Ossian Collection > Waifs and strays of Celtic tradition > Volume 4

246 The Fians.
when I returned home from fighting the battle, and
made me as cheerful as ever to go to battle and combat
the next day, has been taken away, and is lost and
astray from me."
"If that was all she could do," said the little low-set
Swaddler, " perhaps I may do it myself ;" and he took
him and washed him in the washing-bath, so that he
never felt more refreshed or joyful.
Another brother now returned home, and said when
he entered the house, " What news has the little, low-set
Swaddler ?"
" I have neither little nor much of any news," said he,
" unless I may get some from yourself"
" The burden of my news is but sad," this brother said,
" for my beloved sister, who put me in the washing-bath
at eve, after the battle, so that next day I was as well as
ever, has been taken away with the little, brown, fat
lap-dog that followed at her heel."
" If she could only do that," said he, " I may myself be
able to do it ;" and he put this tall brother in the bath
and washed and cleaned him, so that he was as fresh as
he ever was, next day, to go to fight.
Another tall brother came home soon after, and said
the self-same words with the others, " What news has the
little low-set Swaddler?"
" I have no manner of tale to tell," he replied, " but
what the big, strong man who came in has better."
" My share of the story is but poor," said the third
brother, " for my handsome sister, who bathed me on my
return from battle, and next day I was better than ever
to go to combat, has been taken away, and I shall now
be without strength or counsel."
"If that is all," said the Swaddler, " I may try to do it
myself;" and he took him to the farthest-off part of the
house and wa.shed and bathed him, so that next day he
was better prepared than ever to engage in battle and
combat.