diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/51762.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51762.txt | 4197 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 4197 deletions
diff --git a/old/51762.txt b/old/51762.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 220b978..0000000 --- a/old/51762.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4197 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manx Fairy Tales, by Sophia Morrison - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Manx Fairy Tales - -Author: Sophia Morrison - -Release Date: April 15, 2016 [EBook #51762] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MANX FAIRY TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - MANX FAIRY TALES - - BY - - SOPHIA MORRISON - - - LONDON - DAVID NUTT, 57-59 LONG ACRE - 1911 - - - - - - - -PREFACE - - -There is at least one spot in the world where Fairies are still -believed in, and where, if you look in the right places, they may -still be found, and that is the little island from which these stories -come--Ellan Vannin, the Isle of Mann. But I have used a word which -should not be mentioned here--they are never called Fairies by the -Manx, but Themselves, or the Little People, or the Little Fellows, -or the Little Ones, or sometimes even the Lil' Boys. These Little -People are not the tiny creatures with wings who flutter about in -many English Fairy tales, but they are small persons from two to -three feet in height, otherwise very like mortals. They wear red caps -and green jackets and are very fond of hunting--indeed they are most -often seen on horseback followed by packs of little hounds of all the -colours of the rainbow. They are rather inclined to be mischievous -and spiteful, and that is why they are called by such good names, -in case they should be listening! - -Besides these red-capped Little Fellows there are other more alarming -folk. There is the Fynoderee, who is large, ugly, hairy and enormously -strong, but not so bad as he looks, for often he helps on the farm -during the night by thrashing corn. He does not like to be seen, -so if a farmer wants work done by him, he must take care to keep -out of the Fynoderee's way. Then, far uglier than Fynoderee, are the -Bugganes, who are horrible and cruel creatures. They can appear in -any shape they please--as ogres with huge heads and great fiery eyes, -or without any heads at all; as small dogs who grow larger and larger -as you watch them until they are larger than elephants, when perhaps -they turn into the shape of men or disappear into nothing; as horned -monsters or anything they choose. Each Buggane has his own particular -dwelling-place--a dark sea-cave, a lonely hill, or a ruined Keeill, -or Church. There are many others too, but these are the chief. - -Most of the stories are traditional and have been handed down by -word of mouth from father to son. I owe hearty thanks to those from -whose lips I have heard them--Messrs. J. R. Moore, William Cashen, -Joe Moore, Ned Quayle and others. Of the four stories which have not -been told to me personally--Teeval, Kitterland, The Wizard's Palace, -and Smereree--the three first have been printed in various folk-lore -books, and the Manx of the last appeared in 'Yn Lioar Manninagh' -some years ago. Lastly I must thank my friend Miss Alice Williams -for her kind help and valuable assistance in many ways. - - - SOPHIA MORRISON. - - Peel, Isle of Mann, - October 1911. - - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - Themselves 1 - The Buggane of Glen Meay Waterfall 8 - How the Manx Cat lost her Tail 14 - The Making of Mann 16 - The Coming of Saint Patrick 20 - How the Herring became King of the Sea 24 - The Silver Cup 27 - The Child without a Name 34 - The Fairy Doctor 38 - Joe Moore's Story of Finn MacCooilley and the Buggane 42 - The Fynoderee 47 - The Fynoderee of Gordon 48 - The Lhondoo and the Ushag-reaisht 54 - Billy Beg, Tom Beg, and the Fairies 56 - The Lazy Wife 62 - The Mermaid of Gob-ny-Ooyl 71 - The Lost Wife of Ballaleece 75 - Smereree 78 - Kebeg 83 - The Fairy Child of Close-ny-Lheiy 85 - The Little Footprints 93 - The Tall Man of Ballacurry 97 - Ned Quayle's Story of the Fairy Pig 100 - Kitterland 105 - Teeval, Princess of the Ocean 110 - The Wizard's Palace 116 - The Enchanted Isle 121 - Stories about Birds 123 - The Moddey Doo or the Black Dog of Peel Castle 129 - Little Red Bird 133 - Tehi Tegi 134 - John-y-Chiarn's Journey 138 - A Bad Wish 143 - The Witch of Slieu Whallian 144 - The Old Christmas 149 - The Buggane of St. Trinian's 153 - King Magnus Barefoot 161 - Manannan Mac-y-Leirr 169, 171 - The Cormorant and the Bat 174 - Caillagh-ny-Faashagh, or the Prophet Wizard 176 - The City Under Sea 182 - An Ancient Charm Against the Fairies 186 - - - - - - - -MANX FAIRY TALES - -THEMSELVES - - -I - -There was a man once in the Isle of Mann who met one of the Little -Fellows, and the Little Fellow told him that if he would go to London -Bridge and dig, he would find a fortune. So he went, and when he got -there he began to dig, and another man came to him and said: - -'What are you doing?' - -'One of Themselves told me to come to London Bridge and I would get -a fortune,' says he. And the other man said: - -'I dreamed that I was back in the lil' islan' an' I was at a house -with a thorn-tree at the chimley of it, and if I would dig there I -would find a fortune. But I wouldn' go, for it was only foolishness.' - -Then he told him so plainly about the house that the first man knew -it was his own, so he went back to the Island. When he got home -he dug under the little thorn-tree by the chimney and he found an -iron box. He opened the box and it was full of gold, and there was -a letter in it, but he could not read the letter because it was in -a foreign language. So he put it in the smithy window and challenged -any scholar who went by to read it. None of them could, but at last -one big boy said it was Latin and it meant: - -'Dig again and you'll find another.' - -So the man dug again under the thorn-tree, and what did he find but -another iron box full of gold! - -And from that day till the day of his death, that man used to open -the front door before going to bed, and call out: 'My blessing with -the Little Fellows!' - - - -II - -Here is a true story that was told me by a man named James Moore when -I was sitting with him by the fire one evening. He said: - - -'I'm not much of a believer in most of the stories some ones is -telling, but after all a body can't help believing a thing they happen -to see for themselves. - -'I remember one winter's night--we were living in a house at the -time that was pulled down for the building of the Big Wheel. It was a -thatched house with two rooms, and a wall about six foot high dividing -them, and from that it was open to the scrahs, or turfs, that were laid -across the rafters. My Mother was sitting at the fire busy spinning, -and my Father was sitting in the big chair at the end of the table -taking a chapter for us out of the Manx Bible. My brother was busy -winding a spool and I was working with a bunch of ling, trying to -make two or three pegs. - -'"There's a terrible glisther on to-night," my Mother said, looking -at the fire. "An' the rain comin' peltin' down the chimley!" - -'"Yes," said my Father, shutting the Bible; "an' we better get to -bed middlin' soon and let the Lil' Ones in to a bit of shelter." - -'So we all got ready and went to bed. - -'Some time in the night my brother wakened me with a: - -'"Sh--ish! Listen boy, an' look at the big light tha's in the -kitchen!" Then he rubbed his eyes a bit and whispered: - -'"What's mother doin' now at all?" - -'"Listen!" I said. "An' you'll hear mother in bed, it's not her at all; -it must be the Little Ones that's agate of the wheel!" - -'And both of us got frightened, and down with our heads under the -clothes and fell asleep. In the morning when we got up we told them -what we had seen, first thing. - -'"Aw, like enough, like enough," my Father said, looking at the -wheel. "It seems your mother forgot to take the band off last night, a -thing people should be careful about, for it's givin' Themselves power -over the wheel, an' though their meanin's well enough, the spinnin' -they're doin' is nothin' to brag about. The weaver is always shoutin' -about their work an' the bad joinin' they're makin' in the rolls." - -'"I remember it as well as yesterday--the big light that was at them, -and the whirring that was going on. And let anybody say what they like, -that's a thing I've seen and heard for myself."' - - - -III - -One evening a young man who was serving his time as a weaver was -walking home late from Douglas to Glen Meay. He had often been boasting -that he had never seen any of the Little People. Well, this night -he was coming along the St. John's Road, and when he got near to the -river a big, big bull stood across the road before him. He took his -stick and gave it one big knock. It went into the river and he never -saw it any more. - -After that, when he got to the Parson's Bridge, he met a little thing -just like a spinning wheel and there was a little, little body sitting -where the spool is. Well, he lifted his stick again and struck the -little body that was sitting on the spool a hard knock with his -stick. The little body said to him: - -'Ny jean shen arragh!' which means, 'Don't do that again!' - -He walked on then till he got to Glen Meay and told what he had -seen in a house there. Then another man said he had seen the little -old woman sitting on the top of the spool of the spinning wheel and -coming down Raby Hill at dark. So it took her a long time, for the -first man met her at six and the second at eleven, and there isn't -two miles between the two places. - -So they were saying, when the cycles came in, that the Little People -had been before them! And this is a true story. - - - - - - - -THE BUGGANE OF GLEN MEAY WATERFALL - - -There was once a woman living near Glen Meay, and she was the wife -of a decent, quiet, striving man of the place. There was no one but -herself and the man, and they had a nice little cottage and owned a -bit of a croft on which they grazed a cow and a few sheep and grew -enough potatoes to do them the winter out; and the man had a yawl and -went to the fishing when things were slack on land. But for all that -they were not comfortable, for work as hard as the man might at his -farming and his fishing, he was kept as poor as Lazarus by a lazy wife. - -For the woman was fonder of lying a-bed in the morning than sitting -at her milking stool; indeed the neighbours had it to say that she -wore out more blankets than shoes. Many a day her man would be going -out early as hungry as a hawk, without a bite or a sup in him. One -morning when he came in from work for his breakfast there was no -fire--his wife was never up. Well, my poor man had nothing for it but -to get his own breakfast ready and go back to his work. When he came -in for dinner it happened as it had happened for breakfast. - -'Bad luck to her laziness,' he thought; 'this is coul comfort for a -poor man, but I'll play a trick on her for it.' - -And with that he fetched a bart of straw and bunged the two windows -of his house. Then he went back to his work. - -The sun had not yet set when he came home in the evening. His wife -was lying in bed waiting for day. - -'Aw, woman,' he shouted, 'make haste an' get up to see the sun rise -in the wes'.' - -Up jumped the wife and ran to the door just as the sun was going down, -and the sight terrified her. The whole sky looked like fire, and she -thought that the end of the world had come. But next morning it all -happened as it had happened before, and himself said to her: - -'Kirry, it's the Buggane, sure enough, that'll be having thee one of -these days if thou don't mend thy ways!' - -'What Buggane?' said she. - -'Ax me no questions,' said he, 'an' I'll tell thee no lies. But it's -the big, black, hairy fellow that lies under the Spooyt Vooar that -I'm meanin'.' - -'Aw, houl yer tongue, man; thou don't frecken me wi' thy Bugganes,' -shouted the woman. - -In the evening the man left the house to go out to the fishing. As -soon as he had gone the woman took a notion in her head to bake, as -she had only the heel o' the loaf left for breakfast. Now, Themselves -can't stand lazy ways, and baking after sunset is the one thing they -won't abide. She who does so will meet their revenge--something -is sure to be taken by them, but seldom worse than some of the -live stock. Well, the woman set to work to bake some barley bread -and flour cake. First, she went out to get gorse to put under the -griddle, slipping the bolt on the door as she came in, that none -of the neighbours would catch her and cry shame on her for baking -after sunset. She got some meal out of the barrel and put it on the -round table, and put salt and water on it, and then she kneaded the -meal and clapped a cake out as thin as sixpence with her hands. But -she was only a middling poor baker, one of the sort that has to use -a knife to make the cake of a right round. She had turned the cake -twice, and taken it off, and brushed the griddle with a white goose -wing ready for the next cake which she was busy cutting round with -her knife. Just at that moment there was heard the sound of something -heavy lumbering up to the door. After a few seconds SOMETHING fumbled -at the sneg of the door, then SOMETHING knocked high up on the door, -and a voice like the thick, gruff voice of a giant was heard saying, -'Open, open for me.' She made no answer. Again there was a loud knock -and a big hoarse voice was heard which cried: 'Woman of the house, -open for me.' Then the door burst open and behold ye, what should -she see but a great, big ugly beast of a Buggane rushing in mad with -rage. Without as much as a 'By your leave,' he made one grab at her, -and clutched hold of her by her apron and swung her on his shoulder, -and away with him. Before she knew where she was he rushed her across -the fields and down the hill, till he brought her to the top of the -Spooyt Vooar, the big waterfall of Glen Meay. As the Buggane tore -down the hill, the woman felt the ground tremble under his feet, and -the noise of the waterfall filled her ears. And, there in front of -her, she saw the stream turn to white spray as it came leaping down -the rocks. As the Buggane swung her in the air to throw her into the -deep pool, she thought that her last hour had come. Then all at once -she remembered the knife that she held in her hand! Quick as thought -she cut the string of her apron and down she tumbled to the ground, -rolling over and over down the hill. And before he knew where he was -the Buggane, with the speed he had on him, pitched forward head first -down the rushing Spooyt Vooar. As he went head over heels and down to -the bottom of the pool with a souse you'd have heard half a mile away, -she heard him give a roar out of him: - - - Rumbyl, rumbyl, sambyl, - I thought I had a lazy Dirt, - And I have but the edge of her skirt. - - -And that was the last that was seen of that fellow! - - - - - - - -HOW THE MANX CAT LOST HER TAIL - - -When Noah was calling the animals into the Ark, there was one cat who -was out mousing and took no notice when he was calling to her. She -was a good mouser, but this time she had trouble to find a mouse and -she took a notion that she wouldn't go into the Ark without one. - -So at last, when Noah had all the animals safe inside, and he saw -the rain beginning to fall, and no sign of her coming in, he said: - -'Who's out is out, and who's in is in!' And with that he was just -closing the door when the cat came running up, half drowned--that's -why cats hate the water--and just squeezed in, in time. But Noah had -slammed the door as she ran in and it cut off her tail, so she got in -without it, and that is why Manx cats have no tails to this day. That -cat said: - - - Bee bo bend it, - My tail's ended, - And I'll go to Mann - And get copper nails, - And mend it. - - - - - - - -THE MAKING OF MANN - - -Thousands of years ago, at the time of the Battles of the Giants in -Ireland, Finn Mac Cooil was fighting with a great, red-haired Scotch -giant who had come over to challenge him. He beat him and chased -him eastwards towards the sea. But the Scotch giant was a faster -runner and began to get ahead of him, so Finn, who was afraid that -he would jump into the sea and escape, stooped down and clutched a -great handful of the soil of Ireland to throw at him. He cast it, -but he missed his enemy, and the great lump of earth fell into the -midst of the Irish Sea. It is the Isle of Mann, and the great hole -which Finn made, where he tore it up, is Lough Neagh. - -There were men, too, in Ireland in those days as well as giants, -and to some of them it seemed to happen in a different way. Men do -not always understand the doings of giants, because men live, it may -be said, in the footprints of the giants. It seems that at this time -the Irish tribes were gathered in two great forces getting ready to -meet the plunderers who had left Scotland and were at work on their -own coast. Their blood got too hot and they went into each other in -downright earnest, to show how they would do with the rascals when -they came. To their confusion, for they lost hold over themselves, -they got into boggy ground and were in great danger. The leaders, -seeing that it was going to mean a big loss of life, got all their -men together on a big patch of dry ground that happened to be in -the bog-land, when all of a sudden a darkness came overhead and -the ground began to shake and tremble with the weight of the people -and the stir there was at them, and then it disappeared, people and -all. Some said that it took plunge and sank into the bog with the -people on it. Others said that it was lifted up, and the people on -it dropped off into the swamp. No doubt the darkness that was caused -by the hand of Finn made it hard to see just how it happened. However -that may be, a while after this they said the sea was surging dreadful, -and the men in the boats had to hold to the sides, or it's out they'd -have been thrown. And behold ye, a few days after this there was land -seen in the middle of the sea, where no man ever saw the like before. - -You may know that this story is true because the Irish have always -looked on the Isle of Mann as a parcel of their own land. They say -that when Saint Patrick put the blessing of God on the soil of Ireland -and all creatures that might live upon it, the power of that blessing -was felt at the same time in the Island. - - - Saint Patrick was a mighty man, - He was a Saint so clever, - He gave the snakes and toads a twisht! - And banished them for ever. - - -And there is proof of the truth of the saying to this day, for while -such nasty things do live in England they cannot breathe freely on -the blessed soil. - -The island was much larger then than it is now, but the magician -who for a time ruled over it, as a revenge on one of his enemies, -raised a furious wind in the air and in the bosom of the earth. This -wind tore several pieces off the land and cast them into the sea. They -floated about and were changed into the dangerous rocks which are now -so much feared by ships. The smaller pieces became the shifting sands -which wave round the coast, and are sometimes seen and sometimes -disappear. Later the island was known as Ellan Sheaynt, the Isle -of Peace, or the Holy Island. It was a place where there was always -sunshine, and the singing of birds, the scent of sweet flowers, and -apple-trees blossoming the whole year round. There was always enough -there to eat and drink, and the horses of that place were fine and -the women beautiful. - - - - - - - -THE COMING OF SAINT PATRICK - - -It was the time that Saint Patrick was coming on horseback to Mann, -over the sea from Ireland. When he drew near to the land, Manannan -Mac y Leirr, that great wizard that was ruler of Mann, put a charm -out of him that made the air round the island thick with mist, so that -neither sun nor sky nor sea nor land could be seen. Patrick rode into -the thick of the mist, but try as he would he could find no way out -of it, and behind him there was a great sea-beast waiting to swallow -him up. He didn't know in his seven senses where he was--east, or -west--and was for turning back, when there came to his ears the cry -of a curlew, calling: - -'Come you, come you, come you!' - -Then he said to himself: - -'The curlew will be down feeding among the rocks; she will be calling -to her young.' - -After that he heard the bleat of a goat: - -'Beware, beware, beware!' - -And he said to himself: - -'Where the goat bleats for the fall of her kid there will be a steep -bit of a hill.' - -Last of all he heard the crow of a cock: - -'Come to us--come, come!' - -Then said Patrick: - -'I believe on me sowl I'm back of Peel Hill.' - -And with that he took one leap on to the little island and put his -horse up the sheer rock. Soon he stood, sure enough, at the top of -Peel Hill. As he stood there he cried out: - -'Me blessing on the curlew. No man afther this is to find her nest!' - -'Me blessing on the goat, an' no man is to see her bring forth -her young!' - -'Me blessing on the cock, an' he shall crow at dawn ever afther at -this same hour!' - -He cursed the sea beast and turned him into a solid rock and there -he lies now with his great fin on his back. - -Where the horse's hoofs struck the top of the hill there sprang a -well of pure water, of which man and horse drank, and it is called the -Holy Well of Saint Patrick to this day. If you go down to the ledges -of the rock, which were made by the horse's hoofs as he clambered up, -you may see the footprints still. - -When Patrick looked about him the mist was lifting, and he saw a -great host of warriors round Manannan's Faery Mound, with the first -rays of the rising sun shining on their spears. But the saint knew -that they were phantoms raised by Manannan's magic power and he bade -them to be gone. - -And, behold, they and their master, in the shape of three-legged men, -whirled round and round like wheels before the swift wind, which could -not overtake them, till they came to Spanish Head. There they whirled -over the houghs so quickly and lightly that the gulls on the ledges -below were not disturbed, then on over the rough, grey Irish Sea till -they came to the enchanted island, fifteen miles south-west of the -Calf. Once there Manannan dropped the isle to the bottom of the sea, -and he and his company were seen no more. - -Saint Patrick on his snow-white horse stood still on Peel Hill and -blessed the island where he had touched land, and blessed it has -been to this day. Then he leapt on to the little islet that he saw -below him. Ever since it has been called Saint Patrick's Isle, and -from the rocks on its northern side he watched the fierce storm which -Manannan's going had made. Just then a brave ship, with foresail and -mainsail gone, was driving straight for the terrible rocks. Saint -Patrick raised his mailed hand and the tempest was calmed. The good -ship righted herself again, and those on board were saved. They looked -up with awe and thankfulness at the rider in his shining armour on -the snow-white steed, standing bright against the blackness of the -rocks. And ever since that day the fisherman, as he sails past the -Horse Rock, has offed with his cap and put up this bit of a prayer -to good Saint Patrick: - - - Saint Patrick who blessed our Island, bless us and our boat, - Going out well, coming in better, - With living and dead in the boat. - - - - - - - -HOW THE HERRING BECAME KING OF THE SEA - - -The old fishermen of the island have it to say that years and years ago -the fish met to choose themselves a king, for they had no deemster to -tell them what was right. Likely enough their meeting-place was off the -Shoulder, south of the Calf. They all came looking their best--there -was Captain Jiarg, the Red Gurnet, in his fine crimson coat; Grey -Horse, the Shark, big and cruel; the Bollan in his brightest colours; -Dirty Peggy, the Cuttle-fish, putting her nicest face on herself; -Athag, the Haddock, trying to rub out the black spots the devil -burnt on him when he took hold of him with his finger and thumb, -and all the rest. Each one thought he might be chosen. - -The Fish had a strong notion to make Brac Gorm, the Mackerel, -king. He knew that, and he went and put beautiful lines and stripes -on himself--pink and green and gold, and all the colours of the sea -and sky. Then he was thinking diamonds of himself. But when he came -he looked that grand that they didn't know him. So they said that he -was artificial and would have nothing to do with him. - -In the end it was Skeddan, the Herring, the Lil Silver Fella, who -was made King of the Sea. - -When it was all over, up came the Fluke, too late to give his vote, -and they all called out: - -'You've missed the tide, my beauty!' - -It seems that he had been so busy tallivating himself up, touching -himself up red in places, that he forgot how time went. When he found -that the herring had been chosen, he twisted up his mouth on one side, -and says he: - -'An' what am I goin' to be then?' - -'Take that,' says Scarrag the Skate, and he ups with his tail and -gives the Fluke a slap on his mouth that knocked his mouth crooked -on him. And so it has been ever since. - -And, maybe, it's because the Herring is King of the Sea that he has -so much honour among men. Even the deemsters, when they take their -oath, say: 'I will execute justice as indifferently as the herring's -backbone doth lie in the midst of the fish.' - -And the Manx people will not burn the herring's bones in the fire, -in case the herring should feel it. It is to be remembered, too, -that the best herring in the world are caught in this place off the -Shoulder, where the fish held their big meeting, and that is because -it is not very far from Manannan's enchanted island. - - - - - - - -THE SILVER CUP - - -There was once a man living in the south of the island whose name was -Colcheragh. He was a farmer, and he had poultry on his street, sheep -on the mountain, and cattle in the meadow land alongside the river. - -His cows were the best cows in the parish. Nowhere could you see such -a fine head of cattle as he had; they were the pride of his heart, -and they served him well with milk and butter. - -But after a time he began to think that something was amiss with -the cows. He went to the cow-house the first thing every morning, -and one morning he noticed the cows looking so tired they could -hardly stand. When it came to milking time they found not a drop of -milk. The girls, who went out to milk the cows, came back with empty -cans, saying: - -'The milk has gone up into the cows' horns!' - -Colcheragh began to think that some one had put an evil eye on his -cows, so he swept up some of the dust from the cross four-roads close -by, in a shovel, and sprinkled it on their backs. But the cows got -no better. Then he wondered if some one was coming at night to steal -the milk. He made up his mind to sit in the cow-house all night to -see if he could catch the thief. - -So one night after everyone had gone to bed he crept out of the house -and hid himself under some straw in a corner of the cow-house. Hour -after hour of the dark lonesome night crept on, and he heard nothing -but the cows' breathing and their rustle in the straw. He was very -cold and stiff, and he had just made up his mind to go into the -house, when a glimmering light showed under the door; and then he -heard Things laughing and talking--queer talk--he knew that they -were not right people. The cow-house door opened and in came a whole -lot of Little Men, dressed in green coats and leather caps. Keeking -through the straw, he saw their horns hung by their sides, their whips -in their hands, and scores of little dogs of every colour--green, -blue, yellow, scarlet, and every colour you can think of--at their -heels. The cows were lying down. The Little Fellows loosed the yokes -from the cows' necks, hopped on their backs, a dozen, maybe, on each -cow, and cracked their little whips. The cows jumped to their feet -and Themselves galloped off! - -Colcheragh ran to the stable, got on a horse, and made chase after -his cows. The night was dark, but he could hear the whizz of the -little whips through the air, the click of the cows' hoofs on stones, -and the little dogs going: - -'Yep, yep, yep!' - -He heard, too, the laughing of Themselves. Then one of them would be -singing out to the dogs, calling them up by name, giving a call out -of him: - -'Ho la, ho la, la!' - -Colcheragh followed these sounds, keeping close at their heels. On -and on they went, helter-skelter over hedges and over ditches till -they got to the Fairy Hill, and Colcheragh was still following them, -though on any other night he would not have gone within a mile of -the great green mound. When the Little Fellows came to the hill they -sounded a tan-ta-ra-ra-tan on their horns. The hill opened, bright -light streamed out, and sounds of music and great merriment. Themselves -passed through, and Colcheragh slid off his horse and slipped unnoticed -in after them. The hill closed behind them and he found himself in a -fine room, lit up till it was brighter than the summer noonday. The -whole place was crowded with Little People, young and old, men and -women, all decked out for a ball, that grand--he had never looked -on the like. Among them were some faces that he thought he had seen -before, but he took no notice of them, nor they of him. In one part -there was dancing to the music of Hom Mooar--that was the name of -the fiddler--and when he played all men must follow him whether they -would or no. The dancing was like the dancing of flowers in the wind, -such dancing as he had never seen before. - -In another part his cows were being killed and roasted, and after -the dance there was a great feast, with scores of tables set out with -silver and gold and everything of the best to eat and drink. There was -roast and boiled, and sollaghan and cowree, and puddings and pies, -and jough and wine--a feast fit for the Governor himself. When they -were taking their seats one of them, whose face he thought he knew, -whispered to him: 'Don't thee taste nothin' here or thou will be like -me, and never go back to thy ones no more.' - -Colcheragh made up his mind to take this advice. When the feast was -coming to an end there was a shout for the Jough-y-dorrys, the Stirrup -Cup. Some one ran to fetch the cup. The one among the Little People, -who seemed to be their king, filled it with red wine, drank himself, -and passed it on to the rest. It was going round from one to another -until it came to Colcheragh, who saw, when he had it in his hands, -that it was of fine carved silver, and more beautiful than anything -ever seen outside that place. He said to himself: 'The little durts -have stolen and killed and eaten my cattle--this cup, if it were mine, -would pay me for all.' So standing up and grasping the silver cup -tightly in his hand, he held it up and said: - -'Shoh Slaynt!' which is the Manx toast. - -Then he dashed the cupful of wine over Themselves and the lights. In an -instant the place was in black darkness, save for a stime of grey dawn -light which came through the chink of the half-closed door. Colcheragh -made for it, cup in hand, slammed the door behind him, and ran for -his life. - -After a moment of uproar Themselves missed the cup and Colcheragh, -and with yells of rage they poured out of the hill after him, in full -chase. The farmer, who had a good start, ran as he had never run -before. He knew he would get small mercy at their hands if he was -caught; he went splashing through the wet mire and keeping off the -stepping stones; he knew they could not take him in the water. He -looked over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of the whole Mob Beg -behind him, close at his heels, waving their naked arms in the light -of the torch each one held up. On they came, shrieking and howling -in Manx: - - - Colcheragh, Colcheragh, - Put thy foot on the stone, - And do not put it in the wet! - - -But he ran in the water till he came to the churchyard, and they -could not touch him there. When he went into the cowhouse the next -morning the cows had all come home and they got rest after that. - -He put the cup in the Church at Rushen, and they are saying it was -there for many years; then it was sent to London. It is said that after -this the farmer would not go out of his house of an evening after dark. - - - - - - - -THE CHILD WITHOUT A NAME - - -It was many and many a year ago that the heiress of Eary Cushlin Farm -had a little child. Eary Cushlin is a terribly lonely place; it stands -high up on the Eanin Mooar, the big precipice, close by the steep brow -of Cronk-yn-Irree-Laa. You might live there for months without seeing -the face of clay, and no person knew of the birth of the child. It was -not welcome when it came, and as soon as it was born, it died. Then -the mother carried it, at dead of night, along the narrow path over -the rocks, past where the waters of Gob-yn-Ushtey leap into the bay, -past Ooig-ny-Goayr, the Cave of the Goat, to Lag-ny-Keilley. She buried -it in the ruins of the lonely little Keeill that has been there on the -hill-side for fourteen hundred years and more. There she left it alone. - -A short while after some yawls were going to the haddock fishing from -Dalby. There was the 'Lucky Granny' from the Lagg, the Muck Beg, -or Little Pig, from Cubbon Aalish's, Boid-y-Conney from Cleary's, -Glen Rushen, and others, ten in all. Then it began to be said that -something strange was going on over at Lag-ny-Keilley. The men would be -fishing close in to land under the black shadow of Cronk-yn-Irree-Laa, -the Hill of the Rising Day. When little evening came, the yawls -would be drifting south with the flood tide, north with the ebb, -passing and repassing the strand of Lag-ny-Keilley. Then they would -see a beautiful light and hear a lamentation and crying, as if from -a little lost child. In the end the light would run up the steep -brow to the old Keeill, and go out. The men got so frightened that -at last they would not go on the bay after dark, but would make from -the fishing-ground as soon as the sun was getting low. - -Things became so black for the women and children at home that one -old, old man, Illiam Quirk, who had not gone to sea for many years, -said he would go with one of the yawls to see for himself. They used -to say of him: 'Oul Illiam has the power at him in the prayer, and he -is a middlin' despard fella; he will dar' most anything.' It was so -at this time--his yawl was the last of them coming in; the rest were -frightened. It was a right fine, beautiful moonlight night when he -was coming down from the mark, and when he was near to Gob-yn-Ushtey -he heard crying and crying. He lay on his oars and listened, and he -heard a little child wailing over and over again: 'She lhiannoo beg -dyn ennym mee!' That is, 'I am a little child without a name!' - -'Pull nearer to the lan',' said Illiam when he heard it. They pulled -close in, and he plainly saw a little child on the strand bearing a -lighted candle in his hand. - -'God bless me, bogh, we mus' give thee a name!' said Illiam. And he -took off his hat, and stood up in the boat, and threw a handful of -water towards the child, crying out: 'If thou are a boy, I chrizzen -thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Juan! If thou -are a girl I chrizzen thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy -Ghost, Joanney!' - -In an instant the crying stopped, and was never heard again, and the -light went out and was seen no more. - - - - - - - -THE FAIRY DOCTOR - - -The shoemakers and tailors and chance spinners used to go round -on people's houses, making things and spinning rolls of wool for -the people. - -One time the tailor went to Chalse Ballawhane. Long enough they were -waiting for him, and, as luck happened, he caught Chalse at home. - -Now Chalse had power over the fishes of the sea and the birds of the -air as well as over the beasts of the field. Himself and the Little -Ones got on well together too, but somehow or other he was never able -to get the power over them. People said he was never able to learn -their language right. Anyhow, be that as it may, he was often enough -with them. - -After the tailor had had a crack with the women he turned round to -Ballawhane, who was sitting in the big chair, his elbow on the table -and his hand holding his forehead, the other hand in his trouser's -pocket to the elbow, and he not minding anybody nor anything. - -'I batter take yer measure, Mr. Teare, while yer in, for there's no -knowin' how long that'll be,' the tailor said. - -'Aw, boy, boy,' answered Chalse, looking out through the window--people -were not bothering with blinds then--and then turning to the clock, he -said: 'There's no time goin' to-night: I want to go from home apiece, -an' it's time I was gettin' ready.' Nobody said a word for a minute -or two. He was exactly like a body with his mind far away. Again, -all of a sudden, he looked at the tailor. Then he said: - -'Ahm goin' to a big supper to-night. Thou'll get nothin' done here, -maybe thou would like to go? It's apiece to go, but thou'll be right -enough with me. But there's one promise I'll be wantin' from thee--no -matter, no matter what thou'll see, nor what thou'll hear, nor who'll -spake to thee, thou mustn't spake back or it'll be all over with thee.' - -The tailor was so taken up with the chance of seeing the Little -People for himself that he promised faithfully, no matter what took -place, never to speak a word, and he knew he would be right enough -with Chalse. - -Ballawhane then took his hat from the latt, and when he was going -out he said: - -'I'll be back for thee just now; side thee things a bit while thou -'re waitin'.' - -In a while there was a noise of horses coming up the street--it was -awful. Then they stopped on the street and in came Ballawhane saying: - -'We couldn' get another hoss for thee, boy, do what we would, but thou -'ll have to get a hoss of some sort.' - -And going down to the parlour he got hold of something, and went out, -never saying a word. Coming back to the door after a bit, he said: - -'Come on, boy. I'll hold her head till thou get on.' - -Out goes the tailor, and up, with one whip, on her back, and they go -like the very hommers, on and on, over hedges and ditches, till they -came to a big brow by a river. It seems they knew the way, night as -it was, for they all took it one after another like fun. It was a big -jump, though, and when the tailor felt himself flying through the air, -his heart jumped to his mouth. - -'Oh Lord, what a jump!' he said. - -The next minute he fell flop in a bog, with the lapboard between his -legs, all alone in the dark. Next morning he got up all slaaed with -slush, looking like a thing that had been dragged through a gutter, -and as quiet as a mouse--the shy he was, every bit of steam took out -of him. - -Awhile after some of the women were asking him, how did he like it last -night, and would he go again? But all they could get out of him was: - -'Aw, naver no more, naver no more!' - - - - - - - -JOE MOORE'S STORY OF FINN MACCOOILLEY AND THE BUGGANE - - -This Finn MacCooilley was an Irish giant, and the Buggane was a Manx -giant. But, anyway at all, this Finn came across from the Mountains -of Mourne to see what was the Isle of Mann like, for he was seeing -land. He liked the island uncommon well, so he stopped in it, living -out Cregneish way. The Buggane was hearing great talk about the giant -Finn MacCooilley that was in the Sound, so he came down from the top -of Barrule to put a sight on him. Finn knew that he was coming to have -a fight with him, to see who was best man, and Finn did not want to -fight. 'Lave him to me,' says the wife; 'an' I'll put the augh-augh -on him!' - -Before long they caught sight of the Buggane, and he was a walking -terror. He was coming from Barrule to them, in a mighty pursue. - -'Slip in the criddle, Finn,' says she. 'It's me that'll spake to him.' - -Up comes the Buggane to the door, hot-foot. - -'Where's Himself?' says he. - -'This man is gone from home this bit,' says she. 'What is it you are -wantin' with him?' - -'Aw, there is no hurry on me. I'll put my fut inside and wait till -he comes back,' says he. - -'Plaze yourself,' says she, 'an' you'll plaze me; but I must get on -with my bakin'.' - -'Who have you got in the criddle?' says he. - -'That's our baby,' says she. - -'An' in the name of the Unknown Powers, what sort of a man is he -Himself if his baby is that big?' - -'He's very big an' powerful,' says she. 'An' the child is favourin' -the father.' - -She was baking barley bread, and when the baking was done at her, -she took the griddle and put it between two cakes of bread, and gave -it to the Buggane to eat, with a quart of buttermilk. He went to try -and eat, and he couldn'. - -'Aw, man-alive! But this is the hard bread,' says he. 'What sort have -you given me at all, at all?' - -'That's the sort I'm giving Finn,' says she. - -'An' will Finn's teeth go through this?' - -'Aw, yes, Finn thought nothing at all of 'atin' that--that's the sort -of bread he was wantin',' says Thrinn. - -Finn got up out of the cradle, and began to roar for a piece. She -fetched him a clout on the lug. - -'Stop your noisin',' says she. 'An' stand straight and don't be -puttin' the drone on yer back like that.' And givin' him a buttercake, -she says: - -'Ate, ate, lash into ye, an' let's have no lavins.' - -'You'll have the chile's teeth broke in his head, woman. He can naver -ate bread as hard as that!' says the Buggane. - -'Aw, he can do that with life,' says she. - -But that done the Buggane; he sleeched out and claned away again. He -thought if Finn was that strong and the baby that big, he had best -catch home again. - -But it was not long until the Buggane and Finn did meet, and then -they had the battle! One day Finn met the Buggane over at Kirk -Christ Rushen, and they went at each other early in the day till -the sunset. Finn had one fut in the Big Sound, an' so he made the -Channel between the Calf and Kitterland, and the other in the Little -Sound, an' so he made the narrow Channel between Kitterland and the -islan'. The Buggane was standin' at Port Iern--that's what made the -fine big openin' at Port Iern. The rocks were all broken to pieces with -their feet. But, anyway, the Buggane came off victorious and slashed -Finn awful, so he had to run to Ireland. Finn could walk on the sea, -but the Buggane couldn'; and when Finn got off and he couldn' get -more revenge on him, he tore out a tooth and hove it whizzing through -the air after Finn. It hit him on the back of the head, and then it -fell into the sea and became what we are now calling the Chickens' -Rock. Finn turned round with a roar and a mighty curse: - -'My seven swearings of a curse on it!' says he. 'Let it lie there -for a vexation to the sons of men while water runs and grass grows!' - -And a vexation and a curse has it been to seamen from that day to this. - - - - - - - -THE FYNODEREE - - - The Fynoderee went to the meadow - To lift the dew at grey cock crow, - The maiden hair and the cow herb - He was stamping them both his feet under; - He was stretching himself on the meadow, - He threw the grass on the left hand; - Last year he caused us to wonder, - This year he's doing far better. - - He was stretching himself on the meadow, - The herbs in bloom he was cutting, - The bog bean herb in the curragh, - As he went on his way it was shaking, - Everything with his scythe he was cutting, - To sods was skinning the meadows, - And if a leaf were left standing, - With his heels he was stamping it under. - - - Old Song. - - - - - - - -THE FYNODEREE OF GORDON - - -There was one time a Fynoderee living in Gordon. Those persons -who saw him said that he was big and shaggy, with fiery eyes, and -stronger than any man. One night he met the blacksmith who was going -home from his shop and held out his hand to him to shake hands. The -blacksmith gave him hold of the iron sock of the plough which he had -with him, and he squeezed it as if it had been a piece of clay, saying: -'There's some strong Manx-men in the world yet!' - -The Fynoderee did all his work at night and went into hidlans in the -daytime. One night, when he was out on his travels he came to Mullin -Sayle, out in Glen Garragh. He saw a light in the mill, so he put -his head through the open top-half of the door to see what was going -on inside, and there was Quaye Mooar's wife sifting corn. When she -caught sight of the great big head she was frightened terrible. She -had presence of mind, however, to hand him the sieve and say: 'If thou -go to the river and bring water in it, I'll make a cake for thee; and -the more water thou carry back, that's the bigger thy cake will be.' - -So the Fynoderee took the sieve, and ran down to the river; but the -water poured from it and he could fetch none for the cake, and he -threw the sieve away in a rage, and cried: - - - 'Dollan, dollan, dash! - Ny smoo ta mee cur ayn, - Ny smoo ta goll ass.' - - Sieve, sieve, dash! - The more I put in, - The more there's going out. - - -The woman got away while he was trying to fill the sieve, and when -he came back to the mill he found it in darkness. - -The Fynoderee was working very hard for the Radcliffes, who owned -Gordon then. Every night he was grinding their corn for them, and -often he would take a hand at the flails. If they put a stack into -the barn in the evening and loosed every sheaf of it, they would find -it thrashed in the morning, but he would not touch one sheaf of it -unless it were loosed. In the summer time he was getting in their -hay and cutting their corn. - -Many a time the people of the farm were passing the time of day with -him. One cold frosty day, big Gordon was docking turnips and he blew -on his fingers to warm them. - -'What are thou blowing on thee fingers for?' said the Fynoderee. - -'To put them in heat,' said the Farmer. - -At supper that night the Farmer's porridge was hot and he blew on it. - -'What are thou doing that for?' said the Fynoderee. 'Isn't it hot -enough for thee?' - -'It's too hot, it is; I'm blowing on it to cool it,' said the Farmer. - -'I don't like thee at all, boy,' said the Fynoderee, 'for thou can -blow hot and blow cold with one breath.' - -The Fynoderee was wearing no clothes, but it is said that he never -felt the cold. Big Gordon, however, had pity on him that he had none, -and one frosty winter he went and got clothes made for him--breeches, -jacket, waistcoat and cap--great big ones they were too. And he went -and gave them to him in the barn one night. The Fynoderee looked on -them and took them up, and says he: - - - Coat for the back is sickness for the back! - Vest for the middle is bad for the middle! - Breeches for the breech is a curse for the breech! - Cap for the head is injurious for the head! - If thou own big Gordon farm, boy-- - If thine this little glen east, and thine this little glen west, - Not thine the merry Glen of Rushen yet, boy! - - -So he flung the clothes away and walked his ways to Glen Rushen, -out to Juan Mooar Cleary's. He was working for him then, cutting the -meadow hay for him, cutting turf for him, and seeing after the sheep. - -It happened one winter's night that there was a great snow-storm. Juan -Mooar got up to see after the sheep, but the Fynoderee came to -the window. - -'Lie, lie an' take a sleep, Juan,' says he; 'I've got all the sheep -in the fold, but there was one loaghtan (brown native sheep) yearling -there that give me more trouble till all the res'. My seven curses -on the little loaghtan! I was twice round Barrule Mooar afther her, -but I caught her for all.' - -When Juan went out in the morning all the sheep were safe in the cogee -house and a big hare in with them, with two short lankets on him, -that was the brown yearling! - -After a time the Fynoderee went up to the top of Barrule Mountain to -live, up to the very peak. Himself and the wife went to make a potful -of porridge one day, and they fell out. - -She ran and left him. He threw a big white rock after her and it struck -her on the heel--the mark of the blood is still on the stone at Cleigh -Fainey. While she stooped to put a rag on her heel he threw a lot -of small rocks at her, that made her give a spring to the Lagg, two -miles away. Then he threw a big rock with the pot-stick in it--it's -in the Lagg river to-day. At that she gave two leaps over the sea -to the Mountains of Mourne in Ireland; and for all that I know she's -living there still. - - - - - - - -THE LHONDOO AND THE USHAG-REAISHT - - -One time Lhondoo, the Blackbird, was living in the mountains and -Ushag-reaisht, the Bird of the Waste, as Manx ones call the Golden -Plover, was living in the lowlands, and neither of them was able -to leave his own haunts. One day, however, the two birds met on the -borders between mountain and plain, and they made it up between them -that they would change places for a while. The Bird of the Waste -should stay in the mountains till the Lhondoo should return. - -The Lhondoo found himself better off in his new home than in the old -one, and he did not go back. So the poor Bird of the Waste was left -in the mountains and any day you may hear him cry in a mournful voice: - - - 'Lhondoo, vel oo cheet, vel oo cheet? - S'foddey my reayllagh oo!' - Black Thrush, are you coming, are you coming? - The time is long and you are not here! - - -But the Lhondoo answers: - - - 'Cha jig dy braa, cha jig dy braa!' - Will never come, will never come! - - -Then the poor Ushag-reaisht wails: - - - 'T'eh feer feayr, t'eh feer feayr!' - It's very cold, it's very cold. - - -Then the Blackbird goes his ways. - - - - - - - -BILLY BEG, TOM BEG, AND THE FAIRIES - - -Not far from Dalby, Billy Beg and Tom Beg, two humpback cobblers, -lived together on a lonely croft. Billy Beg was sharper and cleverer -than Tom Beg, who was always at his command. One day Billy Beg gave -Tom a staff, and quoth he: - -'Tom Beg, go to the mountain and fetch home the white sheep.' - -Tom Beg took the staff and went to the mountain, but he could not find -the white sheep. At last, when he was far from home and dusk was coming -on, he began to think that he had best go back. The night was fine, -and stars and a small crescent moon were in the sky. No sound was -to be heard but the curlew's sharp whistle. Tom was hastening home, -and had almost reached Glen Rushen, when a grey mist gathered and he -lost his way. But it was not long before the mist cleared, and Tom -Beg found himself in a green glen such as he had never seen before, -though he thought he knew every glen within five miles of him, for -he was born and reared in the neighbourhood. He was marvelling and -wondering where he could be, when he heard a far-away sound drawing -nearer to him. - -'Aw,' said he to himself, 'there's more than myself afoot on the -mountains to-night; I'll have company.' - -The sound grew louder. First, it was like the humming of bees, -then like the rushing of Glen Meay waterfall, and last it was like -the marching and the murmur of a crowd. It was the fairy host. Of a -sudden the glen was full of fine horses and of Little People riding -on them, with the lights on their red caps, shining like the stars -above, and making the night as bright as day. There was the blowing -of horns, the waving of flags, the playing of music, and the barking -of many little dogs. Tom Beg thought that he had never seen anything -so splendid as all he saw there. In the midst of the drilling and -dancing and singing one of them spied Tom, and then Tom saw coming -towards him the grandest Little Man he had ever set eyes upon, -dressed in gold and silver, and silk shining like a raven's wing. - -'It is a bad time you have chosen to come this way,' said the Little -Man, who was the king. - -'Yes; but it is not here that I'm wishing to be though,' said Tom. - -Then said the king: 'Are you one of us to-night, Tom?' - -'I am surely,' said Tom. - -'Then,' said the king, 'it will be your duty to take the password. You -must stand at the foot of the glen, and as each regiment goes by, you -must take the password: it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, -Friday, Saturday.' - -'I'll do that with a heart and a half,' said Tom. - -At daybreak the fiddlers took up their fiddles, the Fairy army set -itself in order, the fiddlers played before them out of the glen, -and sweet that music was. Each regiment gave the password to Tom as -it went by--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; -and last of all came the king, and he, too, gave it--Monday, Tuesday, -Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Then he called in Manx to one -of his men: - -'Take the hump from this fellow's back,' and before the words were -out of his mouth the hump was whisked off Tom Beg's back and thrown -into the hedge. How proud now was Tom, who so found himself the -straightest man in the Isle of Mann! He went down the mountain and -came home early in the morning with light heart and eager step. Billy -Beg wondered greatly when he saw Tom Beg so straight and strong, and -when Tom Beg had rested and refreshed himself he told his story: how -he had met the Fairies who came every night to Glen Rushen to drill. - -The next night Billy Beg set off along the mountain road and came -at last to the green glen. About midnight he heard the trampling -of horses, the lashing of whips, the barking of dogs, and a great -hullabaloo, and, behold, the Fairies and their king, their dogs and -their horses, all at drill in the glen as Tom Beg had said. - -When they saw the humpback they all stopped, and one came forward -and very crossly asked his business. - -'I am one of Yourselves for the night, and should be glad to do you -some service,' said Billy Beg. - -So he was set to take the password--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, -Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And at daybreak the King said: 'It's -time for us to be off,' and up came regiment after regiment giving -Billy Beg the password--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, -Saturday. Last of all came the king with his men, and gave the password -also--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 'and -Sunday,' says Billy Beg, thinking himself clever. Then there was a -great outcry. - -'Get the hump that was taken off that fellow's back last night and put -it on this man's back,' said the King, with flashing eyes, pointing -to the hump that lay under the hedge. - -Before the words were well out of his mouth the hump was clapt on to -Billy Beg's back. - -'Now,' said the King, 'be off, and if ever I find you here again, -I will clap another hump on to your front!' - -And on that they all marched away with one great shout, and left poor -Billy Beg standing where they had found him, with a hump growing on -each shoulder. And he came home next day dragging one foot after -another, with a wizened face and as cross as two sticks, with his -two humps on his back, and if they are not off they are there still. - - - - - - - -THE LAZY WIFE - - -Well, there was a woman once, and she was scandalous lazy. She was -that lazy she would do nothing but sit in the corner of the chiollagh -warming herself, or going on the houses for newses the day long. And -one day her man gives her some wool to spin for him; he was terrible -badly off for clothes to wear, for she was letting them get all ragged -on him. He had told her to mend them until he was tired, but all he -could get out of her was 'Traa dy liooar.' Time enough! - -One day he comes to her, and says: - -'Thou liggey my hraa, here is some wool for thee to spin, and if it -is not done a month from this day, I'll throw thee out on the side -of the road. Thou and thy Traa dy liooar have left me nearly bare.' - -Well, she was too lazy to spin, but she would be pretending to be -working hard when the husband was in the house. She used to put the -wheel out on the floor every night before the husband came in from -work, to let on to him that she had been spinning. - -The husband was asking her was the thread getting near spun, for he -said he was seeing the wheel so often on the floor that he wanted -to know if she had enough to take to the weaver. When it came to -the last week but one, she had only one ball spun, and that one was -knotted and as coarse as gorse. When her husband says to her: - -'I'm seeing the wheel middling often on the floor when I come home -at night; maybe there's enough thread spun at thee now for me to take -to the weaver next week?' - -'I don't know, at all,' says the wife. 'Maybe there is; let us count -the balls.' - -Then the play began! Up she went on the lout, and flung the ball -through the hole, down to him. - -'Keep count thyself, and fling the balls back again to me,' says -she to the man. And as fast as he flung the ball up to her, so fast -she flung it down to him again. When he had counted the ball, maybe, -two score times, she says to him: - -'That's all that's in.' - -'Aw, 'deed, you've spun well, woman, for all,' says he; 'there's -plenty done at thee for the weaver.' - -Aw, then she was in a great fix, and didn't know in her senses what -to do to save herself. She knew she would sup sorrow if she was found -out, but she could think of nothing. - -At last she bethought herself of the Giant that lived in a lonesome -place up the mountain, for she had heard tell he was good to work, -and the woman, she says to herself: - -'I've a mind to go my ways to him.' She took the road early next -morning, she and her rolls of wool, and she walked up hills, down -gills, till at last she came to the Giant's house. - -'What are thou wanting here?' says the Giant. - -'I'm wanting thee to help me,' says she; and she up and told him -about the ball of thread and everything. - -'I'll spin the wool for thee,' says the Giant, 'if thou'll tell me -my name when thou come for the balls a week from this day. Are thou -satisfied?' - -'Why shouldn't I be satisfied?' says the woman; for she thought to -herself it would be a middling queer thing if she couldn't find out -his name within a week. Well, the woman she tried every way to find -out the Giant's name, but, go where she might, no one had ever heard -tell of it. The time was getting over fast, and she was no nearer to -the Giant's name. At last it came to the last day but one. - -Now, as it happened, the husband was coming home from the mountain -that day in the little evening, and as he neared the Giant's house, -he saw it all in a blaze of light, and there was a great whirling -and whistling coming to his ears, and along with it came singing, -and laughing, and shouting. So he drew near the window, and then -he sees the big Giant inside sitting at a wheel, spinning like the -wind, and his hands flying with the thread to and fro, to and fro, -like the lightning, and he shouting to the whistling wheel: 'Spin, -wheel, spin faster; and sing, wheel, sing louder!' - -And he sings, as the wheel whirls faster and faster: - - - 'Snieu, queeyl, snieu; 'rane, queeyl, 'rane; - Dy chooilley clea er y thie, snieu er my skyn. - Lheeish yn ollan, lhiams y snaie, - S'beg fys t'ec yn ven litcheragh - Dy re Mollyndroat my ennym!' - - Spin, wheel, spin; sing, wheel, sing; - Every beam on the house, spin overhead. - Herself's is the wool, mine is the thread, - How little she knows, the lazy wife, - That my name is Mollyndroat! - - -When the husband got home that evening he was late, and his wife said -to him: - -'Where have you been so late? Did thou hear anything new?' - -Then he said: - -'Thou are middling good to spin thyself, ven thie; but I'm thinking -there's one in that's better than thee, for all. Never in all my born -days did I see such spinning, a thread as fine as a cobweb, and hear -such singing as there was going on in the Giant's house to-night.' - -'What was he singing?' says the wife. And he sang the song to her: - - - Snieu, queeyl, snieu; 'rane, queeyl, 'rane; - Dy chooilley clea er y thie, snieu er my skyn. - Lheeish yn ollan, lhiams y snaie, - S'beg fys t'ec yn ven litcheragh - Dy re Mollyndroat my ennym! - - -Well, well, the joy the woman took when she heard the song! - -'Aw, what sweet music! Sing it again, my good man,' says she. - -And he sang it to her again, till she knew it by heart. - -Early next morning, she went as fast as her feet could carry her to -the Giant's house. The road was long, and a bit lonesome under the -trees, and to keep up her heart she sang to herself: - - - 'Snieu, queeyl, snieu; snieu, queeyl, snieu; - Dy chooilley vangan er y villey, snieu er my skyn. - S'lesh hene yn ollan, as lesh my hene y snaie, - Son shenn Mollyndroat cha vow eh dy braa.' - - Spin, wheel, spin; spin, wheel, spin; - Every branch on the tree, spin overhead. - The wool is Himself's, the thread is my own, - For old Mollyndroat will never get it. - - -When she got to the house, she found the door open before her, and -in she went. - -'I've come again for the thread,' says she. - -'Aisy, aisy, good woman,' says the Giant. 'If thou don't tell me my -name thou won't get the thread--that was the bargain.' And says he: -'Now, what's my name?' - -'Is it Mollyrea?' says she--to let on that she didn't know it. - -'No, it is not,' says he. - -'Are you one of the Mollyruiy ones?' says she. - -'I'm not one of that clan,' says he. - -'Are they calling you Mollyvridey?' says she. - -'They are not,' says he. - -'I'll warrant your name is Mollychreest?' says she. - -'You are wrong, though,' says he. - -'Are you going by the name of Mollyvoirrey?' says she. - -''Deed I am not,' says he. - -'Maybe your name is Mollyvartin?' says she. - -'And, maybe, it's not at all,' says he. - -'They're saying,' says she, 'that there was only seven families living -on the islan' at one time, and their names all began with "Molly"; -and so,' says she, 'if you are not a Mollycharaine, you are none of -the rael, oul' Manx ones, at all.' - -'I am not a Mollycharaine,' says he. 'Now, be careful, woman; next -guess is your last.' - -At that she pretended to be frightened, and says she, slowly, pointing -her finger at him: - - - 'S'lesh hene yn ollan, as lesh my hene y snaie, - Son shenn--Moll-YN-DROAT cha vow eh dy braa.' - - The wool is Himself's, and the thread is my own, - For old--Moll-YN-DROAT will never get it. - - -Well the Giant, he was done, and he was in a red rage, and he cries: - -'Bad luck to you! You never would have found out my name unless you're -a mummig yn aishnee.' - -'Bad luck to yourself, my boy,' says she, 'for trying to steal a -dacent woman's wool.' - -'Go to the Devil, yourself and your fortune-telling,' shouts he, -jumping up and flinging the balls at her. - -And away home with her, and her balls of thread. And if she didn't -spin her own wool for ever after, that's nothing to do with you and me. - - - - - - - -THE MERMAID OF GOB NY OOYL - - -Once on a time there lived at the bottom end of Cornah gill a family -of the name of Sayle, and the Mermaid who had her haunt up Bulgham way -was a friend to them. They were always in luck's way and never seemed -to be short of anything. Sure enough they were full of thrift, and to -fill in odds of spare time they made lobster pots from the osier that -grew around in plenty, and they always found a ready market. They -kept a cow and a few sheep, just to give work to the women in the -long winter nights, but their living was mostly got by the sea. - -It was well known that Sayle had a strong liking for apples, and that -he would often bring some with him out in the boat, but when he got -well up in years he would be leaving a lot of the boat-work for the -boys, and then the luck began to get less, and many a time one of them -had to take a gun to keep something in the pot. Then the bigger ones -took to the herrings. One, Evan, however, had to stay about to keep -things going, and it happened that one day, after he had the creels -set, just at Bulgham, that he pulled the boat in and went up the brow -after eggs. On coming back to the boat he heard some one calling to -him, and, looking round, he saw a fine-looking woman sitting on the -edge of a rock. - -'And how's your father?' said she. 'It's seldom he's coming this -way now.' - -Young Sayle was a bit frightened at first, but seeing a pleasant -look on her face, he took courage and told her how things were at -home. Then, saying she hoped to see him again, she slipped into the -water and disappeared. - -On getting home he told what had taken place, and the father, his -face lighting up, declared: - -'There will be luck on the house yet.' - -And he said: - -'Take some apples with you the next time you go up that way, an' -we'll see.' - -The very next time the young chap went, he took some apples with him, -and when he got to the place where he had seen the beautiful woman, -he went, as usual, on the hunt among the rocks. Then he heard sweet -singing, and when he turned round what should he see but the Mermaid -leaning over the boat and smiling pleasantly. She took an apple and -began to eat and chant: - - - The luck o' the sea be with you, but don't forgetful be - Of bringing some sweet lan' eggs for the children of the sea. - - -From that time he was nearly living on the water until, at last, -he was taken to task for being idle. Then he made up his mind to go -sailing in foreign parts. The Mermaid was in great distress, so to -please her, he went and planted an apple tree on the brow above her -haunt, telling her that when he would be far away this tree would -grow land-eggs which, when they would be sweet and ready for eating, -would come of themselves to the water for her. And, sure enough, -the luck of the family remained, though the boy was gone. - -She seemed to bear up well for a long time and would often be seen -sitting on the rocks in the evening, singing sad songs, and casting -longing glances up to the apple tree above. She kept very shy of -everyone coming her way, and at last, finding the apples slow in -coming, made up her mind to go in search of young Sayle, hoping the -apples would be ready for taking when they would come back. - -But neither of them ever came back, though for many a long year the -apple tree bore fruit and marked the little creek where the Mermaid -used to live. - - - - - - - -THE LOST WIFE OF BALLALEECE - - -One time the Farmer of Ballaleece married a beautiful young wife -and they were thinking the world of one another. But before long she -disappeared. Some persons said that she was dead and others that she -was taken by the Little People. Ballaleece mourned for her with a heavy -heart and looked for her from Point of Ayr to the Calf; but in the end, -not finding her, he married another wife. This one was not beautiful, -but there was some money at her. - -Soon after the marriage his first wife appeared to Ballaleece one -night, and said to him: - -'My man, my man, I was taken away by the Little People, and I live -with them near to you. I can be set free if you will but do what I -tell you.' - -'Tell me quick,' said Ballaleece. - -'We'll be riding through Ballaleece barn at midnight on Friday,' -said she. 'We'll be going in on one door and out on another. I'll -be riding behind one of the men on horseback. You'll sweep the barn -clean, and mind there is not one straw left on the floor. Catch hold -of my bridle rein, hold it fast, and I shall be free.' - -When the night came Ballaleece took a besom and swept the barn floor -so clean that not one speck was left on it. Then he waited in the dark. - -At midnight the barn doors opened wide, sweet music was heard, and -in through the open door came a fine company of Little People, in -green jackets and red caps, riding fine horses. On the last horse, -sitting behind a Little Fellow, Ballaleece saw his first wife as -pretty as a picture, and as young as when she left him. He seized -hold of her bridle rein, but he was shaken from side to side like -a leaf on a tree, and he was not able to hold her. As she went out -through the door she stretched out her right hand and pointed to a -bushel in the corner of the barn, and called out in a sad voice: - -'There's been a straw put under the bushel--for that reason you -couldn't hold me, and you've done with me for ever!' - -The second wife had heard what had passed and had hidden the straw, -and turned the bushel upside down so that it would not be seen. - -The young wife was never heard of any more. - - - - - - - -SMEREREE - - -The speckled hen and the little chicken were scratching under an -apple tree in the garden, and an apple fell off the tree and it hit -the little chicken on the head. And says he to the speckled hen: - -'Let us go to Rome, for the world has fallen.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' said the speckled hen. - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -Then the speckled hen and the little chicken went their ways until -they met the cock. - -'Where are you going, speckled hen?' said the cock. - -'Going to Rome, for the world has fallen,' said the speckled hen. - -'Who said that to you, speckled hen?' - -'The little chicken said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -So they went their ways together until they met a gander. - -'Where are you going, cock?' said the gander. - -'Going to Rome, for the world has fallen.' - -'Who said that to you, cock?' said the gander. - -'The speckled hen said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, speckled hen?' - -'The little chicken said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -So they went all together until they met a bull. - -'Where are you going, gander?' said the bull. - -'Going to Rome, for the world has fallen.' - -'Who said that to you, gander?' - -'The cock said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, cock?' - -'The speckled hen said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, speckled hen?' - -'The little chicken said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -So they went all together until they met a goat. - -'Where are you going, bull?' said the goat. - -'Going to Rome, for the world has fallen,' said the bull. - -'Who said that to you, bull?' said the goat. - -'The gander said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, gander?' - -'The cock said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, cock?' - -'The speckled hen said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, speckled hen?' - -'The little chicken said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -So they all went together until they met a horse. - -'Where are you going, goat?' said the horse. - -'Going to Rome, for the world has fallen.' - -'Who said that to you, goat?' - -'The bull said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, bull?' - -'The gander said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, gander?' - -'The cock said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, cock?' - -'The speckled hen said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, speckled hen?' - -'The little chicken said it to me.' - -'Who said that to you, little chicken?' - -'It fell on my head, Smereree!' - -So they all went travelling together until they came to the house of -the giant; they went in the house and the giant was from home. So the -horse went under the big table, and the bull went under the dresser, -and the goat went on the stairs, and all the rest in the corners. - -When the giant came home, they all went at him at once, and there -was heavy war between them. - -'Calk! Calk! If I come down to you,' said the cock. - -He came down at last and picked the giant's eyes out, and they killed -him, and they all lived in his house together. - -And if they are not dead, they are living there yet. - - - - - - - -KEBEG - - -There is a deep dub, or pool, on Ballacoan stream, which the children -of Laxey call Nikkesen's. It is the home of Nyker, the Water Goblin. It -has no bottom; and brambles and ferns are growing round it, and fir -trees and hazels are hiding it from sight. No child, no grown-up -person even, will go near it after dark. - -A great many years ago a beautiful girl living at Ballaquine was sent -to look for the calves, which had gone astray. She had got as far -as Nikkesen's, when she took a notion that she heard the calves over -the river in Johnny Baldoon's nuts. At once she began to call to them: - -'Kebeg! Kebeg! Kebeg!' so loud that you could hear her at Chibber -Pherick, Patrick's Well. The people could hear her calling quite -plainly, but, behold, a great mist came and rolled down the valley, -and shut it from sight. The people on one side of the valley could -hear her voice yet calling through the mist: - -'Kebeg! Kebeg! Kebeg!' - -Then came a little sweet voice through the mist and the trees in -answer: - -'Kebeg's here! Kebeg's here!' - -And she cried: - -'I'm comin'! I'm comin'!' - -And that was all. - -The Fairies who live in Nikkesen's had pulled her in, and carried -her to their own home. - -She was never heard of again. - - - - - - - -THE FAIRY CHILD OF CLOSE NY LHEIY - - -One time there was a woman named Colloo, in Close ny Lheiy, near -Glen Meay, and she had a child that had fallen sick in a strange -way. Nothing seemed wrong with him, yet crosser and crosser he grew, -nying nyanging night and day. The woman was in great distress. Charms -had failed, and she didn't know rightly what to do. - -It seems that when about a fortnight old, the child, as fine a child -for his age as you would see in a day's walk, was left asleep while the -mother went to the well for water. Now Herself forgot to put the tongs -on the cradle, and when she came back the child was crying pitifully, -and there was no quieting for him. And from that very hour the flesh -seemed to melt off his bones till he became as ugly and as wizened -a child as you would see between the Point of Ayr and the Calf. He -was that way, his whining howl filling the house, for four years, -lying in his cradle without a motion on him to put his feet under -him. Not a day's rest nor a night's sleep had the woman these four -years with him. She was fairly scourged until there came a fine day -in the spring, while Hom Beg Bridson, the tailor, was in the house -sewing. Hom is dead now, but there's many alive that remember him -yet. He was wise tremendous, for he was going from house to house -sewing, and gathering wisdom as he was going. - -Well, before that day the tailor was seeing lots of wickedness in -the child. When the woman would be out feeding the cows and pigs, -he would be hoisting his head up out of the cradle and making faces -at the tailor, winking and slicking, and shaking his head, and saying -'What a lad I am!' - -That day the woman wanted to go to the shop to sell some eggs that -she had, and says she to the tailor: 'Hom, man, keep your eye on the -chile that the bogh won't fall out of the criddle an' hurt himself, -while I slip down to the shop.' - -When she was gone the tailor began to whistle, low and slow, to -himself, as he stitched, the tune of a little hymn. - -'Drop that, Hom Beg,' said a little harsh voice. - -The tailor, scandalised, looked round to see if it was the child that -had spoken, and it was. - -'Whush, whush, now; lie quate,' said the tailor, rocking the cradle -with his foot, and as he rocked he whistled the hymn tune louder. - -'Drop that, Hom Beg, I tell ye, an' give us something light an' -handy,' said the little fella back to him, middling sharp. - -'Aw, anything at all to plaze thee,' said the tailor, whistling a jig. - -'Hom,' said my lad, 'can thou dance anything to that?' - -'I can,' said the tailor. 'Can thou?' - -'I can that,' said my lad. 'Would thou like to see me dance?' - -'I would,' said the tailor. - -'Take that oul' fiddle down, then, Hom, man,' he said; 'an' put -"The tune of the Big Wheel" on it.' - -'Aw, I'll do that for thee, an' welcome,' said the tailor. - -The fiddle quits its hook on the wall, and the tailor tunes up. - -'Hom,' said the little fella, 'before thou begin to play, clear the -kitchen for me--cheers an' stools, everything away--make a place for -me to step out to the music, man.' - -'Aw, I'll do that for thee, too,' said the tailor. He cleared the -kitchen floor, and then he struck up 'Tune y wheeyl vooar.' - -In a crack the little fella bounced from his cradle on to the floor -with a 'Chu!' and began flying round the kitchen. - -'Go it, Hom--face your partner--heel an' toe does it. Well done, -Hom--more power to your elba, man.' - -Hom plays faster and faster, till my lad was jumping as high as the -table. With a 'Chu!' up goes his foot on top of the dresser, and -'Chu!' then on top of the chimney piece, and 'Chu!' bang against the -partition; then he was half flying, half footing it round the kitchen, -turning and going that quick that it put a reel in Hom's head to be -looking at him. Then he was whirling everything round for a clear -space, even Hom himself, who by degrees gets up on the table in the -corner, and plays wilder and faster, as the whirling jig grows madder -and swifter. - -'M'Yee!' said the tailor, throwing down the fiddle. 'I mus' run, -thou're not the chile that was in the criddle! Are thou?' - -'Houl' man! thou're right enough,' said the little fella. 'Strike up -for me--make has'e, make has'e, man--keep joggin' your elba.' - -'Whush!' said the tailor, 'here's Herself comin'.' - -The dance suddenly ceased. The child gave a hop, skip, and jump into -the cradle. - -'Go on with thy sewing, Hom; don't say a word,' said the little fella, -covering himself up in the clothes till nothing was left of him to -be seen except his eyes, which keeked out like a ferret's. - -When Herself came in the house, the tailor, all of a tremble, was -sitting cross-legged on the round table and his spec's on his nose -and letting on that he was busy sewing; the child in the cradle was -grinning and crying as usual. - -'What in all the earthly worl' ----! But it's the quare stitching, -altogether, there's been goin' on here, an' me out. An' how thou -can see the needle in that dark corner, Hom Bridson, let alone sew, -it bates me,' said she, siding the place. 'Well, well--then, well, -well--on the boghee millish. What is it at all, at all, that's doin' -on the veen? Did he think Mammy had gone an' left him then, the -chree? Mammy is goin' to feed him, though.' - -The tailor had been thinking mighty with himself what he ought to do, -so he said: - -'Look here, woman, give him nothing at all, but go out an' get a -creelful of good turf an' a whisp of feern.' - -She brought the turf, and throws a bundle of fern on it. - -The tailor gave a leap off the table down to the floor, and it wasn't -long till he had the fine fire. - -'Thou'll have the house put on fire for me, Hom,' said Herself. - -'No fear, but I'll fire some of them,' said the tailor. The child, -with his two eyes going out of his head watching to see what the -tailor was going to do, was slowly turning his whining howl into a -kind of call--to his own sort to come and fetch him, it's like. - -'I'll send thee home,' said the tailor, drawing near the cradle, -and he stretches out his two hands to take the child and put him on -the big, red turf fire. - -Before he was able to lay a hand on him, the little fella leaped out -of the cradle and took for the door. - -'The back of me han' an' the sole of me fut to you!' said he, 'if I -would only a-had another night I could have showed thee a trick or -two more than that yet.' - -Then the door flew open with a bang, as though some one had thrown -it open, and he took off with himself like a shot. A hullabaloo of -laughing and making fun was heard outside, and the noise of many -running little feet. Out of the door of the house goes Herself, and -Hom after her; they see no one, but they caught sight of a flock -of low-lying clouds shaped like gulls chasing each other away up -Glen Rushen, and then came to their ears, as if afar off from the -clouds, sharp whistles and wicked little laughs as if making mock of -them. Then as they were turning round to come back, she suddenly sees -right before her, her own sweet, rosy, smiling child, with thumb in -mouth, lying on a mossy bank. And she took all the joy in the world -of the child that he was back again safe and sound. - - - - - - - -THE LITTLE FOOTPRINTS - - -Close to the Niarbyl, the great tail of rock that stretches into the -sea at Dalby, is a little house on the strand. It is sheltered behind -by the high rock which rises above its thatched roof. Before it lies -Bay Mooar, the great bay, held by a chain of mountains purple with -ling. Standing before its door and looking to the west, you may see -the sun set behind the distant Mourne Mountains. At dawn you may see -him rise over Cronk-yn-Irree-Laa, the Hill of the Rising Day. Here -lived Juan, the fisherman. - -He knew, as well as any person, that the Little People were all -around. When he was a boy he had many a time looked out of the door -on moonlight nights to try if he could put sight on them dancing on -the lonely shore. He had not seen them--they make themselves invisible -when they know that mortal eyes are on them. But he had seen the tiny -riding lights of their herring fleet in the bay, and had helped his -father to draw in the nets full of good fish, which were sure to be -caught the night after. Many a time he had wakened from his sleep in -the dark, and, in the pauses of the wind and the lull of the great -breakers, he had heard the sound of hammering. He knew it was the -Little People hammering at their herring barrels in Ooig-ny-Seyir, -the Coopers' Cave, under the hills, and that as the chips flew out -on to the waves they became ships. - -He had heard the story of the fisherman, a friend of his father's, -who was fishing one night at Lag-ny-Keilley, when a dense grey mist -rolled in. He thought he had best make for home while the footpath -above the rocks was visible. When he was getting his things together -he heard what sounded like a lot of children coming out of school. He -lifted his head, and, behold, there was a fleet of fairy boats each -side of the rock, their riding lights shining like little stars on -a frosty night. The crews seemed busy preparing to come on shore, -and he heard one little fellow shout: - -'Hraaghyn boght as earish broigh, skeddan dy liooar ec yn mooinjer -seihll shoh, cha nel veg ain!' - -Poor times and dirty weather, herring enough at the people of this -world, nothing at us! - -'Then,' said the fisherman, 'they dropped off and went agate o' -the flitters.' - -When Juan was a big boy he himself saw a thing which he never -forgot. One day he left a boat over at the farther side of Bay Mooar, -and at night he had to go over to fetch it. It was a moonlight night -and the bay was as smooth as glass as he rowed across. There was no -sound but the lapping of the little waves on the shore, and now and -again the cry of a gannet. Juan found his boat on the strand where he -had left her and was setting to work to launch her, when he thought he -saw a glimmering light, which was not the light of the moon, in one of -the caves near him. He stood where he was, and listened, and he heard -the sound of faint music. Then he went as silently as he was able to -the cave, and looked in. No light was there but the dim light of the -moon. The shadows in the corners of the cave were as black as pitch. - -Juan was trembling all over, and at first he was blinking his eyes -and could see nothing. But after some minutes he saw a great stone -in the midst of the cave and the floor of fine white sand. And on -the sand around that stone there were little footprints--marks of -tiny clogs they were, no bigger than his thumb! - - - - - - - -THE TALL MAN OF BALLACURRY - - -Tom Craine was going home at midnight from Bradda mine to his home -at Colby. The road was lonely and he met no person, but the full moon -was shining and it was as light as day. As he began to pass under the -trees that grow round the house at Ballacurry, a little dog appeared -suddenly from the black shadow at the roadside and followed at his -heels. He whistled to it, but as he turned his head to look at it, -it ran on in front of him, and for a minute he did not see it. When -he came in sight of it again, he was terrified to see that it had -grown larger--as big as a goat--and it grew bigger and bigger till -it was the size of a donkey! It galloped before him and disappeared -round the bend of the road where the gate of Ballacurry is. When Tom -came to the gate he saw a very tall, thin man leaning on it, with -his arms folded on the top of it. The beast was not there. As Tom -reached the gate the tall thin man turned and walked up the long path -that leads to the house. When he got to the door he turned again and -walked back down the path towards Tom. By the bright moonlight Tom -saw the lace ruffle round his neck, the satin of his knee breeches, -the silk of his stockings, and the shining buckles on his shoes--the -dress of bygone days. His face was white and dreadful. As Tom looked -he was all at once taken with terror, and ran off as hard as he could -go down the road to Colby. - -He had not gone far when he met two of his friends, Ben Mylechreest -and Bill Teare. He told them what he had seen, and they made fun of -him and would not believe that he had seen any such thing. They said -they would go back with him to the gate, so they all three turned -back. When they got to the gate they saw the big man, as tall as two -men, walking up the path with his back towards them. As before, when -he reached the door, he turned--what they saw they never told any man! - -They took to their heels, all three, and ran till they could run no -longer. They were trembling from head to foot and the sweat pouring -from them. They were too terrified to go home, so they turned in with -Tom and they slept, all three, in one bed. - - - - - - - -NED QUAYLE'S STORY OF THE FAIRY PIG - - -When I was a little boy, we lived over by Sloc. One day, when I was six -years old, my mother and my grandmother went up the mountain to make -hay and I was left by myself. It was getting rather late, and they had -not come back, so I was frightened, and started off up the mountain to -try and find them. I had not gone far when I saw running before me a -little snow-white pig. At first I thought it was some neighbour's pig -and I tried to catch it, but it ran from me and I ran after it. As it -went I saw that it was not like an ordinary pig--its tail was feathery -and spread out like a fan, and it had long lapping ears that swept the -ling. Now and again it turned its head and looked at me, and its eyes -were burning like fire. We went higher and higher up the mountain, -and all of a sudden I found myself at the edge of a steep brow and -was all but over. I turned just in time, and ran as hard as I could -go down the mountain and the pig after me. When I looked back over -my shoulder, I saw that it was jumping over the big stones and rocks -on the mountain side as if they had been butts of ling. I thought it -would catch me; it was close behind me when I ran in at our garden -gate, but I was just in time, and I slammed the door upon it. - -I told my mother and my grandmother what had happened, and my -grandmother said it was a Fairy Pig. I was not like myself that night; -I could not eat any supper, and I went soon to my bed; I could not -sleep, but lay tossing about; and was burning hot. After a time my -mother opened the door to see if I was asleep, and when she looked at -me, HER EYES WERE LIKE THE PIG'S EYES. I felt a sharp pain go through -my right leg like a stab. After that the pain never left me; it was so -bad that I could not bear to be touched, and I could eat nothing. I -grew worse and worse, and after some days my father said he would -take me to a Charmer at Castletown. They lifted me in the sheet, -four men taking the four corners, and carried me to a cart. Never -will I forget the shaking and jolting I had in that cart. When we -got to Castletown I was more dead than alive. - -The Charmer lived in Arbory Street and they took me to his house. When -he saw me he said that they must all go away and leave me alone with -him, so my father and my mother went to wait for me at The George. The -Charmer carried me to a room upstairs and sent his wife away, and laid -me on the floor and locked the door. Then he took down a big book and -placed it on the floor beside me. He opened it at the picture of a -little plant--I can see the plant to this day--and he pointed with -his left hand to the picture, and with his right hand he made the -sign of the cross on my leg, where the stab went through me, and said: - -'Ta mee skeaylley yn guin shoh ayns ennym yn Ayr, as y Vac, -as y Spyrryd Noo, Ned Quayle. My she guin, ayns ennym y Chiarn, -ta mee skealley eh ass yn eill, ass ny fehyn, as ass ny craueyn,' -which means in English--I spread this fairy shot in the name of the -Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Ned Quayle. If it is -a fairy shot, in the name of the Lord, I spread it out of the flesh, -out of the sinews, and out of the bones. That minute the pain left -me. I felt very hungry, and the Charmer's wife set me at a table and -gave me dinner. The Charmer went to fetch my father and my mother, -and when they came in I was eating like two. - -The Charmer told my mother I must not go on the mountain alone between -the lights again. The pain never came back. I have been sound from -that day to this, but I have the mark on my leg where the stab went -through as clear as glass to the bone. - - - - - - - -SCENE: A VILLAGE - - -Blackbird sings to Innkeeper's pretty daughter. - - - Kione jiarg, kione jiarg, - Apyrn doo, Apyrn doo, - Vel oo cheet? Vel oo cheet? - Skee fieau, skee fieau, - Lhondoo, Lhondoo. - - Red head, red head, - Black apron, black apron, - Are you coming? Are you coming? - Tired waiting, tired waiting, - Blackbird, Blackbird. - - - - - - - -KITTERLAND - - -It was more than eight hundred years ago, in the days of Olaf -Goddardson, that Baron Kitter, the Norwegian, lived in Mann. He -had his castle on the top of Barrule, and he spent all his time in -hunting the bisons and elks that were on the island then, until he -had killed them all. Then the people began to be afraid that he would -chase their cattle and the purrs of the mountains, and leave them -no beasts at all, so they went to the wisest witches of the island, -to see what they could do. - -One day Baron Kitter had gone over to the Calf to hunt the red deer -there, leaving his cook, Eaoch of the Loud Voice, in the castle to -cook his dinner. Eaoch set the pot on the fire and then fell asleep -over his work. While he was sleeping the witch-wife Ada put a spell -on the pot, and the fat boiled over into the fire. Soon the house was -in flames. Eaoch woke and shouted for help at the top of his voice, -and his cries were so loud that they reached the ears of Kitter and -his fellow-huntsmen, ten miles away on the Calf. - -When Kitter heard the cries and saw the flames on the top of Barrule, -he made for the beach as hard as he could, and put out in a small -currach for the island, with most of his friends. When they were in -the strong current about half way across the channel, the boat struck -on a rock and they were all drowned, and the rock has ever since -been called Kitterland. The rest of Kitter's friends, who had stayed -on the Calf and so saved their lives, believed that Eaoch, the cook, -had made a plot with the witches of the island to do away with all the -Norwegians in Mann, so they brought him before King Olaf to be judged, -and he was condemned to death. But according to the custom of Norway, -he was allowed to choose how he would die. - -Then he said: - -'I wish my head to be laid across one of your Majesty's legs, and -there cut off by your Majesty's sword Macabuin, which was made by -Loan Maclibuin, the Dark Smith of Drontheim!' - -It was known to every person there that the king's sword could cut the -hardest granite, only by touching it with its edge, and they all begged -Olaf not to do as crafty Eaoch asked. But the king would not break -his word and gave orders that all should be done as the cook had said. - -But the witch Ada was there and she told them to take toads' skins, -twigs of the cuirn tree, and adders' eggs, nine times nine of each, -and put them between the king's leg and the cook's head. They did this, -and then the great sword Macabuin, made by Loan Maclibuin, was lifted -with the greatest care by one of the king's faithful servants and laid -gently on the cook's neck, but before it could be stopped Eaoch's -head was cut from his body and the adders' eggs and the cuirn twigs -were also cut through--only the toads' skins saved the king's leg. - -When the Dark Smith heard how the power of the great sword Macabuin -had been stayed by witchcraft, he was very angry, and called for -his Hammer-man, Hiallus-nan-urd, who had lost one leg when he was -helping to make the sword. He sent him off at once to Peel Castle -to challenge King Olaf, or any of his men, to a walking race from -Peel to Drontheim. King Olaf himself took up the challenge, and off -they set. Over mountains and through gills they walked, as fast as -they could go, and the one-legged man as fast as the king. When they -had crossed the island they each put out to sea in a sailing boat, -and each came in sight of Drontheim at the same moment. When they -drew near to the smithy, the Hammer-man, who was ahead, called out to -Loan to open the door, and Olaf called to him to shut it, and then, -pushing past Hiallus, got into the smithy first. - -To show that he was not at all weary after his walk Olaf took up -the great hammer of the forge and struck the anvil such a mighty -blow that he split it through, and the block beneath it, too. When -Emergaid, the daughter of Loan, saw the strength and power of Olaf, -she loved him; and while her father was putting back the block and -anvil, she whispered to the king: - -'My Father is doing that, so that he may finish the sword he is -making. It has been foretold that the first blood it shall shed shall -be royal blood, and he has sworn that that blood shall be yours.' - -'But is not your father the seventh son of Old Windy Cap, King of -Norway?' cried Olaf. - -'He is,' said Emergaid. - -'Then the prophecy shall be fulfilled,' said Olaf, and he thrust -the sword into the heart of Loan, and afterwards slew with it the -Hammer-man also. - -He made Emergaid his queen and they ruled together, and from them -came a long line of Kings of Mann. - - - - - - - -TEEVAL, PRINCESS OF THE OCEAN - - -In the old days Culain, the smith of the gods, was living in the Isle -of Mann. It was the time when Conchubar was at the court of the King -of Ulster, and had nothing but the sword in his hand. He was a fine -handsome young man, and he had made up his mind to make himself a -king. So he went one day to the Druid of Clogher to ask him what he -had best do. - -'Go thy way,' said the Druid, 'to the Isle of Mann. There thou wilt -find the great smith Culain. Get him to make thee a sword and a spear -and a shield, and with these thou shalt win the kingdom of Ulster.' - -Conchubar went away, and hired a boat and put out to sea. He landed in -Mann and made straight for Culain's smithy. It was night when he got -there, and the red glow of the furnace shone out into the dark. He -could hear from inside the smithy the roar of the bellows and the -clanging of the hammer on the anvil. When he came near, a great -dog, as large as a calf, began to bay and to growl like thunder, -and brought his master out. - -'Who art thou, young man?' said he. - -'Oh Culain!' cried Conchubar, 'it is from the Druid of Clogher that -I come, and he bade me ask thee to make me a sword and a spear and -a shield, for only with weapons of thy making can I win the Kingdom -of Ulster.' - -Culain's face grew black at first, but after he had gazed for a while -at Conchubar, he saw that he had the look about him of one who would -go far, and he said: - -'It shall be done for thee, but thou must wait, for the work is long.' - -So Culain began to make the weapons, and Conchubar waited in the -island. - -Early one brave morning in May when the sun had just risen over -Cronk-yn-Irree-Laa, he was walking on the strand, wondering to himself -how much longer Culain would be making his weapons and thinking it -was full time for him to return. The tide was going out, and the -sun was shining on the wet sand. Suddenly he saw something flashing -at the edge of the waves a few paces from him. He ran up to it and, -behold, it was the most beautiful woman he had ever put sight on, -fast asleep. Her hair was golden, like the gorse in bloom; her skin -whiter than the foam of the sea, her lips red as the coral, and her -cheeks rosy like the little clouds that were flying before the face -of the rising sun. The fringe of her dress of many coloured seaweeds -rose and fell with the ebb and flow of the waves. Pearls gleamed on -her neck and arms. Conchubar stood and looked on her. He knew that she -was a Mermaid and that as soon as she awoke she would slip back into -the ocean and be lost to him. So he bound her fast with his girdle. - -Then she awoke and opened her eyes, which were blue as the sea, -and when she saw that she was bound, she cried out with terror, -'Loose me, man, loose me!' - -Conchubar did not answer, so she said again, 'Loose me, I beg thee!' in -a voice as sweet as the music of Hom Mooar, the Fairy Fiddler. - -By this time Conchubar was feeling that he would give all he had to -keep her. He answered, trembling, 'Woman, my heart, who art thou?' - -'I am Teeval, Princess of the Ocean,' said she. 'Set me free, I -pray thee.' - -'But if I set thee free,' said Conchubar, 'thou wilt leave me.' - -'I cannot stay with thee, Conchubar,' she cried; 'set me free, and -I will give thee a precious gift.' - -'I will loose thee,' answered Conchubar. 'It is not for the gift, -but because I cannot resist thee.' - -He unfastened the girdle from her and she said, 'My gift to thee -is this: Go now to Culain who is making thy shield, and tell him -that Teeval, Princess of the Ocean, bids him to put her figure on -the shield and round it to grave her name. Then thou shalt wear it -always in battle, and when thou shalt look on my face and call my -name, thy enemies' strength shall go from them and shall come into -thee and thy men.' When she had said this, she waved her white arm -to Conchubar and plunged into the waves. He looked sadly for a long -time at the spot where she had disappeared, and then walked slowly -to the forge of Culain, and gave him the message. - -Culain finished the mighty shield as the Princess had said, and -forged also for Conchubar a golden-hilted magic sword, and a spear -set with precious stones. Then Conchubar, in his crimson mantle and -white gold-embroidered tunic, and armed with his great shield and -his mighty weapons, went back to Ireland. - -All that the Princess of the Ocean had said came true. When he went -into battle he looked at the beautiful face in his shield and cried -'Help, Teeval.' - -Then he felt strength come into him like the strength of a giant, -and he cut his enemies down like grass. Before long he was famous -all over Ireland for his great deeds, and in the end he became King -of Ulster. Then he invited Culain to come and live in his kingdom, -and gave him the plain of Murthemny to dwell in. - -But he never again saw the lovely Mermaid. - - - - - - - -THE WIZARD'S PALACE - - -Long hundreds of years ago there was a fine palace on a mountain -sloping up from the sea. It was like a palace in a dream, built of -shining marble of all colours and having great doors covered with gold. - -In it there lived the mighty Wizard who had made it for himself by his -spells. But his hatred of other people was as great as his power, and -he would not allow any person to come near him except his own servants, -and they were evil spirits. If any man dared to go to see the palace, -to ask for work or to beg for charity, he would never be heard of -again. His friends might search for him, but they would never find -him. Soon people began to whisper that some of the blocks of granite -near the palace were like the men who had gone up the mountain and -never came back. They began to believe that the Wizard had caught -them and frozen them into grey stone. At length the Wizard became -the terror of the whole island, so that no person would pass within -several miles of his palace. The people of that side of the island -fled from their homes, and the place was lonely and desolate. - -So things went on for three years, until one day a poor man going -on the houses happened to travel on that side of the island, not -knowing anything of this Wizard. His road took him over the mountain, -where the Wizard lived, and as he came near it, he was astonished to -see the place so silent and desolate. He had been looking forward to -the usual food and shelter, with the friendly welcome, but he found -the houses empty ruins and the kindly country people gone. And where -was the straw and hay which made such a snug bed in the barn? Weeds -and stones were lying thick in the fields. Night came on him, and he -walked and walked; but never a bit of shelter could he find, and he -did not know where to go to get a bed. 'It's a middlin' dark night,' -he thought; 'but it's better to go on than back--a road a body is used -on is no throuble to them, let it be night or not.' He was travelling -on the old road over the mountain, going ahead singing 'Colcheragh -Raby' for company to himself, and after a long while he saw a light -in the distance. The light got brighter and brighter until he came to -a grand palace with every window lit up. The singing was all knocked -out of him. - -'In the name of Fortune where am I at all? This is a dreadful big -house,' he said to himself; 'where did it come from, for all? Nobody -never seen the like of it on this bare breas' before--else where am -I at all, at all?' - -He was hard set to get to the door with the blocks of stone lying -about like frozen men. - -'I'd swear,' he said to himself as he stumbled over one, 'that this -was lil' Neddy Hom, the dwarf man tha's missin', only it's stone.' - -When he came to the big door it was locked. Through one of the windows -he saw a table, and supper ready on it, but he saw no person. He was -very tired and hungry, but he was afraid to knock at the door of such -a fine place. - -'Aw, that place is too gran' for the likes of me!' said he. - -He sat down on one of the marble seats outside, saying: - -'I'll stretch meself here till mornin', it's a middlin' sort of -a night.' - -That day meat and bread had been given to him at the last town he -had passed through. He was hungry and he thought he would eat, so he -opened his wallet and took out a piece of bread and meat, then he put -his hand into his pocket and drew out a pinch of salt in a screw of -paper. As he opened the paper some grains of salt fell out, on to the -ground. No sooner had this happened than up from the ground beneath -came the sound of most terrible groans, high winds blew from every -airt out of the heavens, lightnings flashed in the air, dreadful -thunder crashed overhead, and the ground heaved beneath his feet; -and he knew that there was plenty of company round him, though no man -was to be seen. In less than a moment the grand palace burst into a -hundred thousand bits, and vanished into the air. He found himself -on a wide, lonely mountain, and in the grey light of dawn no trace -of the palace was to be seen. - -He went down on his knees and put up a prayer of thanksgiving for his -escape, and then ran on to the next village, where he told the people -all that he had seen, and glad they were to hear of the disappearance -of the Wizard. - - - - - - - -THE ENCHANTED ISLE - - -Out under the Irish Sea, fifteen or sixteen miles south-west of the -Calf, there is an enchanted isle. Long, long ago it was on the surface -of the water--that was in the days when Manannan ruled in Mann--but -when Saint Patrick drove Manannan and his men from the island in the -form of three-legged creatures, they came upon this isle. Manannan -dropped it to the bottom of the sea, and they were seen no more. - -Now it is the home of Manannan Mac y Leirr, Son of the Sea, and -he rules it as he used to rule Mann. But once in seven years, when -Old May Day is on a Sunday, the isle may be seen. It rises up from -the sea just before sunrise, like a beautiful vision, and Manannan -looks once more at Ellan Vannin. The hills of the enchanted isle are -green, white foam rings it round, and if you are near enough you may -see the tossing arms and golden hair of the Mermaids by the water's -edge washing their glittering jewels, and hear the singing of birds, -and smell the fragrant scent of flowers. But as the first rays of -the sun rest upon its highest hills, it sinks into the deep, deep sea. - - - - - - - -STORIES ABOUT BIRDS - - -I. THE RAVENS - -Two Ravens met once, and one asked the other in Bird language: - -'Is there nothing new at you?' - -'The white Horse is dead,' said he. - -'Is he fat? Is he fat?' said the other. - -'Delicious, delicious,' said he. - -Then he repented that he had told him that, and called out: - -'Bare bones, bare bones!' - - - -II. BLACKBIRD'S MORNING SONG - -Old Robin Quirk one fine morning was sitting sunning himself before -his cottage door, when the Blackbird, living in the Tramman Tree in -his garden, flew down, settled near Robin, and began to talk to him -in Manx: - -'Irree, Robin, as gow smook.' 'Rise, Robin, and take a smoke.' - -'Cha nel thombaga aym.' 'I have no tobacco,' said Robin. - -'Kionn eh, kionn eh.' 'Buy it, buy it,' cried Blackbird. - -'Cha nel ping aym.' 'I have not a penny,' poor Robin said. - -'Gow er dayl, gow er dayl.' 'Credit it, credit it,' was Blackbird's -bad advice. - -'Cha der ad dayl dou, boy.' 'They won't give me credit, boy.' - -'Quit eh, eisht, quit eh.' 'Quit it, then, quit it,' whistled -Blackbird, flying home and closing the discussion. - -'The imperence of sin is in them Blackbirds!' Robin said. - - - -III. HOW THE WREN BECAME KING OF THE BIRDS - -A long, long time ago, before you and I were born, the birds of the -air gathered at Tynwald from all airts of the wind. The meeting was to -settle once and for all the squabbling and fighting among them as to -which of them was the cleverest, and it was agreed that the cleverest -bird should be king. The sky was black with them, big and little, and -soon all had gathered together. Everywhere groups of birds sat-a-row, -cooishing, scolding, or sleeping. Some were in fine, black Sunday -coats like old Parson Gull, some clad only in work-a-day brown like -Poor Brownie, the Hedge Sparrow; but most wore leggings of red or -yellow, while the Chough had a new pair of bright red ones. Yellow -Tommy, the dandy, was preening himself, swinging on the top of a -gorse bush. Old Greyback, the Crow, perched on a rock above him, -silent but observant, was eating flitters; and over all, the blue -arch of the sky, in which hung motionless a broad-winged eagle. - -The Corncrake officially announced, 'Raip, raip' (ready, ready). Then -each one got up in his turn to tell of all the great things he could -do. The Falcon boasted that he and his mate were worth the kingdom -of Mann with all its rights; Lhondoo, the Thrush, sang her best -to them--it was a pleasure to listen to her, and for a moment she -thought that she would be elected; Flame of the Wood, the Goldfinch, -spread her bright plumage; Fork of the Wind, the Swallow, told of her -swiftness and travels to warm countries in the south; the Curlew, of -her riches--'Let the curlew be poor or fat, she carries a groat upon -her back,' said she, showing the mark of 4 which she bears. When the -Cuckoo got up, the Meadow Pipit darted out from a group and danced -round, calling out his name to draw attention to himself, the little -fool, and saying, 'Let every bird hatch her own eggs,' so poor Cuckoo -wasn't heard. There was a loud-voiced dispute between the Magpie and -the Jackdaw as to which was the best thief. At last little Jinny Wren -got up to have her say, after all the grand ones had done. 'Ha, ha, -ha,' laughed the Snipe, and all the birds chuckled; but Jinny Wren -got the better of them for all that. Says she: - - - Small though I am and slender my leg, - Twelve chicks I can bring out of the egg. - - -And the birds agreed that Jinny was as clever again as the best -of them. But the eagle didn't like it that a little bit of a bird -like Jinny Wren should be over him. So he considered for a minute, -and says he, middling vexed: 'Birds, it's only right that the best -bird on the wing should be king; let's try a heat to see which of us -can go the highest.' Hullad, the Owl, looked thoughtful, and said: 'I -never saw anything yet worth flying for.' But the birds said: ''Deed, -it wouldn't be a bad idea at all.' No sooner said than done. Jinny -Diver, the Cormorant, gave the whistle to fly, and instantly off -they started. Speeding on great strong wings, the eagle led the way, -the little ones following, Pompee-ny-Hoarn, Fat bird of the barley, -straggling far in the rear. But the Seven Sleepers, the Bat, the -Stone-chat, Cooag the Cuckoo, and the others, didn't stir--the sleep -had fallen on them. The Eagle flew up and up and away, away to the -sun, till he couldn't lift a feather an inch higher. Then he peered -down into the blue to the birds far, far below, and he let a scream -out of him: - -'Ta mish Ree ny Ein, Ree ny Ein.' - -'I am King of the Birds, King of the Birds.' - -But little Jinny Wren was one too many for him there again. She had -taken tight hold of him by a feather under his great, broad wing and -hidden herself. And as he cried 'Ta mish Ree ny Ein,' she flew on -top of his head and called out, 'Cha nel, cha nel, ta mish er-y-skyn.' - -'Not so, not so, I'm above him, I'm above him.' - -Down dropped the Eagle, and down dropped the Wren, breathless, but -King of the Birds. - -And that's why the boys go round on St. Stephen's Day to this day, -singing: - - - The Wren, the Wren, the King of all Birds, - We've caught St. Stephen's Day in the gorse, - Though he's small his family is many; - We pray you, good woman, give us a drop to drink. - - - - - - - -THE MODDEY DOO OR THE BLACK DOG OF PEEL CASTLE - - -In the days when Charles II was king in England and Charles, Earl of -Derby, king in Mann, Peel Castle was always garrisoned by soldiers. The -guard-room was just inside the great entrance gate of the castle -and a passage used to lead from it, through one of the old churches, -to the Captain of the Guard's room. At the end of the day one of the -soldiers locked the castle gates and carried the keys through the -dark passage to the captain. They would take it in turns. - -About this time one and another began to notice, sometimes in one -room, sometimes in another, a big Black Dog with rough curly hair. He -did not belong to any person there, and nobody knew anything about -him. But every night when the candles were lighted in the guard-room -and the fire was burning bright, he would come from the dark passage -and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no sound, but lay there -till the break of day, and then he would get up and disappear into -the passage. The soldiers were terrified of him at first, but after a -time they were used to the sight of him and lost some of their fear, -though they still looked on him as something more than mortal. While -he was in the room the men were quiet and sober, and no bad words -were spoken. When the hour came to carry the keys to the captain, -two of them would always go together--no man would face the dark -passage alone. - -One night, however, one foolish fellow had drunk more than was good -for him, and he began to brag and boast that he was not afraid of the -dog. It was not his turn to take the keys, but to show how brave he was -he said that he would take them alone. He dared the dog to follow him. - -'Let him come,' he shouted, laughing; 'I'll see whether he be dog -or devil!' - -His friends were terrified and tried to hold him back, but he snatched -up the keys and went out into the passage. - -The Black Dog slowly got up from before the fire and followed him. - -There was a dead silence in the guard-room--no sound was heard but -the dashing of the waves on the steep rocks of the Castle Islet. - -After a few minutes, there came from the dark passage the most awful -and unearthly screams and howls, but not a soldier dared to move to -see what was going on. They looked at each other in horror. Presently -they heard steps, and the rash fellow came back into the room. His -face was ghastly pale and twisted with fear. He spoke not a word, -then or afterwards. In three days he was dead and nobody ever knew -what had happened to him that fearful night. - -The Black Dog has never been seen again. - - - - - - - -LITTLE RED BIRD - - - Little red bird of the black turf ground, - Where did you sleep last night? - I slept last night on the top of the briar, - And oh! what a wretched sleep! - - Little red bird of the black turf ground, - Where did you sleep last night? - I slept last night on the top of the bush, - And oh! what a wretched sleep! - - Little red bird of the black turf ground, - Where did you sleep last night? - I slept last night on the ridge of the roof, - And oh! what a wretched sleep! - - Little red bird of the black turf ground, - Where did you sleep last night? - I slept last night between two leaves - As a babe 'twixt two blankets quite at ease, - And oh! what a peaceful sleep! - - - An old Manx Lullaby. - - - - - - - -TEHI TEGI - - -Long hundreds of years ago there was a witch in the island who made -herself the finest and cleverest-looking young woman in it. Her like -for beauty was never before seen in this mortal world. When she -went out walking or riding the very birds of the air would forget -to sing for looking at her, and her sweet voice would tempt them off -the trees to listen to her. Even the animals would stand still till -she went by, for her beauty cast a spell on them. And as for the men, -the poor creatures, they flocked from all sides of the island to woo -her, and when they had once looked on her face they never wanted to -leave her. They forgot everything else in the world--all sorrow and -care, home and country, till at last everything in the island came -to a standstill because the men followed wherever this young witch -chose to lead them. Their haggards were empty, for they neither -ploughed nor sowed, and their houses tholthans, for they neither -built nor mended. They cut no turf and pulled no ling for fires. Their -fields were covered with stones, so that the cattle died for want of -pasture, and their gardens were full of weeds. There was a strange -stillness throughout the island--no children's voices were to be heard -anywhere. The witch only laughed to see what her beauty had done, and -she kept all the men near her by making each think that himself might -be the chosen one. If one asked her to marry him she would answer, -'An' maybe I will,' and then she would say the same to the next. So -they spent their days in pleasuring themselves. When she had made -slaves of the men of the island in this way, she said one day: - -'Saddle me my horse, for I've a mind to ride.' - -So they brought her milk-white horse shod with shoes of gold, with bit -of gold and bridle set with jewels, with saddle of mother-of-pearl -and saddle-cloth of blue. Tehi Tegi mounted, and the waves of her -golden hair flowed down over her dress of shining white. - -'I'm going,' said she, 'to the country for the day, and you can follow -me on foot if you like.' - -She rode and took her way under shady trees and through grassy lanes, -where blue-bells and primroses grew as thick as the grass, and the -hedges were yellow with gorse. She went on by fields, covered with -stones, which were once fine corn land; and on she went at the head of -them by lonely little tholthans whose roofs had sunk in on the hearth, -and then by spots where houses once had been, now marked by jenny -nettles and an old tramman tree. Her way mounted upwards among hills -shining in the May sunlight, and through gills where little streams -ran down between banks covered with fern and briar and many a flower, -to the blue sea. - -At last they found themselves at the side of a bright swift river, -and she put a spell on it and made it seem shallow and as smooth and -clear as glass, so that the little stones at the bottom were barely -covered. Then, when they were all beginning to wade through it, she -took off the spell and the water rushed over their heads and swallowed -up the six hundred poor lovers. With that she made a bat of herself -and rose up in the air and flew out of sight. Her milk-white horse -turned into a perkin, plunged to the bottom of the stream, and swam -away out to sea and was never more seen. - -From that time the wise men of the island made their women go on -foot and follow their husbands wherever they should lead, so that no -such accident should happen again. If by chance a woman went first, -anyone who saw her cried out 'Tehi Tegi! Tehi Tegi!' - - - - - - - -JOHN-Y-CHIARN'S JOURNEY - - -John-y-Chiarn took the biggest journey in his life without meaning -to do it at all. - -One night he was going towards Ballaquirk, taking his time and thinking -of his younger days, when all of a sudden he heard a great murmur of -people coming up behind him, and, before he had time to look round -him, he felt himself getting jostled and a voice asked him--middling -sharp, too: - -'What business have you here in our way at this hour of the night?' - -'I am sorry to give anyone trouble,' said John; 'I'll get over the -hedge out of the road.' - -Then the leader came and touched him with the little stick he was -carrying, and said to the others: - -'We'll take him with us; he'll be useful enough among the rest.' - -At that there was a big titter and John felt himself all altered like, -and a thing like a load came on to his back. Then they all went on -together, Themselves talking and laughing away. As soon as they came -near the Ballaragh Chapel though, all was as silent as the grave. The -houses were dark and the only thing they saw stirring was Quilleash's -dog, and as soon as he smelt Themselves he took to his heels with -his tail between his legs. - -It was a fine easy night with just a touch of soft fog on, and a little -air coming down from the mountain as we got to Dreem-y-Cuschaage. There -the leader sounded his big ram's horn, and as they went galloping down -to the Dhoon, out came some more of the Lil Fellas from the gill and -joined them, and more talking and laughing went on. He blew another -blast at Ballellin, for there they could see the fog rolling down -from Creg-ny-Molt. - -Again he blew at Ballagorry and they slacked down a bit, and you -would have thought the whole glen would have wakened up with the -echoes. Down at the bridge they could see the lights going about like -will-o'-the-wisps. Then the leader shouted: - -'Get into your lines there, my boys,' and the Maughold Lil Fellas -put themselves in rows on the walls of the bridge, just under the big -cherry trees, holding their coloured lanthorns on the points of their -sticks to give light round that dirty turn; then when all had passed, -they joined in and followed behind. Away they all went, down Slieu -Lewaige, fit to break their necks. They slackened off a bit as they -got to Folieu and then took their time as far as Ballure's Bridge, -where there was a big lanthorn hanging up in a tree over the old -mill. As soon as they saw this, two of Themselves blew horns and then -a host of riders came out of the mill, blowing horns too. They turned -up the gill and all of a sudden the whole crowd, with John among them, -were right in the middle of a big camp of the Lil People. There were -lights hanging all about in the trees, and fires blazing under the -cowree pots, and musicians playing fine music. Oh, the taking joy -there was! Some were going round, giving horn-spoons for the cowree -and binjean, and then handing round the oatbread and cheese, and the -tramman wine. Then the little fiddlers and fluters and reed-fellows -and the drummers got upon the top of a big rock, and the Lil Fellas -began to dance, till John's head took the reel watching them. It was a -grand sight to see the nice little girls in their red petticoats, and -white stockings and shoes with silver buckles on, and little bells all -tinkling in their hair; and the Lil Men in their white knee breeches, -loghtan stockings and spotted carranes. In the middle of it all, -up came the Lil Captain and---- - -'John,' says he. 'What do you think of this sight, boy?' - -'It's mortal grand,' says John. 'Far before any of the carnivals I've -seen before; an' how long will it last?' - -'Maybe a fortnight,' said he, laughing heartily. 'And maybe more, -so you would better go back to your own people.' - -'How'll I get back at all, at all, an' in the dark, too?' says John. - -'Tchut, man,' he said, tipping John on the head with his little -stick again. - -John didn't remember any more till he wakened at the break of day -close to his own house, and little the worse for his long journey. - - - - - - - -A BAD WISH - - - May the chimney-hook and the pot-hooks - Against thee rise in cruel war; - The ladle, the dishes, and the pot-stick, - For the dread attack prepare. - - May the pot-stick and the round tables, - Cresset, noggin, and hardware store, - All help to tear, and flay, and skin thee - When fell'd beneath them on the floor. - - What if the spotted water-bull, - And the Glashtan would thee take, for all - And the Fynoderee of the glen, waddling, - To make of thee a bolster against the wall. - - The Fairy of the Glen and the Buggane, - Finn MacCool and all his company; - May they gather together about thy bed, - And in a straw-rope creel run off with thee. - - - From an old Manx Ballad. - - - - - - - -THE WITCH OF SLIEU WHALLIAN - - -It was Midsummer Day, and the Peel Herring Fleet, with sails half set, -was ready for sea. The men had their barley sown, and their potatoes -down, and now their boats were rigged and nets stowed on board and they -were ready for the harvest of the sea. It was a fine day, the sky was -clear and the wind was in the right airt, being from the north. But, -as they say, 'If custom will not get custom, custom will weep.' A -basinful of water was brought from the Holy Well and given to the -Wise Woman that sold fair winds, as she stood on the harbour-side with -the women and children to watch the boats off. They told her to look -and tell of the luck of the Herring Fleet. She bent over the water -and, as she looked, her face grew pale with fear, and she gasped: -'Hurroose, hurroose! An' do ye know what I'm seeing?' - -'Let us hear,' said they. - - - I'm seeing the wild waves lashed to foam away by great Bradda Head, - I'm seeing the surge round the Chicken's Rock an' the breaker's - lip is red; - I'm seeing where corpses toss in the Sound, with nets an' gear - an' spars, - An' never a one of the Fishing Fleet is riding under the stars. - - -There was a dead hush, and the men gathered close together, muttering, -till Gorry, the Admiral of the Fishing Fleet, stepped forward, caught -the basin out of her hands and flung it out to sea, growling: - -'Sure as I'm alive, sure as I'm alive, woman, I've more than half a -mind to heave you in after it. If I had my way, the like of you an' -your crew would be run into the sea. Boys, are we goin' to lose a shot -for that bleb? Come on, let's go an' chonce it with the help of God.' - -'Aye, no herring, no wedding. Let's go an' chonce it,' said young -Cashen. - -So hoisting sails they left the port and when the land was fairly -opened out, so that they could see the Calf, they headed for the -south and stood out for the Shoulder. Soon a fine breeze put them -in the fishing-ground, and every man was looking out for signs of -herring--perkins, gannets, fish playing on the surface, oily water, -and such like. When the sun was set and the evening was too dark -to see the Admiral's Flag, the skipper of each lugger held his arm -out at full length, and when he could no longer see the black in -his thumb-nail he ordered the men to shoot their nets. And as they -lay to their trains it all fell out as the witch had said. Soon the -sea put on another face, the wind from westward blew a sudden gale -and swelled up the waves with foam. The boats were driven hither -and thither, and the anchors dragged quickly behind them. Then the -men hoisted sail before the wind and struggled to get back to land, -and the lightning was all the light they had. It was so black dark -that they could see no hill, and above the uproar of the sea they -could hear the surges pounding on the rocky coast. The waves were -rising like mountains, breaking over the boats and harrying them from -stem to stern. They were dashed to pieces on the rocks of the Calf, -and only two men escaped with their lives. - -But there was one boat that had got safe back to port before the -storm, and that was the boat of the Seven Boys. She was a Dalby boat -and belonged to seven young men who were all unmarried. They were -always good to the Dooinney Marrey, the Merman, and when they were -hauling their nets they would throw him a dishful of herring, and -in return they had always good luck with their fishing. This night, -after the Fleet had shot their nets sometime, the night being still -fine and calm, the Seven Boys heard the voice of the Merman hailing -them and saying: - -'It is calm and fine now; there will be storm enough soon!' - -When the Skipper heard this he said: 'Every herring must hang by its -own gills,' and he and his crew at once put their nets on board and -gained the harbour. And it was given for law ever after that no crew -was to be made up of single men only; there was to be at least one -married man on board and no man was bound by his hiring to fish in -this same south sea, which was called 'The Sea of Blood' from that day. - -As for the witch, they said she had raised the storm by her spells and -they took her to the top of the great mountain Slieu Whallian, put -her into a spiked barrel and rolled her from the top to the bottom, -where the barrel sank into the bog. For many and many a long year -there was a bare track down the steep mountain-side, where grass would -never grow, nor ling, nor gorse. They called it 'The Witch's Way,' -and they say that her screams are heard in the air every year on the -day she was put to death. - - - - - - - -THE OLD CHRISTMAS - - -In the days of our grandmothers, Old Christmas Day, the fifth of -January, was believed to be the true Christmas. On Black Thomas's -Eve, which was the first day of the Christmas holidays, the spinning -wheels all had to be put away, the making of nets ceased, and no work -of any kind must be done until after Twelfth Day. - -But there was once an old woman named Peggy Shimmin, at Ballacooil, -and she was bent on finishing some spinning that she had begun, -so on Old Christmas Eve she said to herself: - -'The New Christmas is pas' an' surely it's no wrong to do a bit o' -spinning to-night,' though she doubted in her heart if she were not -sinning. So when Himself and the rest were in bed, she called her -young servant-girl, lil Margad, and said: - -'Margad, me an' you will finish the spinning to-night.' Margad was -frightened, terrible, but she got out her wheel and sat beside her -mistress. The two began to spin, and they were spinning and spinning -till near midnight, and behold ye, just before midnight old Peggy saw -the flax she was drawing from the distaff grow blacker and blacker -till it was as black as tar. But Margad's flax did not change colour -because she had only done what her mistress bade her. Peggy dropped -the flax quick, put away her wheel, and crept in fear to bed. She knew -now which was the true Christmas Day and never more did she spin on -Old Christmas Eve. - -Margad was left alone in the kitchen when her mistress had gone to bed, -and at first she was trembling with fright; but she was a middling -brave girl, and she took a notion, as there was no person to stop -her, to see if all the things were true that she had heard about Old -Christmas Eve. - -'They're saying,' she thought, 'that the bees are coming out, an' -the three-year-old bullocks going down on their knees, an' the myrrh -coming up in bloom.' Then she says to herself: - -'I'm thinking I'll go out an' watch the myrrh.' So she put a cloak -round her and crept out at the door into the cold frosty moonlit -night, and midnight had just struck as she put her foot outside. She -stooped to look on the spot where the myrrh root was buried, and as -she was looking, the earth began to stir and to crack, and soon two -little green shoots pushed up to the air. She bent closer to see what -would happen, and to her great wonder the leaves and stalks grew big -and strong before her eyes, and then the buds began to show, and in -a few minutes the lovely white flowers were in bloom and the garden -was sweet with their fragrance. Margad could do nothing but stare at -them at first, but at last she dared to gather one small piece of the -blossom, and she kept it for luck all her life. Then she went to the -cowhouse and peeped through the door. She heard a groaning sound and -there were the young bullocks on their knees, moaning, and the sweat -was dropping from them. Margad knelt down, too, and put up a bit of -a prayer to the Holy Child that was born in a stall. But the wonders -were not over yet, for as she went silently back to the house she -noticed that the bees were singing and flying round the hive--they -were inside again, when she shut the door of the house behind her. - -Always after that, when the neighbours would ask her if she believed -in the wonders of the Old Christmas Eve, she would say: - -'I know it's true, for I've seen it myself.' - - - - - - - -THE BUGGANE OF ST. TRINIAN'S - - -A long time ago there came some monks to the broad, rough meadow -which is between dark Greeba Mountain and the high road, and they -chose a nice place and set up a church to St. Trinian on it. But they -reckoned without the power of the Buggane, who had his haunt in the -mountain. The Buggane was mighty angry, and he said to himself: - -'I'll have no peace night or day with their jingling bells if I -let them finish the building.' And, as he had nothing else to do, -he took it into his head to amuse himself by tossing off the roof. - -So when the roof of the church was first put on, there was heard that -very night a dreadful sound in it, and when the people of Greeba got -up early next morning they found their church roofless, and planks -and broken beams all around the place. After a time, and with great -effort, the roof was put on again. But when it was on, a great storm -arose in the night and it was blown down from the walls, exactly as -had happened before. This fall put fear in the people, for they were -sure now that it was the evil, destructive Buggane himself that was -doing the mischief. But, though they were terrified, they resolved -to make one more attempt; and the third roof was nearly finished. - -Now there was a brave little tailor living about a mile from Greeba, -and because he had not too much worldly gear, he made a wager that -when the new roof was on, he would not only spend the first night in -the church, but also make a pair of breeches there. The wager was -taken up eagerly, as they hoped that if the roof was one night up, -it would be left on. - -So Timothy--that was the name of the little tailor--went to the -church on the very first evening after the new roof had been put -on. He started just when the shadow was beginning to get grey by -the hedges. He took with him cloth, needle and thread, thimble -and scissors. He entered the church boldly, lit a couple of big -candles, and looked all over the building to see that everything -was right. Then he locked the door so that there was no way to get -in. He cut out the cloth, and, seating himself cross-legged in the -chancel, he put on his thimble and set to work at the breeches. He -paid no heed to the darkness of the lonely church at dead of night, -but with long thread and needle he bent low over his work, his -fingers, moving backwards and forwards rapidly, casting strange, -beckoning shadows on the walls. The breeches had got to be finished, -or he would lose his wager, so he stitched away as fast as he could, -thinking about the good money the people would have to give him. - -The wind was beginning to rise, and trees scutched their arms against -the windows. The tailor looked cautiously up and down and round -about. Nothing strange came in sight and he took courage. Then he -threaded his needle and began his work again. He gave another sharp -glance around, but saw nothing at all except the glimmer of the place -near the candles, and empty, deep darkness away beyond them. So his -courage rose high, and he said to himself: - -'It's all foolishness that's at the people about the Buggane, for, -after all, the like isn't in.' - -But at that very minute the ground heaved under him and rumbling -sounds came up from below. The sounds grew louder underneath, and -Timothy glanced quickly up. All of a sudden a great big head broke a -hole through the pavement just before him, and came slowly rising up -through the hole. It was covered with a mane of coarse, black hair; -it had eyes like torches, and glittering sharp tusks. And when the -head had risen above the pavement, the fiery eyes glared fiercely at -Tim; the big, ugly, red mouth opened wide, and a dreadful voice said: - -'Thou rascal, what business hast thou here?' - -Tim paid no heed, but worked harder still, for he knew he had no time -to lose. - -'Dost thou see this big head of mine?' yelled the Buggane. - -'I see, I see!' replied Tim, mockingly. - -Up came a big broad pair of shoulders, then a thick arm shot out and -a great fist shook in the Tailor's face. - -'Dost thou see my long arms?' roared the voice. - -'I see, I see!' answered Tim, boldly, and he stopped his tailoring -to snuff one of the guttering candles, and he threw the burning snuff -in the scowling face before him. Then he went on with his tailoring. - -The Buggane kept rising and rising up through the hole until the -horrible form, black as ebony, and covered with wrinkles like the -leather of a blacksmith's bellows, had risen quite out of the ground. - -'Dost thou see this big body of mine?' roared the Buggane, angry that -Tim showed no fear of him. - -'I see, I see!' replied the Tailor, at the same time stitching with -all his might at the breeches. - -'Dost thou see my sharp claws?' roared the Buggane in a more angry -voice than before. - -'I see, I see!' answered again the little Tailor, without raising -his eyes, and continuing to pull out with all his might. - -'Dost thou see my cloven foot?' thundered the Buggane, drawing up -one big foot and planking it down on the pavement with a thud that -made the walls shake. - -'I see, I see!' replied the little Tailor, as before, stitching hard -at the breeches and taking long stitches. - -Lifting up his other foot, the Buggane, in a furious rage, yelled: - -'Dost thou see my rough arms, my bony fingers, my hard fists, my----?' - -Before he could utter another syllable, or pull the other foot out -of the ground, the little Tailor quickly jumped up, and made two -stitches together. The breeches were at last finished, then with -one spring he made a leap through the nearest window. But scarcely -was he outside the walls when down fell the new roof with a terrible -crash, that made Tim jump a great deal more nimbly than he ever did -before. Hearing the Buggane's fiendish guffaws of laughter behind him, -he took to his heels and sped hot-foot along the Douglas road, the -breeches under his arms and the furious Buggane in full chase. The -Tailor made for Marown Church, only a little distance away, and knew -he would be safe if he could only reach the churchyard. He ran faster -still, he reached the wall, he leaped over it like a hunted hare, and -fell weary and spent upon the grass, under the shadow of the church, -where the Buggane had not power to follow. - -So furious was the monster at this that he seized his own head with -his two hands, tore it off his body and sent it flying over the wall -after the Tailor. It burst at his feet with a terrific explosion, -and with that the Buggane vanished, and was never seen or heard of -afterwards. Wonderful to relate, the Tailor was not hurt, and he won -the wager, for no person grumbled at the few long stitches put into -the breeches. - -And as for St. Trinian's Church, there is no name on it from that day -till this but Keeill Vrisht--Broken Church--for its roof was never -replaced. There it stands in the green meadow under the shadow of rocky -Greeba Mountain, and there its grey roofless ruins are to be found now. - - - - - - - -KING MAGNUS BAREFOOT - - -Magnus, great nephew of Olaf the Saint, was King of Norway in the days -when the Norwegian Kings were Lords over Mann, and he was called by -the name of Barefoot because he wore kilts. He was the bravest and -most beautiful young king of his time--tall and strong and brilliant -as a meteor. He wore a helmet on his head and carried a red shield -with a golden lion upon it; he had in his belt a sword of exceeding -sharpness with an ivory hilt inlaid with gold, and a keen javelin in -his hand. Over his coat of mail was a tunic of ruby-red embroidered -with a golden lion. He was a fine and valiant figure. It was he who -brought King Olaf's Cup of Peace to our island, and this is the way -it happened. - -Magnus was sitting at supper one day with his chief men, and their talk -ran on the beautiful shrine of Olaf the Saint, which was the wonder -of its age. They spake to one another of how it was said that Olaf's -body would never be destroyed by death, but would remain as in life -and would heal those who prayed at the shrine of any sickness. Magnus -laughed the story to scorn and said boldly: - -'Seeing is believing; let the shrine be opened that we may see for -ourselves if the story be true.' - -Then the bishop and clergy were horrified, and begged the king: 'Oh -king, let not the thing be done, it will surely bring evil on thee.' - -But Magnus commanded: - -'Let the shrine be opened at once. I fear no man alive or dead.' - -So his will was done and when the jewelled shrine was opened, all saw -the body of holy Olaf lying incorrupt and fair as if alive. Magnus -touched it with his hands, but was suddenly seized with a great -fear. He went away in haste, but took with him the lovely crystal -cup that lay beside the Saint. - -The next night in his sleep he had a vision of King Olaf, majestic -and stern, who said to him: - -'Choose, I tell you, one of two things, either to lose your kingdom and -life within thirty days, or to leave Norway and never see it again.' - -Magnus awoke and called his chiefs and great men to tell them of -his vision. - -'Oh king,' they cried in fear. 'Leave Norway with all speed, and keep -thy life and kingship.' - -So Magnus, who was the last of our great Sea Kings, got together a -fleet of 160 long ships, each with twenty or thirty rowers' benches, -and with bows carved in the shape of dragons. He loved the sea, and, -like a true Viking, he used to say: - -'I will never sleep under a sooty rafter nor drink in the chimney -corner.' - -Away he sailed to the Orkneys; he conquered them and all the -Western Islands, and came to Mann. He put in at Saint Patrick's -Isle and went to see the site of the Battle of Santwat near Peel, -which had been fought three days before between the Manx of north and -south. The beauty of our island pleased his eyes and he chose it for -his dwelling-place. He made the men of Galloway cut timber and bring -it over to make three forts for him. In one of them, near Douglas, -he placed the Cup of Peace, which he knew would be well guarded by -the Lhiannan Shee, the Peace Fairy who never left it. - -Then he sailed to Anglesey and made himself lord over it, but he -soon came back to the Isle of Mann, for it pleased him best. On his -return he sent his dirty shoes over to Morrough, King of Ireland, -with this message: - -'Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway and the Isles, bids thee carry his -dirty shoes on thy shoulders through thy house on Christmas Day in thy -royal state, and own that thou hast thy kingdom and power from the Lord -of Norway and the Isles. And this thou must do in sight of his envoys.' - -When the Irish heard this they were furiously angry and indignant, -but wise King Morrough said: - -'I will not only carry the shoes, but eat them, rather than that -Magnus should ruin a single province in Ireland.' - -Then he carried the shoes on Christmas Day as Magnus bade, treated -the messengers with honour and sent them back to Mann with many fine -gifts for their king, with whom he made a treaty of peace. But the -envoys told their master of the richness of the Irish lands and the -pleasantness of the air, and Magnus kept it in his mind. - -After this the King of Scotland sent a message to him, saying: - -'Cease to make war against me and I will yield thee those of the -Western Isles that thou canst from the mainland go round in a vessel -with a paddle-rudder.' - -Magnus made peace on those terms and so the Norse Kings gained the -Southern Isles, among which they counted the peninsula of Cantyre -because Magnus, sitting at the helm, caused his great warship to be -dragged across the neck of land which joins it to the mainland. His -vikings shouted with triumph as they pulled the ship along, with -their young king in his red and gold laughing at the stern. - -But all this time, in his heart, Magnus could think of nothing but -the conquest of Ireland. He sailed to the coast of Down, where he -began to invade and pillage. It was on Saint Bartholomew's Day, 1103, -that his last battle was fought. The Irish had promised to bring him -cattle for his troops the day before, but as they had not come he -landed his men and marched them to the top of a little hill on the -plain of Coba. From this place he could see all the country round, and -presently there appeared a great cloud of dust in the distance. Some -of his men said that it was an army approaching, others that it was -the herd of cattle. The last were right, and when the cattle had been -handed over, Magnus and his men returned towards his ships. It was -now the noon of a calm and sunny day. When they reached the marshes, -suddenly a band of Irish rushed out from their ambush in a wood close -by, and attacked them fiercely. - -Magnus ordered his chief, Eyvinder, to sound the trumpet and summon -his men around the royal standard. He ordered them to close ranks -with overlapping shields, until they got to the dry ground where -they would be safe. They made their way as far as an old fort, but -the Irish pressed them and slew many of them. Then the king called -to a chief named Thorgrim: - -'Do you, with your cohort, cross the rampart and occupy the hill -opposite with your archers till we join you.' - -Thorgrim and his men did as they were told and crossed over, but when -they were across they put their shields on their backs and fled to -the ships. When Magnus saw them he shouted: - -'Is it thus you run, you coward? I was a fool to send you instead of -Sigurd, who would not thus desert me.' - -Magnus fought like a lion, but soon he was pierced through the thigh -by a spear. He pulled it out and snapped it beneath his feet, crying: - -'Thus we, young warriors, break these twigs. Fight on bravely, my men, -and fear no danger for me.' - -His men prayed him to try to spare himself, but he said: - -'Better for a people to have a brave king than an old king!' - -And so saying, foremost in the battle, he met his death. - - - - - - - -MANANNAN MAC Y LEIRR - - - Manannan Beg was son of Leirr, - He was the first that e'er had Mann; - But as it seemeth unto me, - He himself was but a heathen. - - 'Twas not with his sword he kept her, - Nor with his arrows, nor his bow; - But when he would see ships sailing, - He hid her right round with a fog. - - He'd set a man upon a brow, - You'd think there were a hundred there; - And thus did wild Manannan guard - That island with all its booty. - - The rent each paid out of the land - Was a bundle of green rushes; - And that was on them for a tax - Throughout the country each John's Eve. - - Some went up with the rushes to - The great mountain up at Barrule; - Others would leave the grass below, - With Manannan above Keamool. - - In this way, then, they lived, I think - Myself their tribute very small, - Without care or anxiety, - Or labour to cause weariness. - - - Old Ballad. - - - - - - - -MANANNAN MAC Y LEIRR - - -Manannan Mac y Leirr, the Son of the Sea, was the first Ruler of -Mann. He was a great Wizard, and he was so powerful that afterwards -he was looked on as a god. He had a great stone fort on Peel Island, -and he could make one man, standing on its battlements, seem to be -a hundred. When he saw his enemies' ships sailing, he would cover -the island round with a silver mist so that it could not be seen; -and if, in spite of the mist, his enemies came near, he would throw -chips into the water and change them into ships. He was out walking -one day on Barrule, when he saw the warships of the Northmen were -in the bay of Peel. And with that he made himself into the shape of -three legs and rolled like a wheel down from the mountain top as -fast as the wind. It was about low tide in the harbour, and there -ran a stream of sparkling water out to sea. Now the banks of the -stream were marshy, and by the river-side grew a quantity of sedge -with broad, green leaves. So Manannan made little boats of the sedge, -a good number of them, and sailed his boats in the stream. And when -the little fleet floated out of the harbour, he caused them to look -like great ships of war, well manned with fighting men. Then terror -seized on the Northmen when they saw the Manx fleet, and they cut -their cables, hoisted sails, and cleared away as fast as they could, -and Manannan and his island were left in peace. Thus did he keep Mann, -and not with his sword, or his bow and arrows. - -In his fort he had a great banqueting-hall, where handsome boys -made sweet music, and others played games and did great feats of -strength. He had a horse called Enbarr of the Flowing Mane, who could -travel like the wind over sea as well as land, swift hounds that could -catch any wild beast, and a sword called The Answerer, whose wound -was always fatal, besides his Magic Branch and his wonderful boat, -Wave Sweeper. - -He governed Mann well for long, long years. Manx people had the best -of good treatment from him, and all the rent he wanted was that each -one was to bring a bundle of green rushes to him on the Mountain of -South Barrule on Midsummer Eve. The island was a happy place, full -of sunshine and all pleasant things, and no person there was old or -tired or sad. - -Manx men have never forgotten Manannan, and this thousand years our -fishermen have prayed to him the following prayer, as they have put -out to sea. Even up to the days of our fathers it has been used: - - - Manannan Beg Mac y Leirr-- - Little Manannan Son of the Sea, - Who blessed our island, - Bless us and our boat, going out well. - Coming in better, with living and dead in our boat. - - - - - - - -THE CORMORANT AND THE BAT - - -There was a time in the olden days when the cormorant and the bat took -counsel together to do something for the poor, as they had compassion -on them, and they went into the glens gathering wool to make clothing -for them. When they had a quantity gathered they took a boat and put -out to sea. It happened as they were sailing that a storm came on, -and the waves were breaking over the vessel, insomuch that the poor -bat had to leap from place to place to escape the water, and in the -darkness he was cast out of the boat clinging to an oar. At daybreak -he was near the shore and flew unto dry land. A seagull, standing -near by, inquired: - -'Och, lil bat vogh, what's there doin on thee that thou are all of -a thriddle of thrimblin like this?' When he heard the bat's story, -he said: - -'As sure as can be, if he will happen on thee, he will take thy -life.' They had given each other a promise that one would not leave -the other until they had completed their task. - -The bat was so frightened that he hid himself in an old ruin until the -darkness came on; and from that time until now he will only venture -out under covering of the night. - -The cormorant held on to the boat until she filled with water and sank -to the bottom of the sea. At last he flew to a rock, and there sat -for hours together, day after day, looking out for the bat. At other -times he would go for a season into the glens; and in this way they -continue from that storm to the present time--the one hides himself, -and the other seeks him. - - - - - - - -CAILLAGH-NY-FAASHAGH, OR THE PROPHET WIZARD - - -In the old days when there were wizards and witches in the Isle of -Mann, the greatest Wizard of all was Caillagh-ny-Faashagh. He did -not live above ground, but in a quarry, in a hole under the rock -on the lonely mountain side, and that is why the people called him -the Prophet Wizard of the Wilderness. At dark he would roam over -the mountains, and people walking there, when night was drawing on, -would hear him crying 'Hoa, hoa, hoa!' like the bellow of a goat, in -a voice so terrible and strong that the earth, and all who heard it, -trembled with fear. He could change himself into any shape he liked; -sometimes he would be a goat with big, fiery eyes; at other times -a tall, tall man. Once, when he was a goat, he followed a man that -was walking along the mountain road, and that time he had eyes in -him as big as two dishes. The man was carrying a lantern, and as he -shifted it from one hand to the other the goat followed it from side -to side. The man was terrified and began to run. As soon as he left -the mountain road the beast roared after him: 'Hoa, hoa, hoa!' - -Another time, in the shape of a tall, tall man, as tall as two men, -he followed a woman who struck across the mountain at Garey mooar, -and he had great, big, burning eyes, as big as two plates, in his -head. The woman ran with all her might, for life or death, and he -ran roaring after her: 'Hoa, hoa, hoa!' But when she turned down from -the mountain he came no further. - -He was a great soothsayer, but he would not foretell what was to -happen unless some person asked him. It seems that he must have lived -for hundreds of years, for he foretold a battle that was fought in -1098. This was the Battle of Santwat, 'Sand Ford,' between the north -and south Manx. He said: - - - The river Neb shall run red from Glen Crew to the sea, - And gulls shall sip their full of the blood of Manninee. - - -It all came true. The north men sailed into Peel and ran their -flat-bottomed boats up to Glenfaba Ford, where the south men met them -to keep them from landing. They fought up the stream to Glen Crew where -there was a great slaughter, and the bodies of the slain dammed the -stream and turned the little glen into a pool. The waters of the Neb -were reddened by Manx blood when they ran into Peel Bay. The south -side women had followed the men and were watching the battle from a -little distance, but when they saw that the north people were winning -they rushed down, and into the heart of the fight, with bratfuls of -stones and with hacks, and won the day for the south. And a law was -made that henceforth the widows in the south of the island should get -half of their husband's estate; but the north side women, who stayed -at home, were to get only one-third. - -The Prophet Wizard foretold, too, the finding of Foxdale lead mines. A -man came to him and asked: - -'How will I get rich, O Caillagh-ny-Faashagh?' - -And the Wizard answered: - - - There's a butt in Ballafesson worth the whole of Balladoole. - But the riches of the Isle of Mann lie hid behind Barrule. - - -He also gave this prophecy to old Juan the weaver, who asked him -for one: - - - At the foot of Barrule there will be a market town, - Mullin-y-Cleigh with blood for twenty-four hours will turn roun'. - - -Now the village of Foxdale stands at the foot of Barrule, and -it is said that in the old times a great battle between the Manx -and the Irish was fought by the stream above Mullin-y-Cleigh, the -Mill-by-the-Hedge. - -To a Peel man he foretold: - -'There will be a battle between the Irish and the Manx at Creg -Malin.' And the old fishermen say that that battle took place two -hundred years ago. It was a Sunday when the Irishmen came in the bay, -and they found no place to beach their boats, so they turned the -Manx boats adrift, and thought they had the place for themselves. But -they soon found their masters. The Manx men came after their boats, -and there was the battle--red blood running like water! And the -battle was not over that day, but they fought round into Douglas, -and finished at last in Derby Haven, so the old fishermen say. - -Then there was an old maid that had a cressad (a melting pot), and -she went from house to house making lead spoons. She was a bit queer; -she would not smoke a mould on a sunny day, nor a misty day, nor a -wet day, nor a windy day; she must have a day to fit herself. She met -the Caillagh when he was in the shape of a goat, and she asked him -to foretell when would be the end of the world. He said that before -the last: - -'The Mountains of Mann will be cut over with roads, and iron -horses will gallop over them, and there will be an inn on the top -of Snaefell.' - -That has all come true; trains rush over the island and, for sure, -there is the inn on the top of our highest mountain. He said, too: - -'Mann and Scotland will come so close that two women, one standing in -Mann and another in Scotland, will be able to wring a blanket between -them.' But that has not come true yet, though the sandy Point of Ayre -is stretching further and further towards the Mull of Galloway. - -And another of his prophecies has not come to pass yet: - -'The Chief Rulers of Mann will be compelled to flee.' - -But it will all be before the end. - - - - - - - -THE CITY UNDER SEA - - -Now where Langness runs its long nose into the sea, and on a place -now always covered by the waves, there was once a fine city with -many towers and gilded domes. Great ships went sailing from its port -to all parts of the world, and round it were well-grassed lands with -cattle and sheep. Even now sailors sometimes see it through the clear, -deep waters, and hear dimly the bleating of sheep, the barking of -dogs, and the muffled chiming of bells--'Nane, jees, three, kiare, -queig.' But no man can walk its streets. - -For once upon a time, in the days when there were giants in the Isle -of Mann, Finn Mac Cool had his home near this city. He lived at the -Sound to keep his eye on Erinn, and to watch the sea. But he was -very seldom in Mann, and wherever he was he was always doing some -mischief, so that his enemies were many. One day he was in such a -hurry to reach his home that he jumped from Erinn and landed in -the island on the rocks above the Sound. He came down with such -force that he left his footmarks in the hard stone, and the place -has been called ever since, Slieu ynnyd ny Cassyn, or the Mountain -of the place of the Feet. His first act when he reached home was to -get in a red rage with the people of the city close by; his next act -was to turn them all into blocks of granite. In his passion he struck -the ground so hard with his club that he made a great dent in it--the -waves rushed into the deep hollow and the roaring sea drowned the din -of the city. Its towers and domes were covered by the green water; -its streets and market-place, its harbour and its crowded quays, -disappeared from sight. And there it lies to this day. - -But there is a strange story told of a man that went down to it more -than two hundred years ago. A ship was searching for sunken treasure -in those parts and this man was let down to the bottom of the sea -in a kind of ancient diving bell. He was to pull the rope when he -wished to be let down further. He pulled and pulled till the men -on the ship knew that he was as deep down in the sea as the moon is -high up in the sky; then there was no more rope and they had to draw -him up again. When he was on deck he told them that if he could have -gone further he would have made the most wonderful discoveries. They -begged him to tell them what he had seen, and when he had drunk a -cup of wine he told his story. - -First he had passed through the waters in which the fishes live; -then he came into the clear and peaceful region where storms never -come, and saw the bottom of the World-under-Sea shining with coral -and bright pebbles. When the diving bell rested on the ground he -looked through its little windows and saw great streets decorated with -pillars of crystal glittering like diamonds, and beautiful buildings -made of mother-of-pearl, with shells of every colour set in it. He -longed to go into one of these fine houses, but he could not leave -his diving bell, or he would have been drowned. He managed to move -it close to the entrance of a great hall, with a floor of pearls and -rubies and all sorts of precious stones, and with a table and chair -of amber. The walls were of jasper, and strings of lovely jewels were -hanging on them. The man wished to carry some away with him, but he -could not reach them--the rope was at an end. As he rose up again -towards the air he met many handsome Mermen and beautiful Mermaids, -but they were afraid of him, and swam away as fast as they could. - -That was the end of the man's story. After that he grew so sad with -longing to go back to the World-under-Sea and stay there for ever, -that he cared for nothing on earth, and soon died of grief. - - - - - - - -AN ANCIENT CHARM AGAINST THE FAIRIES - - - Peace of God and peace of man, - Peace of God on Columb-Killey, - On each window and each door, - On every hole admitting moonlight, - On the four corners of the house, - On the place of my rest, - And peace of God on myself. - - - - - THE END - - - - - - - - PRINTED BY - SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. LTD., COLCHESTER - LONDON AND ETON - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Manx Fairy Tales, by Sophia Morrison - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MANX FAIRY TALES *** - -***** This file should be named 51762.txt or 51762.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/7/6/51762/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |