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

THE SWARTHY SMITH OF THE SOCKS.
The Swarthy Smith of the Socks had served his
time learning smith-craft, but at its close he could not
make anything connected with smith-work but socks
for ploughs.
He opened a smithy a few miles out of Edinburgh,
and began sock-making. At that time a fair was held
once a month in the city, and as often as it would come
round the Swarthy Smith used to go to it with his old
white horse and a cart full of socks. And after sell-
ing the socks he would return home, sound asleep in
his cart, leaving the old white horse to find his way as
best he could.
On a certain market day he went as usual to the
Inn, and who met him there but the King's
Smith. The worthies soon made one another's
acquaintance, and they sat down drinking till the
liquor went to their heads.
Presently they began to boast, and neither of them
would admit that he was not a better smith than the
other. To put an end to the wrangle, the King's
Smith stood up, and said to the Swarthy Smith: " I'll
bet three hundred merks that before next fair I'll make
something that nothing you can make within the same
time will surpass." The Swarthy Smith then stood
up and answered: " I'll lay another three hundred that
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