The Peoples Songbag

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 5

The Peoples Songbag

Immortal Coils

(Specially written for “The VAIRIES In British folk-lore x are something of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, as every child knows, they are always willing to swap a silver coin for a dead tooth; on the other, they are notorious, especially in Scotland, for their elopements with the wives of mortals of abductions of children from the cradles of mortal mothers. But even in Scottish folklore the heavy coil of mortality seems never to have been successfully grafted on the fairy race, which could dance on the beams of the moon or feast unseen on the scent of wild violets. Their adopted children always returned to earth in a few years, in better condition than when they left to enjoy its blessings. Furthermore, the fairies and their close relatives, mermaids. did many a good turn. Not too long ago people firmly believed that, in hard times, a supernatural supply of food might be obtained by repeating the rhyme:

Press" bv DERRICK ROO.VEYI Fairy, fairy, comt bake me a scone. And I'll girt v« a spurtle io (urn it on. A spurtle is a tapered wooden rod, flattened at the I wide end, used for stirring porridge. It is not recorded if the incantation ever worked. Fairies are said to have been sensitive about their name. They considered the word “fairy” disreputable, and summarised their views thus: Gin ye call me imp or elf, I rede ye look weel to yourself; Gin ye cal me fairy. I’ll work ye muckle Carrie, | That is, much trouble. And it was a brave farmer who ran his plough over the little circles of bright green grass known as fairy-rings, for: He who tills the fairies’ green. No luck again shall have; And he who spills the fairies* ring. Beside him want and woe; For weirdless days and weary nights. Are his till his dying day.