Paterson - Scottish Folk Tales for Children

For Oscar and Maya,
my grandchildren.

First published in 2017

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2017

All rights reserved

Judy Paterson, 2017

Illustrations Sally Daly, 2017

The right of Judy Paterson to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUB ISBN 978 0 7509 8199 6

Original typesetting by The History Press

eBook converted by Geethik Technologies

Judy Paterson is a professional storyteller and published writer, mostly of childrens books. Previously a teacher, and headteacher, she is passionate about heritage, the need to preserve it and to make it accessible to children.

Judy has travelled far and wide as a storyteller but her first love is for the stories of Scotland.

I wish to thank all my fellow storytellers who, over the years, have inspired and encouraged me, and, in particular, Senga Munro and Dr Donald Smith. I was lucky enough to have known Duncan Williamson and Stanley Robertson.

Retelling a story in written form is so different from the spontaneous experience of sharing a story in the oral tradition when audience interaction influences the style of telling. I owe special thanks to Jeanette Sharp, who edited my first draft with the keen attention of a constructively critical audience of one!

Thanks also to my illustrator, Sally Daly. It was a great joy to work with her and opening her sketchpad was like opening a box of chocolates!

As always, thanks to my husband Mike and my long-suffering family and friends who allowed me to retreat from the real world while I lived in Fairyland.

When living and working as a teacher in Papua New Guinea, Judy Paterson became acutely aware of the cultural, educational and social value of traditional stories. Perhaps it was more surprising on arriving in Scotland to find that her new home was also rich in traditional tales. Recovering and telling these stories became an important part of her personal and professional work over recent decades.

During this period there has been a cultural renaissance in Scotland, and Judy has been able to bring her combined talents as a childrens writer and storyteller to the party with great success. In addition to storytelling in innumerable venues, and running workshops, Judy also found time to pioneer Storyboxes in Scottish schools. They were skilfully designed to enable staff to gain confidence in sharing stories as living experiences and to move seamlessly to participative activities. Judy has been very active in supporting emerging storytellers of all ages, but her passion is to encourage children and young people to become tellers and to keep the oral traditions alive.

Alongside all this, Judy is a skilful horsewoman. I have always felt that the magic she senses in these classic tales is akin to the organic life she attunes to in her beloved horses. The oral story is a living creature and helps us connect with our own energies and those of the natural world. That is where the sense of wonder comes in amidst the drama, suspense and humour and it unifies this whole collection.

Judy has chosen wisely from across Scotland, and has crafted versions of these tales that delight eye, ear and tongue. The stories are accessible for today yet also give a true flavour of their original contexts and purpose.

It has been a great personal pleasure to work with Judy over many years. I am delighted to see this, her new classic collection of Scottish tales for children. I commend it warmly to everyone who loves authentic stories and their telling.

Dr Donald Smith
Director, TRACS
(Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland)

Before there were books, stories were told or sung in ballads; story songs. So as you read these stories, imagine I am telling you the story without a book, sitting by a fire maybe, on a long, dark night. I am not very good at singing!

These are just some of the stories I tell but they are some of my favourite Scottish folk tales.

Quhare haif ye been, ye ill womyne

These three lang nightis fra hame?

Quhat garris the sweit drap fra yer brow

Like clotis of the sault sea faem?

James Hogg The Queens Wake

Long, long ago, in the Kingdom of Fife, there lived a guidman and his very strange wife. The man was a quiet and respectable person, but his wife was carefree and flighty. Indeed, she was so odd that some of the neighbours thought she might even be a witch!

While they sat by their fires in the early evening the neighbours sometimes saw the woman disappear into the gloaming and often she stayed out all night. When she returned in the morning she was pale and tired but she never told anyone where she had been. She never even told her poor husband what she had been doing. Try as he might, he could not find out where she went. Each time he caught her slipping through the door she was gone by the time he followed her.

One night the worried man decided to wait up for her return. As soon as his wife came in through the door he jumped up.

I have to know, Wife, whether or not you are a witch, he asked.

Indeed I am! she replied, as she hung up her damp cloak.

The poor man felt his blood run cold. Dearie me, this is a very serious matter, he said. If you are found out you will be caught and put on trial. This is terrible.

No it is not! laughed his wife. I am not a wicked witch. If you promise not to speak of this I will tell you about my midnight adventures. You will see I do no harm.

So the old man promised to keep the secret and asked where she had been that long night.

I met four of my friends down by the kirk, she told him, and we mounted branches of the green bay tree and stems of hemlock. These changed into magic horses and we rode, swift as the wind. We chased foxes and weasels and flew past the owls hooting in the dark. Then we flew over Loch Leven and rode to the Lomond Hills and what do you think we found there?

The old man shook his head. He could not believe what his wife was saying.

Well, Husband, we had beer to drink from little horn cups that were made by fairy-folk. There was a wee, wee man with a set of bagpipes and the music was like no other weve heard. It was so wonderful that the silvery trout in the loch below were jumping and the stoats crept out of their holes. Even the corbie crows, the grey curlew and the blackbird listened. And all the time we witches danced and danced and danced.