do something for these old people, and though the witch is very + powerful, we must break her power.” So the next day the queen fairy sent + word to all the bewitched to congregate upon a fixed day at the sacred + well, just before noon. + </p> + <p> + When the day came, several ailing people collected at the well. The queen + then placed the patients in pairs in the inner ring, and the sixty fairies + in pairs in the middle ring. Each little fairy was three feet and a half + high, and carried a small wand in her right hand, and a bunch of fairy + flowers—cuckoo’s boots, baby’s bells, and day’s-eyes—in her + left hand. Then the queen, who was four feet and a half in height, took + the outside ring. On her head was a crown of wild flowers, in her right + hand she carried a wand, and in her left a posy of fairy flowers. At a + signal from the queen they began marching round the rings, singing in + chorus: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “We march round by two and two + The circles of the sacred well + That lies in the dell.” + </pre> + <p> + When they had walked twice round the ring singing, the queen took her seat + upon the throne, and calling each patient to her, she touched him with her + wand and bade him go down to the sacred well and dip his body into the + water three times, promising that all his ills should be cured. As each + one came forth from the spring he knelt before the queen, and she blessed + him, and told him to hurry home and put on dry clothes. So that all were + cured of their ills. + </p> + <h3> + II. + </h3> + <p> + Now the old witch who had worked all these evils lived near the well in a + cottage. She had first learned witchcraft from a book called <i>The Black + Art</i>, which a gentleman farmer had lent her when a girl. She progressed + rapidly with her studies, and being eager to learn more, sold herself to + the devil, who made compact with her that she should have full power for + seven years, after which she was to become his. He gave her a wand that + had the magic power of drawing people to her, and she had a ring on the + grass by her house just like the fairy’s ring. As the seven years were + drawing to a close, and her heart was savage against the farmer who first + led her into the paths of evil knowledge, she determined to be revenged. + One day, soon after the Fairy of the Dell came to live by the spring, she + drew the farmer to her with her wand, and, standing in her ring, she lured + him into it. When he crossed the line, she said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Cursed be he or she + That crosses my circle to see me,” + </pre> + <p> + and, touching him on the head and back, a horn and a tail grew from the + spots touched. He went off in a terrible rage, but she only laughed + maliciously. Then, as she heard of the Queen of the Dell’s good deeds, she + repented of her evil deeds, and begged her neighbour to go to the queen + fairy and ask her if she might come and visit her. The queen consented, + and the old witch went down and told her everything—of the book, of + the magic wand, of the ring, and of all the wicked deeds she had done. + </p> + <p> + “O, you have been a bad witch,” said the queen, “but I will see what I can + do; but you must bring me the book and the wand;” and she told the old + witch to come on the following day a little before noon. When the witch + came the next day with her wand and book, she found the fairies had built + a fire in the middle ring. The queen then took her and stood her by the + fire, for she could not trust her on the outer circle. + </p> + <p> + “Now I must have more power,” said the queen to the fairies, and she went + and sat on the throne, leaving the witch by the fire in the middle ring. + After thinking a little, the queen said, “Now I have it,” and coming down + from her throne muttering, she began walking round the outer circle, + waiting for the hour of one o’clock, when all the fairies got into the + middle circle and marched round, singing: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “At the hour of one + The cock shall crow one, + Goo! Goo! Goo! + I am here to tell + Of the sacred well + That lies in the dell, + And will conquer hell.” + </pre> + <p> + On the second round, they sang: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “At the hour of two + The cock crows two, + Goo! Goo! Goo! + I am here to tell + Of the sacred well + That lies in the dell; + We will conquer hell.” + </pre> + <p> + At the last round, they sang: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “At the hour of three + The cock crows three, + Goo! Goo! Goo! + I am here to tell + Of the sacred well + That lies in the dell; + Now I have conquered hell.” + </pre> + <p> + Then the queen cast the book and wand into the fire, and immediately the + vale was rent by a thundering noise, and numbers of devils came from + everywhere, and encircled the outer ring, but they could not pass the + ring. Then the fairies began walking round and round, singing their song. + When they had finished the song they heard a loud screech from the devils + that frightened all the fairies except the queen. She was unmoved, and + going to the fire, stirred the ashes with her wand, and saw that the book + and wand were burnt, and then she walked thrice round the outer ring by + herself, when she turned to the devils, and said: + </p> + <p> + “I command you to be gone from our earthly home, get to your own abode. I + take the power of casting you all from here. Begone! begone! begone!” And + all the devils flew up, and there was a mighty clap as of thunder, and the + earth trembled, and the sky became overcast, and all the devils burst, and + the sky cleared again. + </p> + <p> + After this the queen put three fairies by the old witch’s side, and they + constantly dipped their wands in the sacred spring, and touched her head, + and she was sorely troubled and converted. + </p> + <p> + “Bring the mirror,” said the queen. + </p> + <p> + And the fairies brought the mirror and laid it in the middle circle, and + they all walked round three times, chanting again the song beginning “At + the hour of one.” When they had done this the queen stood still, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Stand and watch to see what you can see.” + </p> + <p> + And as she looked she said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The mirror shines unto me + That the witch we can see + Has three devils inside of she.” + </pre> + <p> + Immediately the witch had a fit, and the three fairies had a hard job to + keep the three devils quiet; indeed, they could not do so, and the queen + had to go herself with her wand, for fear the devils should burst the + witch asunder, and she said, “Come out three evil spirits, out of thee.” + </p> + <p> + And they came gnashing their teeth, and would have killed all the fairies, + but the queen said: + </p> + <p> + “Begone, begone, begone! you evil spirits, to the place of your abode,” + and suddenly the sky turned bright as fire, for the evil spirits were + trying their spleen against the fairies, but the queen said, “Collect, + collect, collect, into one fierce ball,” and the fiery sky collected into + one ball of fire more dazzling than the sun, so that none could look at it + except the queen, who wore a black silk mask to protect her eyes. Suddenly + the ball burst with a terrific noise, and the earth trembled. + </p> + <p> + “Enter into your abode, and never come down to our abode on earth any + more,” said the queen. + </p> + <p> + And the witch was herself again, and she and the queen fairy were + immediately great friends. The witch, when she came out of the ring, + dropped on her knee and asked the queen if she might call her the Lady of + the Dell, and how she could serve her. + </p> + <p> + “We will see about that,” said the queen. + </p> + <p> + “Well, how do you live?” asked the woman who had been a witch. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I’ll tell you,” said the queen. “We go at midnight and milk the + cows, and we keep the milk, and it never grows less so long as we leave + some in the bottom of the vessel; we must not use it all. After milking + the cow, we rub the cow’s purse and bless it, and she gives double the + amount of milk.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, how do you get corn?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we were at the mill playing one day, and the miller came in and saw + us, and spoke kindly to us, and offered us some flour. ‘We never take + nothing for nothing,’ I said, so I blessed the bin: so in a few minutes + the bin was full to the brim with flour, and I said to the miller, ‘Now + don’t you empty the bin, but always leave a peck in it, and for twelve + months, no matter how much you use the bin, it will always be full in the + morning.’ Now I have told you this much, and I will tell further, ‘You + must love your neighbour, you must love all mankind.’ Now here is a purse + of gold, go and buy what you want, eggs, bacon, cheese, and get a flagon + of wine and use these things freely, giving freely to the aged poor, and + if you never finish these things, there will always be as much the next + morning as you started with. And I shall make a salve for you, and you + must use the water from the sacred well. That will be as a medicine, and + people shall come from far and wide to be cured by you, and you shall be + loved by all, and you shall be known to the poorest of the poor as Madame + Dorothy.” + </p> + <p> + And the woman did as she was told, and she became renowned for her medical + skill, especially in childbirth, for her salve eased the pains, and her + waters brought milk. By-and-by, she got known all over the island, and + rich people came to her from afar, and she always made the rich pay, and + the poor were treated free. + </p> + <p> + Madame Dorothy used to see the queen fairy at times, and one day she asked + her, “Shall we meet again?” + </p> + <p> + “We cannot tell,” said the queen, “but I will give you a ring—let me + place it on your finger—it is a magic ring worked by fairies. + Whenever you seek to know of me, make a ring of your own, and walk round + three times and rub the ring; if it turns bright I am alive, but if you + see blood I am dead.” + </p> + <p> + “But how can that be? You are much younger than I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no! we fairies look young to the day of our death; we live to a great + age, but die naturally of old age, for we never have any ailments, but + still our power fades. Men fade in the flesh and power, but we fade only + in power. I am over seventy now.” + </p> + <p> + “But you look to be thirty.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we will shake hands and part, for I must go elsewhere; as I have no + king, I do not stop in one place.” + </p> + <p> + And they shook hands and parted. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ELLEN’S LUCK. + </h2> + <p> + Ellen was a good girl, and beautiful to look upon. One Sunday she was + walking by an open gutter in a town in North Wales when she found a + copper. After that day Ellen walked every Sunday afternoon by the same + drain, and always found a copper. She was a careful girl, and used to + hoard her money. + </p> + <p> + One day her old mother found her pile of pennies, and wished to know where + she got them. + </p> + <p> + Ellen told her, but though she walked by the gutter for many a Sunday + after, she never found another copper. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FAIRIES’ MINT. + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a miller, who lived in Anglesey. One day he + noticed that some of his sacks had been moved during the night. The + following day he felt sure that some of his grain had been disturbed, and, + lastly, he was sure someone had been working his mill in the night during + his absence. He confided his suspicions to a friend, and they determined + to go the next night and watch the mill. The following night, at about + midnight, as they approached the mill, that stood on a bare stony hill, + they were surprised to find the mill all lit up and at work, the great + sails turning in the black night. Creeping up softly to a small window, + the miller looked in, and saw a crowd of little men carrying small bags, + and emptying them into the millstones. He could not see, however, what was + in the bags, so he crept to another window, when he saw golden coins + coming from the mill, from the place where the flour usually ran out. + </p> + <p> + Immediately the miller went to the mill door, and, putting his key into + the lock, he unlocked the door; and as he did so the lights went out + suddenly, and the mill stopped working. As he and his friend went into the + dark mill they could hear sounds of people running about, but by the time + they lit up the mill again there was nobody to be seen, but scattered all + about the millstones and on the floor were cockle-shells. + </p> + <p> + After that, many persons who passed the mill at midnight said they saw the + mill lit up and working; but the old miller left the fairies alone to coin + their money. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE PELLINGS. + </h2> + <p> + In a meadow belonging to Ystrad, bounded by the river which falls from + Cwellyn Lake, they say the fairies used to assemble, and dance in fair + moonlight nights. One evening a young man, who was the heir and occupier + of this farm, hid himself in a thicket close to the spot where they used + to gambol. Presently they appeared, and when in their merry mood, out he + bounced from his covert, and seized one of their females; the rest of the + company dispersed themselves, and disappeared in an instant. Disregarding + her struggles and screams, he hauled her to his home, where he treated her + so very kindly that she became contented to live with him as his + maid-servant, but he could not prevail upon her to tell him her name. Some + time after, happening again to see the fairies upon the same spot, he + heard one of them saying, “The last time we met here our sister Penelope + was snatched away from us by one of the mortals.” Rejoiced at knowing the + name of his incognita, he returned home; and as she was very beautiful and + extremely active, he proposed to marry her, which she would not for a long + time consent to; at last, however, she complied, but on this condition, + “That if ever he should strike her with iron, she would leave him, and + never return to him again.” They lived happy for many years together, and + he had by her a son and a daughter; and by her industry and prudent + management as a housewife he became one of the richest men in the country. + He farmed, besides his own freehold, all the lands on the north side of + Nant y Bettws to the top of Snowdon, and all Cwm brwynog in Llanberis, an + extent of about five thousand acres or upwards. + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately, one day Penelope followed her husband into the field to + catch a horse, and he, being in a rage at the animal as he ran away from + him, threw at him the bridle that was in his hand, which unluckily fell on + poor Penelope. She disappeared in an instant, and he never saw her + afterwards, but heard her voice in the window of his room one night after, + requesting him to take care of the children, in these words:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Rhag bod anwyd ar fy mâb, + Yn rhodd rhowch arno gôb ei dâd: + Rhag bod anwyd ar liw’r cann, + Rhoddwch arni bais ei mam.” + </pre> + <p> + That is, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Oh! lest my son should suffer cold, + Him in his father’s coat infold: + Lest cold should seize my darling fair, + For her, her mother’s robe prepare.” + </pre> + <p> + These children and their descendants they say were called Pellings {1}, a + word corrupted from their mother’s name Penelope. + </p> + <p> + {1} In England we frequently meet with the surname Pilling and Billing; it + might have happened, that a man had met with an English woman of that + name, and had married her, and, as is usual in brides, she might have + been, though married, called by her maiden name, and the appellation might + have been continued to her posterity.—<i>Authors Note</i>. + </p> + <p> + The name Billing and Belling is the family name of one of the oldest + Cornish (Keltic) families—a fact that suggests other possibilities.—P. + H. E. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LONG-LIVED ANCESTORS. + </h2> + <p> + The Eagle of Gwernabwy had been long married to his female, and had by her + many children; she died, and he continued a long time a widower; but at + length be proposed a marriage with the Owl of Cwm Cwmlwyd; but afraid of + her being young, so as to have children by her, and thereby degrade his + own family, he first of all went to inquire about her age amongst the aged + of the world. Accordingly he applied to the Stag of Rhedynfre, whom he + found lying close to the trunk of an old oak, and requested to know the + Owl’s age. + </p> + <p> + “I have seen,” said the Stag, “this oak an acorn, which is now fallen to + the ground through age, without either bark or leaves, and never suffered + any hurt or strain except from my rubbing myself against it once a day, + after getting up on my legs; but I never remember to have seen the Owl you + mention younger or older than she seems to be at this day. But there is + one older than I am, and that is the Salmon of Glynllifon.” + </p> + <p> + The Eagle then applied to the Salmon for the age of the Owl. The Salmon + answered, “I am as many years old as there are scales upon my skin, and + particles of spawn within my belly; yet never saw I the Owl you mention + but the same in appearance. But there is one older than I am, and that is + the Blackbird of Cilgwri.” + </p> + <p> + The Eagle next repaired to the Blackbird of Cilgwri, whom he found perched + upon a small stone, and enquired of him the Owl’s age. + </p> + <p> + “Dost thou see this stone upon which I sit,” said the Blackbird, “which is + now no bigger than what a man can carry in his hand? I have seen this very + stone of such weight as to be a sufficient load for a hundred oxen to + draw, which has suffered neither rubbing nor wearing, save that I rub my + bill on it once every evening, and touch the tips of my wings on it every + morning, when I expand them to fly; yet I have not seen the Owl either + older or younger than she appears to be at this day. But there is one + older than I am, and that is the Frog of Mochno Bog, and if he does not + know her age, there is not a creature living that does know it.” + </p> + <p> + The Eagle went last of all to the Frog and desired to know the Owl’s age. + He answered, “I never ate anything but the dust from the spot which I + inhabit, and that very sparingly, and dost thou see these great hills that + surround and overawe this bog where I lie? They are formed only of the + excrements from my body since I have inhabited this place, yet I never + remember to have seen the Owl but an old hag, making that hideous noise, + Too, hoo, hoo! always frightening the children in the neighbourhood.” + </p> + <p> + So the Eagle of Gwernabwy, the Stag of Rhedynfre, the Salmon of + Glynllifon, the Blackbird of Cilgwri, the Frog of Mochno Bog, and the Owl + of Cwm Cawlwyd are the oldest creatures in the whole world! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GIANTESS’S APRON-FULL. + </h2> + <p> + A huge giant, in company with his wife, travelling towards the island of + Mona, with an intention of settling amongst the first inhabitants that had + removed there, and having been informed that there was but a narrow + channel which divided it from the continent, took up two large stones, one + under each arm, to carry with him as a preparatory for making a bridge + over this channel, and his lady had her apron filled with small stones for + the same purpose; but, meeting a man on this spot with a large parcel of + old shoes on his shoulders, the giant asked him how far it was to Mona. + The man replied, that it was so far, that he had worn out those shoes in + travelling from Mona to that place. The giant on hearing this dropped down + the stones, one on each side of him, where they now stand upright, about a + hundred yards or more distant from each other; the space between them was + occupied by this Goliah’s body. His mistress at the same time opened her + apron, and dropped down the contents of it, which formed this heap. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GWRGAN FARFDRWCH’S FABLE. + </h2> + <p> + Hear me, O ye Britons! On the top of a high rock in Arvon there stood a + goat, which a lion perceiving from the valley below, addressed her in this + manner:— + </p> + <p> + “My dearest neighbour, why preferrest thou that dry barren rock to feed + on? Come down to this charming valley, where thou mayest feed luxuriously + upon all sorts of dainties, amongst flowers in shady groves, made fruitful + by meandering brooks.” + </p> + <p> + “I am much obliged to you, master,” replied the goat; “perhaps you mean + well, and tell me the truth, but you have very bad neighbours, whom I do + not like to trust, and those are your teeth, so, with your leave, I prefer + staying where I am.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF THE PIG-TROUGH. + </h2> + <p> + In the beginning of the century, Hughes went as military substitute for a + farmer’s son. He got £80, a watch, and a suit of clothes. His mother was + loath to let him go, and when he joined his regiment, she followed him + from Amlych to Pwlheli to try and buy him off. He would not hear of it. + “Mother,” he said, “the whole of Anglesey would not keep me, I want to be + off, and see the world.” + </p> + <p> + The regiment was quartered in Edinboro’, and Hughes married the daughter + of the burgess with whom he was billeted. Thence, leaving a small son, as + hostage to the grandparents, they went to Ireland, and Hughes and his wife + were billeted on a pork-butcher’s family in Dublin. One day, the mother of + the pork-butcher, an old granny, told them she had seen the fairies. + </p> + <p> + “Last night, as I was abed, I saw a bright, bright light come in, and + afterwards a troop of little angels. They danced all over my bed, and they + played and sang music—oh! the sweetest music ever I heard. I lay and + watched them and listened. By-and-bye the light went out and the music + stopped, and I saw them no more. I regretted the music very much. But + directly after another smaller light appeared, and a tall dark man came up + to my bed, and with something in his hand he tapped me on the temple; it + felt like some one drawing a sharp pin across my temple then he went too. + In the morning my pillow was covered with blood. I thought and thought, + and then I knew I had moved the pig’s trough and must have put it in the + fairies’ path and the fairies were angered, and the king of the fairies + had punished me for it.” She moved the trough back to its old place the + next day, and received no more visits from the wee folk. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BILLY DUFFY AND THE DEVIL. + </h2> + <p> + Billy Duffy was an Irishman, a blacksmith, and a drunkard. He had the + Keltic aversion from steady work, and stuck to his forge only long enough + to get money for drink; when that was spent, he returned to work. + </p> + <p> + Billy was coming home one day after one of these drinking-bouts, soberer + than usual, when he exclaimed to himself, for the thirst was upon him, “By + God! I would sell myself to the devil if I could get some more drink.” + </p> + <p> + At that moment a tall gentleman in black stepped up to him, and said, + “What did you say?” + </p> + <p> + “I said I would sell myself to the devil if I could get a drink.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, how much do you want for seven years, and the devil to get you + then?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I can’t tell exactly, when it comes to the push.” + </p> + <p> + “Will £700 do you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I’d take £700.” + </p> + <p> + “And the devil to get you then?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes; I don’t care about that.” + </p> + <p> + When Billy got home he found the money in his smithy. He at once shut the + smithy, and began squandering the money, keeping open house. + </p> + <p> + Amongst the people who flocked to get what they could out of Billy came an + old hermit, who said, “I am very hungry, and nearly starved. Will you give + me something to eat and drink?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes; come in and get what you like.” + </p> + <p> + The hermit disappeared, after eating and drinking, and did not reappear + for several months, when he received the same kindly welcome, again + disappearing. A few months afterwards he again appeared. + </p> + <p> + “Come in, come in!” said Billy. + </p> + <p> + After he had eaten and drunk his full, the hermit said to Billy: “Well, + three times have you been good and kind to me. I’ll give you three wishes, + and whatever you wish will be sure to come true.” + </p> + <p> + “I must have time to consider,” said Billy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you shall have plenty of time to consider, and mind they are good + wishes.” + </p> + <p> + Next morning Billy told the hermit he was ready. “Well, go on; be sure + they’re good wishes,” said the hermit. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I’ve got a big sledge-hammer in the smithy, and I wish whoever gets + hold of that hammer shall go on striking the anvil, and never break it, + till I tell him to stop.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s a bad wish, Billy.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no; you’ll see it’s good. Next thing I wish for is a purse so that no + one can take out whatever I put into it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Billy, Billy! that’s a bad wish. Be careful now about the third + wish,” said the hermit. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have got an armchair upstairs, and I wish that whoever may sit in + that armchair will never be able to get up till I let them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, indeed; they are not very good wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes; I’ve got my senses about me. I think I’ll make them good wishes, + after all.” + </p> + <p> + The seven years, all but three days, had passed, and Billy was back + working at his forge, for all his money was gone, when the dark gentleman + stepped in and said: + </p> + <p> + “Now, Billy, during these last three days you may have as much money as + you like,” and he disappeared. + </p> + <p> + On the last day of his seven years Billy was penniless, and he went to the + taproom of his favourite inn, which was full. + </p> + <p> + “Well, boys,” said Billy, “we must have some money to-night. I’ll treat + you, and give you a pound each,” and rising, he placed his tumbler in the + middle of the table, and wished for twenty pounds. No sooner had he wished + than a ball of fire came through the ceiling, and the twenty sovereigns + fell into the tumbler. Everyone was taken aback, and there was a noise as + if a bomb had burst, and the fireball disappeared, and rolled down the + garden path, the landlord following it. After this they each drank what + they liked, and Billy gave them a sovereign apiece before he went home. + </p> + <p> + The next morning he was in his smithy making a pair of horseshoes, when + the devil came in and said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, Billy, I’ll want you this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; all right. Take hold of this sledge-hammer, and give me a few + hammers till I finish this job before I go.” + </p> + <p> + So the devil seized the hammer and began striking the anvil, but he + couldn’t stop. + </p> + <p> + So Billy laughed, and locked him in, and was away three days. During this + time the people collected round the smithy, and peeped through the cracks + in the shutter, for they could hear the hammer going night and day. + </p> + <p> + At the end of three days Billy returned and opened the door, and the devil + said, “Oh, Billy, you’ve played a fine trick to me; let me go.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you going to give me if I let you go?” + </p> + <p> + “Seven years more, twice the money, and two days’ grace for wishing for + what you like.” + </p> + <p> + The devil paid his money and disappeared, and Billy shut the smithy and + took to gambling and drinking, so that at the end of seven years he was + without a penny, and working again in his smithy. + </p> + <p> + On the last night of the seven years he went to his favourite public-house + again, and wished for five pounds. + </p> + <p> + After he wished, a little man entered and spat the sovereigns into the + tumbler, and they all drank all night. + </p> + <p> + Next morning Billy went back to his smithy. The devil, who had grown + suspicious, turned himself into a sovereign and appeared on the floor. + Billy seized the sovereign and clapped it into his purse. Then he took his + purse and lay it upon the anvil, and began to beat it with his + sledge-hammer, when the devil began to call out, “Spare my poor limbs, + spare my poor limbs!” + </p> + <p> + “How much now if I let you go?” asked Billy + </p> + <p> + “Seven more years, three times the money, and one day in which to wish for + what you like.” + </p> + <p> + Billy took the sovereign out of his purse and threw it away, when he found + his money in the smithy. + </p> + <p> + Billy carried on worse than ever; gambled and drank and raced, squandering + it all before his seven years was gone. On the last day of his term he + went to his favourite inn as usual and wished for a tumbler full of + sovereigns. A little man with a big head, a big nose, and big mouth, a + little body, and little legs, with clubbed feet and a forked tail, brought + them in and put them in the tumbler. The drunkards in the room got scared + when they saw the little man, for he looked all glowing with fire as he + danced on the table. When he finished, he said, “Billy, to-morrow morning + our compact is up.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it, old boy, I know it, old boy!” said Billy. Then the devil ran + out and disappeared, and the people began to question Billy: + </p> + <p> + “What is that? I think it is you, Mister Duffy, he is after.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it is nothing at all,” said Billy. + </p> + <p> + “I should think there was something,” said the man. + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid my house will get a bad name,” croaked the landlord. + </p> + <p> + “Not in the least! You are only a coward,” said Billy. + </p> + <p> + “But in the name of God, what is it all about?” asked an old man. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you’ll see by-and-bye,” said Billy; “it is nothing at all.” + </p> + <p> + Next morning Billy went to his smithy, but the devil would not come near + it. + </p> + <p> + So he went to his house, and began to quarrel with his wife, and whilst he + was quarrelling the devil walked in and said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Duffy, I am ready for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes; just sit down and wait a minute or two. I have some papers I + want to put to rights before I go.” + </p> + <p> + So the devil sat down in the arm-chair, and Billy went to the smithy and + heated a pair of tongs red-hot, and coming back, he got the devil by the + nose, and pulled it out as though it had been soft iron. And the devil + began yelling, but he could not move, and Billy kept drawing the nose out + till it was long enough to reach over the window, when he put an old + bell-topper on the end of it. And the devil yelled, and snorted fire from + his nose. + </p> + <p> + The whole of the village crowded round Billy’s, house—at a safe + distance—calling out, “Billy and the devil! The devil and Billy + Duffy!” + </p> + <p> + The devil got awful savage, and blackguarded Billy Duffy terribly; but it + was useless. Billy kept him there for days, till he got civil and said: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Duffy, what will you let me go for?” + </p> + <p> + “Only one thing: I am to live the rest of my life without you, and have as + much gold as I like.” + </p> + <p> + The devil agreed, so Billy let him go; and immediately he grew rich. He + lived to a good old age squandering money all the time, but at last he + died and when he got to the gates of hell the clerk said “Who are you?” + “Billy Duffy,” said he. And when the devil, who was standing near, heard, + he said: + </p> + <p> + “Good God! bar the gates and double-lock them for if this Billy Duffy the + blacksmith gets in he will ruin us all.” + </p> + <p> + Old Billy saw a pair of red-hot tongs, which he picked up, and seized the + devil by the nose. When the devil pulled back his head he left a red-hot + bit of his nose in the tongs. + </p> + <p> + Then Billy Duffy went up to the gates of heaven and St. Peter asked him + who he was. + </p> + <p> + “Billy Duffy the blacksmith,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “No admittance! You are a bold, bad man,” said St. Peter. + </p> + <p> + “Good God! what will I do?” said Billy, and he went back to the earth, + where he and the piece of the devil’s nose melted into a ball of fire, and + he roves the earth till this day as a will-o’-the-wisp. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF JOHN 0’ GROATS. + </h2> + <p> + He was an old seaman, with weather-beaten face and black eyes, that had + looked upon many lands and many sights. + </p> + <p> + “Well, indeed, I’ll tell you about Johnny Groats as it was told to me one + night in the trades,” he said, blowing a whiff of smoke from his wheezy + pipe. + </p> + <p> + “Well, in olden times there was a rich lord, who owned all the property + looking on to the Pentlands—an awful place in bad weather; indeed, + in any weather. + </p> + <p> + “He was a lone man, for his wife was dead, and his son had turned out to + be a rake and a spendthrift, spending all his substance upon harlots and + entertainments. + </p> + <p> + “Now this lord had a factor, by name John o’ Scales, a stingy, cunning + man, who robbed his master all he could during the week, and prayed hard + for forgiveness on the Sabbath. + </p> + <p> + “The lord, who was getting very old, was much grieved on account of his + son’s behaviour. ‘He’ll spend everything when I am gone, and the estates + will go into other hands,’ the old man said to himself.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + “One fine morning in summer the factor received orders to build a hut by + the sea, and plant bushes and trees round about it. ‘But don’t make the + door to fit close; leave the space of a foot at the bottom, so the leaves + can blow in, for I want the hut to shoot sea-fowl as they flight, and it + is cold standing on the bare ground,’ said the old man. + </p> + <p> + “The factor carried out his master’s instructions, but not without + suspicion of ulterior motives on his master’s part. However, when he saw + my lord shooting the birds and stuffing many of them his suspicions were + allayed, and the factor thought that, after all, though his master wanted + the hut for flight-shooting, still he must be getting softening of the + brain, for it was very eccentric that he should take up this new hobby in + his old age. + </p> + <p> + “So the old lord was never disturbed in his hut by curious and ill-timed + visits. + </p> + <p> + “After a time the lord died, and was laid with his fathers, the prodigal + inheriting the property. + </p> + <p> + “The old castle was then the scene of perpetual feastings and card + parties, so that in a few years the property was heavily mortgaged, the + old factor advancing the money. + </p> + <p> + “Things went apace, until one day the factor informed the young + spendthrift that he had spent everything, and the estates were no longer + his, so he gave him a few pounds, and turned him out. + </p> + <p> + “When the news spread round the countryside his old friends began to drop + off, until at last the spendthrift found every door closed against him. + </p> + <p> + “When he had spent his last penny, the prodigal thought of the key which + his father had given him, saying, ‘When you have spent everything, take + this key, and go to the hut.’ + </p> + <p> + “But he had lost the key long before. + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless, he went to the hut. It had a deserted appearance, being + overgrown with moss and lichens. + </p> + <p> + “He managed to squeeze himself under the door, and when he stood up he saw + a rope, with a noose hanging from the centre of the roof. Pursuing his + investigations, he found a parchment nailed to the back of the door, and + in one corner stood an old three-legged stool. There was nothing else in + the damp, mouldy room, so he began to read the parchment. + </p> + <p> + “‘Thou art come to beggary; end thy miserable existence, for it is thy + father’s wish,’ he read. + </p> + <p> + “He was dazed, and looked from the parchment to the rope, and from the + rope to the parchment, saying to himself: ‘Well, I have come to that, I + must follow my father’s wish.’ + </p> + <p> + “So he got the stool and put it under the noose, and standing upon it, + adjusted the rope with trembling fingers round his neck, when he said, + hoarsely: ‘Father, I do thy bidding,’ and he kicked the stool from under + him. + </p> + <p> + “Immediately he heard a crash, and found himself lying upon the leaves, + with a feeling that his neck had been jerked off. However, he soon + recovered, and, taking the noose from his neck, he looked up and saw an + open trap-door in the ceiling. Placing the stool beneath the opening, he + got on to it, and lifted himself through the trap-door, when he found + himself in a loft, a parchment nailed to the wall facing him, and on the + parchment was written, ‘This has been prepared, for your end was foreseen, + and your foolish father buried three chests of gold one foot below the + surface of the floor of the hut. Go and take it and buy back your estate: + marry, and beget an heir.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Good God! is this a ghastly joke?’ said the prodigal. But the words + looked truthful; so he tore down the parchment, dropped through the + trap-door, shut it, and readjusted the rope. He left the hut and borrowed + a pick and shovel, and returning to the hut, he began to dig, and found + one chest full of gold. When he made this discovery he closed the chest, + filled in the hole, and spread leaves over the spot. He then ran off to + his father’s best friend, and told him of his good luck. They then called + in two other friends, and consulted together how the old lord’s wish was + best to be carried out. ‘I’ll tell you,’ said his father’s oldest friend. + ‘Mr. John o’ Scales gives a great dinner party once a month, and three of + us here are invited as usual. You must come in in the middle of dinner in + your ordinary beggar clothes and beg humbly for some food, when he will + give orders to have you turned out. Then you must begin to call him a liar + and a thief, and accuse him of robbing your father and yourself of your + inheritance. You’ll see he’ll get angry, and offer to let you have it + back.’ + </p> + <p> + “So the prodigal dug up the chests, and carted the money away in canvas + bags, storing it at his friend’s house.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + “When the night of the dinner party came, the prodigal drove up to the + castle in a cart filled with canvas bags. Jumping off his seat by the + driver, he went into the feast in his beggar’s clothes, and going up to + the host, he begged humbly for some food. + </p> + <p> + “‘Go from this house! What business have you here?’ asked the host. + </p> + <p> + “Most of the gentlemen and ladies began to frown upon him, and murmur + against him, as he walked to the lady of the house and begged her to give + him some food, but she replied: + </p> + <p> + “‘Oh, thou spendthrift! thou fool of fools! if all fools were hanged, as + they ought to be, you’d be the first.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then the beggar’s countenance changed, a deep flush of anger overspread + his features, and drawing himself up to his full height, he said, with + solemn voice, addressing the host: + </p> + <p> + “‘Thou hast robbed my father all the days of his life, and thou hast + robbed the orphan. May the curse of God be upon you!’ + </p> + <p> + “The host grew furious; then he looked ashamed, and shouted angrily: + </p> + <p> + “‘Bring me £40,000, and you shall have your estate back. I never robbed + you, but you lost your inheritance by your own follies.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Gentlemen,’ said the beggar, ‘I take you all to witness that this thief + says I can have my estate back for £40,000.’ + </p> + <p> + “The people murmured, and the three friends said: ‘We are witnesses.’ + </p> + <p> + “The beggar ran out into the night, and returned with a man laden with + sacks, and they began to count out £40,000 upon a side-table, where a + haunch of venison still smoked. + </p> + <p> + “When they had counted out the money, the beggar said: + </p> + <p> + “‘There is your £40,000; sign this receipt.’ + </p> + <p> + “The amazed factor drew back, when the three friends said: + </p> + <p> + “‘You must sign; you are a gentleman of your word, of course.’ + </p> + <p> + “Mechanically John o’ Scales signed the paper. + </p> + <p> + “‘And now,’ said the former beggar, ‘leave my house at once, with your + wife—you coward! you cur! You robbed my father, and then cheated me + when I was a spendthrift. Begone, and may your name be accursed in the + land!’ + </p> + <p> + “And the son turned all out except his three friends. + </p> + <p> + “In a few months he married the daughter of one of his friends; but he + never gambled again, only entertaining his three friends and their + families, who came and went as they liked. + </p> + <p> + “And from that day John o’ Scales was called John o’ Groats.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EVA’S LUCK. + </h2> + <p> + As black-eyed, black-haired Eva Sauvet was walking one day in Jersey she + saw a lozenge-marked snake, whereupon she ran away frightened. + </p> + <p> + When she got home and told her mother, the old woman said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, child, next time you see the snake give it your handkerchief.” + </p> + <p> + The next day Eva went out with beating heart, and ere long she saw the + snake come gliding out from the bushes, so she threw down her + handkerchief, for she was too frightened to hand it to the snake. + </p> + <p> + The snake’s eyes gleamed and twinkled, and taking the handkerchief into + his fangs, he made off to an old ruin, whither Eva followed. + </p> + <p> + But when they got to the ruin the snake disappeared, and Eva ran home to + tell her mother. + </p> + <p> + Next day, Père Sauvet and some men went to the ruin, where Eva showed the + hole where the snake had disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Old Père Sauvet lit a fire, and smoked the snake out, killing it with a + stick as it glided over the stones. + </p> + <p> + After that they dug out the hole, when they found the handkerchief. + Digging still further along, they came upon a hollow place, at the bottom + of which they found a lot of gold. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FISHERMEN OF SHETLAND. + </h2> + <p> + There was a snug little cove in one of the Shetland Islands. At the head + of the cove stood a fishing hamlet, containing some twenty huts. In these + huts lived the fisher-folk, ruled by one man—the chief—who was + the father of two beautiful daughters. + </p> + <p> + Now these fishermen for some years had been very lucky, for a fairy queen + and her fairies had settled there, and she had given her power over to a + merman, who was the chief of a large family of mermaids. The fairy queen + had made the merman a belt of sea-weed, which he always wore round his + body. The merman used to turn the water red, green, and white, at noon + each day, so that the fishermen knew that if they cast their nets into the + coloured waters they would make good hauls. + </p> + <p> + Amongst these fishermen were two brave brothers, who courted the chief’s + daughters, but the old man would not let them get married until they + became rich men. + </p> + <p> + Whenever the fishermen went off in the boats the merman was used to sit on + a rock, and watch them fishing. + </p> + <p> + Close by the hamlet was a great wood, in which lived a wicked old witch + and a dwarf. + </p> + <p> + Now this witch wished to get possession of the merman’s belt, and so gain + the fairy’s power. Telling her scheme to the dwarf, she said to him: + </p> + <p> + “Now you must trap the merman when he is sitting on the rocks watching the + fishing fleet. But I must change you into a bee, when you must suck of the + juice in this magic basin, then fly off and alight on the merman’s head, + when he will fall asleep.” + </p> + <p> + So the dwarf agreed, and it happened as she had said; and the merman fell + asleep, and the dwarf stole the belt and brought it to the witch. + </p> + <p> + “Now you must wear the belt,” said the witch to the dwarf, “and you will + have the power and the fairy will lose her power.” + </p> + <p> + They then translated the sleeping merman to the forest and laid him before + the hut, when the witch got a copper vessel, saying: + </p> + <p> + “We must bury him in this.” + </p> + <p> + Then she got the magic pot, and told the dwarf to take a ladleful of the + fluid in the pot, and pour it over the merman, which he did, and + immediately the merman turned into smoke, that settled in the copper + vessel. Then they sealed the copper vessel tightly. + </p> + <p> + “Now take this vessel, and heave it into the sea fifty miles from the + land,” said the witch, and the dwarf did as he was bid. + </p> + <p> + “Now we’ll starve those old fishermen out this winter,” said the witch; + and it happened as she had said—they could catch nothing. + </p> + <p> + In the spring the queen fairy came to one of the young fishermen who was + courting one of the chief’s daughters, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You must venture for the sake of your love, and for the lives of the + fishermen, or you will all starve—but I will be with you. Will you + run the risk?” + </p> + <p> + “I will,” said the brave fisherman. + </p> + <p> + “Well, the dwarf has got my belt, he stole it from the merman, and so I + have lost power over the world for twelve months and a day; but if you get + back the belt I can settle the witch; if not, you will all starve and + catch no fish.” + </p> + <p> + So the bold fisherman agreed to try. + </p> + <p> + “Now I must transform you into a bear, and you’ll have to watch the witch + and the dwarf, and take your chance of getting the belt; and you must + watch where he hides his treasure, for he is using the belt as a means to + get gold, which he hides in a cave.” + </p> + <p> + And so the sailor was turned into a bear, and he went to the wood and + watched the dwarf, and saw that he hid his treasure in a cave in some + crags. + </p> + <p> + The bear had been given the power of making himself invisible, by sitting + on his haunches and rubbing his ears with his paws. + </p> + <p> + One night, when it was very boisterous, the bear felt like going to see + his sweetheart. So he went, and knocked at the door. The girl opened the + door, and shrieked when she saw the bear. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, let him in,” said her old mother. + </p> + <p> + So the bear came in and asked for shelter from the storm, for he could + speak. + </p> + <p> + And he went and sat by the fire, and asked his sweetheart to brush the + snow from his coat, which she did. + </p> + <p> + “I won’t do you any harm,” he said; “let me sleep by the fire.” + </p> + <p> + He came again the next night, and they gave him some gruel, and played + with him; for he was just like a dog. + </p> + <p> + So he came every night until the springtime, when, one morning, as he was + going away, he said: + </p> + <p> + “You mustn’t expect me any more. Spring has come, and the snows have + melted. I can’t come again till the summer is over.” + </p> + <p> + So he returned to the wood and watched the dwarf, but he could never catch + him without his belt, until one day he saw him fishing for salmon without + the belt, and at the same time his sweetheart and her sister came by + picking flowers. + </p> + <p> + So the bear went up to the dwarf, and the dwarf, when he saw him coming, + said: + </p> + <p> + “Ah! good bear! good bear! let me go. These two girls will be a more + dainty morsel for you.” + </p> + <p> + But the bear smote him with his paw and killed him, and immediately the + bear was turned into his former self, and the girls ran up and kissed him, + and talked. + </p> + <p> + Then he took the two girls to the dwarf’s cave, and gave each of them a + bag of treasure, keeping one for himself. And taking the belt, he put it + on, and they all walked back to the hamlet, when he told the fishermen + that their troubles would soon be over—but that he must kill the + witch first. + </p> + <p> + Then he turned the belt three times, and said: + </p> + <p> + “I wish for the queen fairy.” + </p> + <p> + And she came, and was delighted, and said: “Now you must come and slay the + witch,” and she handed him a bow and arrow, telling him to use it right + and tight when he got to the hut. + </p> + <p> + So he went off to the wood, and found the witch in her hut, and she begged + for mercy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, you have done too much mischief,” he said, and he shot her. + </p> + <p> + Then the queen fairy appeared, and sent him to gather dry wood to make a + fire. When the fire was made she sent him to fetch the witch’s wand, which + she cast into the flames, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Now, mark my word, all the devils of hell will be here.” + </p> + <p> + And when the wand began to burn all the devils came and tried to snatch it + from the fire, but the queen raised her wand, saying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Through this powerful wand + that I hold in my hand, + Through this bow and arrow + I have caused her to be slain, + That she may leave our domain. + Now take her up high + into the sky, + And let her burst asunder + as a clap of thunder. + Then take her to hell + and there let her dwell, + To all eternity.” + </pre> + <p> + And the wand was burnt, and the devils carried the witch off in a noise + like thunder. + </p> + <p> + The twelve months were up on that day, and the fairy said to the + fisherman: + </p> + <p> + “Take your chief and your brother, and put out to sea half-a-mile, where + you’ll see a red spot, bright as the sun on the water; cast in your net on + the sea-side of the spot, and pull to the shore.” + </p> + <p> + They did as the queen commanded, and when they pulled the net on the shore + they found the copper vessel. + </p> + <p> + “Now open it,” said the queen to the fisherman with the belt, “but cover + your belt with your coat first.” + </p> + <p> + And he did so, and when he opened the copper a ball of smoke rose into the + air, and suddenly the merman stood before them, and said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The first four months that I was in prison, + I swore I’d make the man as rich as a king, + The man who released me. + But there was no release, no release, no release. + + The second four months that I was in prison, + I swore I’d make the water run red, + But there was no release, no release, no release. + + The last four months that I was in prison, + I swore in my wrath I’d take my deliverer’s life, + Whoever he might be.” + </pre> + <p> + Whereupon the fisherman opened his coat and showed him the belt. Then the + merman immediately cooled down, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that’s how I came into this trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Then he asked the fisherman with the belt what had happened, and he told + him the whole story. + </p> + <p> + Then the queen told the fisherman to take the girdle off and put it back + on the merman, and he did so; and suddenly the merman took to the sea, and + began to sing from a rock: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <i>“As I sit upon the rock, + I am like a statue block, + And I straighten my hair, + That is so long and fair. + And now my eyes look bright, + For I am in great delight, + Because I am free in glee, + To roam over the sea.”</i> +</pre> + <p> + After that the hamlet was joyful again, for the fishermen began to catch + plenty of fish; for the merman showed them where to cast their nets, by + colouring the water as of old. + </p> + <p> + And the two brothers married the chief’s two beautiful daughters, and they + lived happily ever afterwards. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE PASTOR’S NURSE. + </h2> + <p> + Mon père était très jeune encore quand il est entré au saint ministère et + qu’il fut nommé pasteur à Hambach, village de la Lorraine. L’endroit était + assez grand, mais de peu de ressources, et il était heureux de trouver + quelqu’un qui, dans son inexpérience et loin de sa famille, fut capable de + lui aider à fonder sa maison, selon les usages et les traditions d’un bon + presbytère. + </p> + <p> + C’est Madame Catherine Reeb, personne d’un âge mûr, dont le mari avait été + instituteur, mais qui d’une nature mécontente et orgueilleuse, se croyait + au-dessus de sa sphère, et faisait sentir à sa pauvre femme, qui l’aimait + d’un dévouement admirable, toutes les tortures que l’égoïsme peut + inventer. Elle se donna à peine le nécessaire pour procurer à son seigneur + et mâitre tous les soins que sa supériorité imaginaire pouvait exiger, et + pourtant il ne fut jamais content, et un beau jour disparut, sans qu’on + pût retrouver ses traces. La pauvre Catherine fut inconsolable, mais ne + perdit pas l’espoir qu’un jour son mari ne revînt, chargé de tous les + honneurs, qu’elle aussi, bonne âme crédule, lui croyait dûs. + </p> + <p> + C’est dans ces conditions qu’elle vint tenir le ménage de mon père, elle + le fit avec beaucoup de tact et de douceur, mais tout en elle respirait la + tristesse, l’abandon. Quand, après quelques années, mon père se maria, + Catherine continua son activité dans la maison, mais avec son bon sens + naturel, en référa la responsabilité à sa jeune maîtresse, qu’elle aimait + beaucoup. + </p> + <p> + Ma mère chercha par bien des moyens à la distraire de son chagrin. Elle + devint plus gaie, quand elle nous raconta des histoires et fit des jeux + avec nous. Nos parents se faisaient un plaisir de l’observer parfois quand + elle ne s’endouta pas, se disant: “Voilà ce qu’il fallait à notre vieille + Catherine, ce sont les enfants qui lui ont porté l’oubli.” + </p> + <p> + Mais cela ne devait pas durer bien longtemps. Elle redevint peu à peu + silencieuse, et ses profonds soupirs ne prouvèrent que trop que l’oubli du + triste passé n’était qu’à la surfaçe; ses manières taciturnes et les + manifestations d’une secrète inquiétude commençaient même à troubler mes + parents, et mon père essaya par beaucoup de bonté à la persuader + d’accepter les épreuves de sa vie comme venant de Dieu. Elle pleura + beaucoup et s’efforça de se gagner un peu de calme, mais sans fruit. + </p> + <p> + Un beau jour elle vint trouver mon père et lui dit: “Mon cher maître, + aidez-moi a exécuter mon projet, et surtout n’essayez pas de m’en + dissuader. Je suis décidée à aller à la recherche de mon mari; je sais + qu’il a besoin de moi, il m’appelle, et je vais partir. Procurez-moi les + papiers et certificats nècessaires à cette entreprise, afin que je ne sois + pas inquiétée par le police. J’irai où mes pieds me conduiront, je ne sais + où je le retrouverai, mais je sais que je le reverrai. Je marcherai de + jour, et de nuit je me logerai dans une auberge ou une ferme, et je vous + donnerai de mes nouvelles.” + </p> + <p> + Mon père voyait qu’il ne pouvait ébranler sa résolution, fit ce qu’elle + lui demanda, pourvoyant tant que possible aux besoins de la route, et + c’est le coeur gros de sinistres présages que mes parents virent partir + leur bonne et fidèle servante. Quand je lui dis: “Tu ne nous aimes donc + plus, puisque tu pars?” elle m’embrassa en pleurant, et dit, “Je + reviendrai!” Il y avait alors vingt ans depuis la disparition de son mari, + pendant lesquel elle avait soigneusement entretenu son ménage dans une + petite maison qui lui, appartenait. + </p> + <p> + Elle partit donc, ainsi qu’elle l’avait dit; marchant de jour et se + reposant de nuit, se dirigeant vers la Prusse. + </p> + <p> + Elle fut absente sans que nous eussions de ses nouvelles pendant au-delà + d’un mois quand un jour le facteur apporte une lettre à mon père de la + part d’un collègue inconnu d’un village de la Prusse, qui lui dit: “Une + femme de respectable apparence, munie de certificats identifiant ses + dires, est venue me prier de procéder à l’humation de son mari qu’elle a + trouvé mort dans un bois du village voisin. L’autorité municipale a + comparé les papiers trouvés dans les poches de l’inconnu et a constaté + qu’ils sont en rapport avec ceux que la femme Reeb porte sur elle, et sur + ce fait, et voyant que l’homme était mort sans violence, a laissé ses + restes à elle qui se dit sa veuve et qui lui a rendu les derniers honneurs + au cimetière de notre village.” + </p> + <p> + Inutile de décrire la surprise de mes parents à la reception de cette + lettre, qui fut bientôt suivie par le retour de Catherine. Elle compléta + le récit du pasteur en disant qu’un matin en sortant de ce village, elle + alla trouver un petit bois, quand elle vit au bord du chemin un homme + étendu mort, mais qui venait seulement de cesser de vivre. Elle le + regarda, l’examina et reconnut son mari; il lui parut évident qu’il + faisait son retour vers la patrie et elle, mais que la mort l’avait + surpris en route. Catherine fut bien plus calme après ces événements, mais + ses forces déclinèrent et dans la même année on creusa pour elle une tombe + au cimetière de Hambach. Elle n’avait plus de famille que celle qu’elle + avait si fidèlement servie, et les larmes de deux jeunes enfants + prouvèrent que quoique abandonnée elle avait été aimée. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_NOTE" id="link2H_NOTE"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + NOTES. + </h2> + <h3> + (1) THE FAIRIES OF CARAGONAN. + </h3> + <p> + Source: This story came from a Welsh pedlar—a woman. Its genuineness + may be relied upon. I find it a common belief that fairies have power over + witches, and the witch-hare is commonly believed in; also a witch-fox. I + have heard of no evil fairies in Wales; all the mischief seems to be the + work of witches. I have heard several variants of the witch-hare. + </p> + <h3> + (2) THE CRAIG-Y-DON BLACKSMITH. + </h3> + <p> + This story I have heard from four different persons. + </p> + <h3> + (3) OLD GWILYM. + </h3> + <p> + Source: This story came from an old Welshman who says he knew Gwilym, and + heard the story from his lips. The narrator may be relied upon. + </p> + <h3> + (4) THE BABY-FARMER. + </h3> + <p> + Same source. + </p> + <h3> + (5) THE OLD MAN AND THE FAIRIES. + </h3> + <p> + Same source as 2. In Wales, so far as I have heard, the disappointed + always find <i>cockle-shells</i>. + </p> + <h3> + (6) TOMMY PRITCHARD. + </h3> + <p> + Same source as 2. + </p> + <h3> + (7) KADDY’S LUCK. + </h3> + <p> + Same source as 2. + </p> + <h3> + (8) STORY OF GELERT. + </h3> + <p> + As told by an old fisherman. The variant of this well-known story may + prove useful. Borrow’s “tent” theory is, I think, an invention of his own. + I was fortunate enough to get possession of an old book (without + title-page, title, or author’s name), in which the following remarks on + this story occur:— + </p> + <p> + “Some say this should be written Bedd Gelert, or Gilert, signifying + Gelert’s, or Gilert’s Grave. To this name is annexed a traditional story, + which it is hardly worth while to mention. However, the substance of the + tradition is, that Prince Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, in a fit of passion, + killed a favourite greyhound in this place, named Gelert, or Gilert, and + that, repenting of the deed, he caused a tomb to be erected over his + grave, where afterwards the parish church was built. See the story at + large in Mr. Edw. Jones’s <i>Welsh Music</i>. But we may reasonably + conclude that this is all a fable, both when we consider the impiety of + building a church for divine worship over the grave of a dog, an impiety + not consistent with the genius of that age; and when we consider, also, + that the establishment of parochial cures, and the building of our country + churches in Wales, began soon after the dispersion of the British clergy, + which happened at the time of the massacre at Bangor Iscoed, A.D. 603, at + the instigation of Augustine the Monk, employed for that purpose by the + See of Rome. Llewelyn ap Iorwerth governed Wales from A.D. 1194 to 1240, + when he died; so that parish churches were built between five and six + hundred years before the time of this prince. + </p> + <p> + “This Gelert, or Gilert, must, in all probability, have been some old monk + or saint of that name, who was interred here, and was either the first + founder of this church, or one to whose memory it was dedicated, if built + after his time. Bethgelert, before the Reformation, was a priory. Lewis + Dwnn, a bard of the fifteenth century, in a poem (the purport of which is + to solicit David, the Prior of Bethgelert, to bestow on John Wynne, of + Gwydwr, Esq., a fine bay horse which he possessed) extols the Prior for + his liberality and learning. Hence we are led to suppose that this monk + was very opulent, and a popular character in his time.” + </p> + <p> + The stories of a hunter killing his favourite greyhound (always a + greyhound) are common to many districts. The book quoted is said to be + written by a Mr. Williams, in 1800. + </p> + <h3> + (9) ORIGIN OF THE WELSH. + </h3> + <p> + Source: An old seaman, who avers he heard it on a ship, on the way home + from Calcutta. I look with suspicion on the story. However, the Welsh + always believed they were descended from the Trojans, and the author of + the book cited says on this point:— + </p> + <p> + “Elen was a very common name among the ancient British ladies, and it + seems to have been often bestowed out of compliment upon genteel and + beautiful women; as we sometimes hear at this day <i>Ei Elen O—his + Elen</i> when a man has a young and beautiful wife; and there is hardly a + love-song but the woman is called or compared in it to the Trojan Helena, + or Elen, as the Welsh write and pronounce the word. The Welsh have had + amongst them, time out of mind, a tradition that the first colony of + Bretons came to these islands from Troy after the destruction of that + city.” + </p> + <h3> + (10) THE STORY OF THE CROWS. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told me by an old man, who knew the defunct. + </p> + <h3> + (11) ROBERTS AND THE FAIRIES. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told me by another old man, and I believe it to be genuine. + </p> + <p> + There is another story of the same kind, of a man who was searching for + treasure in Beaumaris Castle, and after he had told of his luck a stone + fell on him, so that he had to go away. + </p> + <h3> + (12) THE QUEEN OF THE DELL. + </h3> + <p> + Came from the same old pedlar as No. 1. A genuine story. The narrator says + you seldom hear a fairy story in Anglesea unless there is a witch in it. + </p> + <h3> + (13) ELLEN’S LUCK. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told me by the same old man as No. 11. I believe it to be genuine, + and the narrator trustworthy. + </p> + <h3> + (14) THE PELLINGS. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Taken <i>verbatim</i> from the old book referred to. In the + context the author says these people inhabited the districts about the + foot of Snowdon, and were known by the nickname of Pellings, which is not + yet extinct; and he says they tell the tale as given. After telling the + story, which he entitles a fairy story, he makes the following suggestive + comments:— + </p> + <p> + “Before the Reformation, when the Christian world was enveloped in Popish + darkness and superstition, when the existence of fairies and other + spectres was not questioned, and when such a swarm of idle people, under + the names of minstrels, poets, begging friars, etc., were permitted to + ramble about, it may be supposed that these vagrants had amongst + themselves some kind of rule or government, if I may so term it, as we are + assured those that now-a-days go under the name of gypsies have. Such + people might, at appointed times on fine moonlight nights, assemble in + some sequestered spot, to regulate their dark affairs and divide the + spoil; and then perform their nightly <i>orgies</i>, so as to terrify + people from coming near them, lest their tricks and cheats should be + discovered. It is possible the men of Ystrad might have less superstition, + and somewhat more courage, than their neighbours, and supposing such a one + to come suddenly on these nightly revellers, he would of course cause + great consternation amongst them; and, on finding a comely female in the + group, it is not unnatural to imagine that he might, as the heroes of old + have done before him, seize on a beauteous Helen, carry her home, and in + process of time marry her—for many valorous knights have done the + latter; but she, on account of some domestic jars, might afterwards have + eloped from him, and returned to her former companions and occupation.” + </p> + <p> + The author makes the following remarks in a foot-note:— + </p> + <p> + “The English writers of romances feign the fairies to be of a smaller size + than even the fabled pigmies; the Welsh people ever supposed them to be of + the same stature with mankind. Shakespeare describes his fairy as less + than a mite, riding through people’s brains to make the chase. This has + not been my experience. I have had them described to me of all sizes, + varying from a woman to little people two feet high. They have been + described, when large, as dressed like ordinary ladies, when small, with + short dresses; no hats, and hair in a plaited pigtail down the back.” + </p> + <p> + Finally, the writer says: + </p> + <p> + “What other interpretation can be given to this tale I know not. This, and + such other tales, the material of which one might collect a volume, must, + it may reasonably be supposed, have something of reality for their origin + and foundation, before they were dressed out in the familiar garb given + them by their authors.” + </p> + <p> + So our author is a “realist” as regards the origin of fairies. + </p> + <h3> + (15) THE LONG-LIVED ANCESTORS. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Taken <i>verbatim</i> from the book quoted. This fable refers to + the place, <i>Cwm Caw Lwyd</i>, regarding which the writer says: + </p> + <p> + “With regard to the <i>Cwm Caw Lwyd</i>, there is a still extant fable + entitled <i>Creaduriaid Hir Hoedlog</i> (i.e., the long-lived ancestors), + which seems to be a composition of no modern date. At present the moral of + it cannot be elucidated; but it seems that, in one respect, it was + intended to represent the solitariness of this place, inhabited only by + the weeping owl from remote antiquity; and certainly it is the most + solitary and romantic retreat that the mind of man could imagine.” The + writer says his is a “literal translation of the story, according to the + Welsh phraseology”. + </p> + <h3> + (16) THE GIANTESS’S APRON-FULL. + </h3> + <p> + Source: <i>Verbatim</i> from the same book. Referring to the heaps of + stone found on the hill-tops, he gives the fable of the heap found upon <i>Bwlchy + Ddeufaen</i>, which he says is called <i>Ban Clodidd y Gawres</i>—literally, + the giantess’s apron-full. + </p> + <p> + “The writer regards such tales as originally intended as hyperboles, to + magnify the prowess and magnanimity of renowned persons.” + </p> + <h3> + (17) A FABLE. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Taken <i>verbatim</i> from the same book. The writer quotes it + apropos of the Roman custom of bribing the Britons on the mountain tops. + We are told the fable was delivered by one of the Britons, named <i>Gwrgan + Farfdrwch</i>, who spoke to this effect, and then follows the fable. + </p> + <h3> + (18) THE STORY OF THE PIG-TROUGH. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told by Hugh’s daughter. Genuine. + </p> + <h3> + (19) BILLY DUFFY AND THE DEVIL. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told me by the old man who told me of the origin of the Welsh. + Vague. + </p> + <h3> + (20) JOHN O’ GROATS. + </h3> + <p> + Same source. Vague. + </p> + <h3> + (21) EVA’S LUCK. + </h3> + <p> + Source: A Jersey fisherman. Reliable. He also informed me that large + stones, supported on others, were called “Fairy Stones” in Jersey. + </p> + <h3> + (22) THE FISHERMEN OF SHETLAND. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Told me by a yachting hand, who heard it from a Shetlander named + Abernethy who was serving in the same yacht with him. Not many years ago, + some volunteers at Beaumaris swore they saw a mermaid there, and fired + several shots at it. I think this story to be genuine and beautiful. + </p> + <h3> + (23) THE PASTOR’S NURSE. + </h3> + <p> + Source: Reliable. Written for me by the Pastor’s mother in French. Given + <i>verbatim</i>. + </p> + <h3> + FINAL. + </h3> + <p> + The book I have quoted is in my possession, and was written, I am told, by + a Mr. Williams, a Welshman, of Llandegai in Anglesea. That he was shrewd, + reasonable, and knew the people of North Wales thoroughly, is evident from + the context. The book has no date, but appears to have been written in + 1800. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Welsh Fairy-Tales And Other Stories, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELSH FAIRY-TALES AND OTHER *** + +***** This file should be named 8675-h.htm or 8675-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/6/7/8675/ + + +Text file produced by Delphine Lettau, Charles Franks and the people at DP + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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