DOVER FAIRY TALE BOOKS
AMERICAN FAIRY TALES, L. Frank Baum. (0-486-23643-9)
MYTHS OF THE HINDUS AND BUDDHISTS, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita. (0-486-21759-0)
MYTHS AND FOLK TALES OF IRELAND, Jeremiah Curtin. (0-486-22430-9)
EAST O THE SUN AND WEST O THE MOON, George W. Dasent. (0-486-22521-6)
HOUSEHOLD STORIES, Brothers Grimm. (0-486-21080-4)
CELTIC FAIRY TALES, Joseph Jacobs. (0-486-21826-0)
ENGLISH FAIRY TALES, Joseph Jacobs. (0-486-21818-X)
JEWISH FAIRY TALES, Gerald Friedlander. (0-486-41982-7)
MORE CELTIC FAIRY TALES, Joseph Jacobs. (0-486-21827-9)
THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF NILS, Selma Lagerlf. (0-486-28611-8)
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS, Andrew Lang. (0-486-22289-6)
THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21437-0)
THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21438-9)
THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21799-X)
THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21439-7)
THE GREY FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21791-4)
THE LILAC FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21907-0)s
THE OLIVE FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21908-9)
THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21909-7)
THE PINK FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21792-2)
THE RED FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21673-X)
THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21675-6)
THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK, Andrew Lang. (0-486-21674-8)
DONEGAL FAIRY STORIES, Seumas MacManus. (0-486-21971-2)
PERRAULTS FAIRY TALES, Charles Perrault, illustrated by Gustave Dor. (0-486-22311-6)
IRISH FAIRY TALES, Philip Smith (ed.). (0-486-27572-8)
THE MAGIC HAT AND OTHER DANISH FAIRY TALES, Clara Stroebe (ed.). (0-486-40792-6)
FAIRY AND FOLK TALES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY, William Butler Yeats (ed.). (0-486-26941-8)
CELTIC WONDER-TALES, Ella Young. (0-486-28896-X)
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THE SON OF THE KING OF ERIN AND THE GIANT OF LOCH LIN.
O N a time there lived a king and a queen in Erin, and they had an only son. They were very careful and fond of this son ; whatever he asked for was granted, and what he wanted he had.
When grown to be almost a young man the son went away one day to the hills to hunt. He could find no game, saw nothing all day. Towards evening he sat down on a hillside to rest, but soon stood up again and started to go home empty-handed. Then he heard a whistle behind him, and turning, saw a giant hurrying down the hill.
The giant came to him, took his hand, and said: Can you play cards?
I can indeed, said the kings son.
Well, if you can, said the giant, well have a game here on this hillside.
So the two sat down, and the giant had out a pack of cards in a twinkling. What shall we play for? asked the giant.
For two estates, answered the kings son.
They played: the young man won, and went home the better for two estates. He was very glad, and hurried to tell his father the luck he had.
Next day he went to the same place, and didnt wait long till the giant came again.
Welcome, kings son, said the giant. What shall we play for to-day?
I ll leave that to yourself, answered the young man.
Well, said the giant, I have five hundred bullocks with golden horns and silver hoofs, and I ll play them against as many cattle belonging to you.
Agreed, said the kings son.
They played. The giant lost again. He had the cattle brought to the place; and the kings son went home with the five hundred bullocks. The king his father was outside watching, and was more delighted than the day before when he saw the drove of beautiful cattle with horns of gold and hoofs of silver.
When the bullocks were driven in, the king sent for the old blind sage (Sean dall Glic), to know what he would say of the young mans luck.
My advice, said the old blind sage, is not to let your son go the way of the giant again, for if he plays with him a third time hell rue it.
But nothing could keep the kings son from playing the third time. Away he went, in spite of every advice and warning, and sat on the same hillside.
He waited long, but no one came. At last he rose to go home. That moment he heard a whistle behind him, and turning, saw the giant coming.
Well, will you play with me to-day? asked the giant.
I would, said the kings son, but I have nothing to bet.
You have indeed.
I have not, said the kings son.
Havent you your head? asked the giant of Loch Lin, for it was he that was in it.
I have, answered the kings son.
So have I my head, said the giant; and well play for each others heads.
This third time the giant won the game; and the kings son was to give himself up in a year and a day to the giant in his castle.
The young man went home sad and weary. The king and queen were outside watching, and when they saw him approaching, they knew great trouble was on him. When he came to where they were, he wouldnt speak, but went straight into the castle, and wouldnt eat or drink.
He was sad and lamenting for a good while, till at last he disappeared one day, the king and queen knew not whither. After that they didnt hear of him, didnt know was he dead or alive.
The young man after he left home was walking along over the kingdom for a long time. One day he saw no house, big or little, till after dark he came in front of a hill, and at the foot of the hill saw a small light. He went to the light, found a small house, and inside an old woman sitting at a warm fire, and every tooth in her head as long as a staff.
She stood up when he entered, took him by the hand, and said, You are welcome to my house, son of the king of Erin. Then she brought warm water, washed his feet and legs from the knees down, gave him supper, and put him to bed.
When he rose next morning he found breakfast ready before him. The old woman said: You were with me last night; youll be with my sister to-night, and what she tells you to do, do, or your head ll be in danger. Now take the gift I give you. Here is a ball of thread: do you throw it in front of you before you start, and all day the ball will be rolling ahead of you, and you ll be following behind winding the thread into another ball.
