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

THE BALIEVEOLAN GLASRIG AND SELVACH
MAC KELVIE.
A MAIDEN or Gruagach followed the family of
Balieveolan in Lismore. This maiden took great in-
terest in the family, and in everything belonging to
them. But the cattle were the special objects of her
care. In the morning she led them forth to the fields,
and when evening came she drove them home again.
She also followed them in their wanderings over the
pasture ground during the day; and though she herself
remained invisible, her voice was often to be heard as
she turned them from the edge of the precipice, or chased
them out of the corn fields, and the only reward she
asked for her services was a pail-ful of cold whey, left
for he'r at night in the byre window. But while she
made the Laird's family and his cattle the special objects
of her care, she also took an interest in all the families
and individuals on the lands. Sometimes she followed
the latter to the mainland, and helped them when she
saw them in need of her help.
Selvach Mac Kelvie, a strong and fearless man,
who lived at Frackersaig, took his boat, and crossed
the Sound of Morven to Glensanda for fuel. After
cutting down a sufficient quantity of wood and putting