Kate Forrester - Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Title: Celtic tales : fairy tales and stories of enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales.
Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015033485 |

ISBN 978-1-4521-5175-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-5284-4 (epub, mobi)

Subjects: LCSH: CeltsFolklore. | TalesIreland. | TalesScotland. | TalesFranceBrittany. | TalesWales.
Classification: LCC GR137.C48 2016 | DDC 398.209417dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015033485

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Do not think the fairies are always little. Everything is capricious about them, even their size.... Their chief occupations are feasting, fighting, and making love, and playing the most beautiful music.

william butler yeats ,
Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry

I reland

T here was once a poor widow with a daughter named Ursula, who was as beautiful as a spring day but as clumsy as could be. The poor mother was the most industrious person in the town, and was a particularly good hand at the spinning wheel. It was her greatest wish that her daughter should be as handy as herself so that she would find a good husband, but any work Ursula touched seemed to tangle or break in her fingers at once.

One morning, things were very bad, for Ursula had tried her hand at spinning once again, and once again had tangled the thread. Her mother was giving her a good scolding, when who should be riding by their small farm but the kings own son.

Oh dear, oh dear, good woman, he said, you must have a very bad child to make you scold so terribly. Sure it cant be this handsome girl whos vexed you!

Now the widow knew the prince was in need of a wife, and she quickly devised a plan. Oh, please, Your Majesty, not at all, she said. I was only checking her for working herself too much. Would Your Majesty believe it? She spins three pounds of flax in a day, weaves it into linen the next, and makes it all into shirts the day after.

Gracious, said the prince, then shes the very lady that will catch my mothers eye, for she herself is the greatest spinner in the kingdom. Will you fetch your daughters bonnet and cloak please, madam, and set her behind me on my horse? Why, my mother will be so delighted with her that perhaps shell allow us to marry within the week. That is, of course, if the young lady herself is agreeable.

Well, the woman bundled Ursula into her bonnet and cloak and sent her off with the prince before the girl could even protest. But as they rode back to the castle together, the prince was so solicitous and kind that she almost forgot her fear of being found out.

When they arrived at the castle, the queen came out to meet her son and was almost struck dumb when she saw a young country girl sitting behind him. But when they dismounted and she saw the girls handsome face and heard about her incredible feats of spinning, her feelings changed quite quickly. Ursula trembled under the queens gaze, but the prince whispered in her ear that, if she didnt object to becoming his wife, she should strive to please his mother, so she smiled bravely and made a wobbly curtsy.

That evening they all dined together, and the prince and Ursula were getting fonder and fonder of one another, but the thought of spinning still sent a chill to her heart. And sure enough, after they had feasted, the queen led Ursula to a beautiful bedroom, pointed to a heap of fine flax in the corner, and said, You may begin as soon as you like tomorrow morning, and Ill expect to see these three pounds in nice thread the morning after. Then she bid Ursula goodnight.

The poor girl slept little that night. And when she was left alone the next morning, she began her spinning with a heavy heart. Though she had a nice mahogany wheel and the finest flax shed ever seen, the thread seemed to break every time she touched it. One moment it was as fine as a cobweb and the next as coarse as wool. At last, she pushed her chair back, let her hands fall into her lap, and burst out crying.

Just then, a small old woman with surprisingly big feet appeared before her, as if out of nowhere, and said, What ails you, you handsome girl?

Oh, cried Ursula, havent I all that flax to spin before tomorrow morning, and Ill never be able to have even five yards of fine thread of it put together.

And would you think it bad to ask poor Colliach Cushmr to your wedding with the young prince? If you promise to invite me, all three pounds of your flax will be made into the finest of thread while youre taking your sleep tonight.

Ursula was overjoyed. Indeed, you must be there and welcome, and Ill honor you all the days of your life.

Very well, said Colliach Cushmr. Stay in your room til teatime and then tell the queen she may come in for her thread as early as she likes tomorrow morning.

Ursula did as she said, and the old woman was as good as her promise. The next morning, Ursula woke to find thread finer and evener than the gut of fly-fishers.

What a brave girl, cried the queen. Ill get my own mahogany loom brought to you, but you neednt do anything more today. Work and rest, work and rest, thats my motto. Tomorrow youll weave all this thread, and who knows what may happen? she added with a smile.

So Ursula spent another day with the prince, and she was so happy in his company that she almost forgot the task ahead of her. But the next morning when she sat down at the queens loom, she was even more frightened than before. Her trembling fingers couldnt even put the warp in the gears, nor use the shuttle. She was sitting there in the greatest grief when a little old woman with mightily wide hips suddenly appeared before her. She said her name was Colliach Cromanmr, and she offered the same bargain as Colliach Cushmr. Eagerly, Ursula accepted, and great was the queens pleasure the next morning when Ursula showed her linen as fine and white as the finest paper.

What a darling girl, said the queen. Take your ease with the ladies and gentlemen today, and if you have all this made into nice shirts tomorrow, you may present one of them to my son and be married to him out of my hand.