Matheson Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

FOLK TALES AND FAIRY LORE. Q
and, without further delay, she went after her husband
in the very way he took. She travelled onwards all
day long, until there was blackening on the soles of
her feet and holing on her shoes; the little nestling,
ili'^' roWed-up, yellow-topped birds were taking to rest at
the foot of the bushes and in the tops of the trees, and
the pretty, nimble squirrels were choosing as best they
could a place for themselves, though she, the daughter
of the Knight of the Bens and Glens and Passes, was
not. Then she cast a glance before her, and saw far
from her a little house with a light; but, if it was far
from her, she took not long to reach it.
The door was open, and a good fire in the middle of
the floor. She went in, and the mistress of the house,
who was sitting beyond the fire, said: "Come up,
poor woman, thou art welcome to stay here to-night.
Thy husband was here last night, he and his three chil-
dren. There is an apple which he left with me for thee."
She treated the stranger well, and very well. She put
warm water on her feet and a soft bed under her side,
and in the morning, when she set her on the head of
the way and was bidding her good-bye, she handed
her scissors and said: "There are scissors for thee,
and, when thou wilt make the first cut with them, thou
shalt let them go, and after that they will of themselves
cut the cloth in the shape thou wishest to give it."
She turned away and travelled onwards all day long
till there was blackening on the soles of her feet and
holing on her shoes; the little nestling, rolled-up,
yellow - topped birds were taking to rest at the foot
of the bushes and in the tops of the trees, and the
pretty, nimble squirrels were choosing as best they
might a place for themselves, though she, the daughter