THE FAIRY MAID OF VAN LAKE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 May 1925, Page 16

THE FAIRY MAID OF VAN LAKE

A shepherd lad from Mothvev was tending his sheep one afternoon, beside Van Lake in the Black Mountains of Wales, when three fairy maids came out of the . water and began to play on the grass. Ail of them were beautiful, but the youngest was tne loveliest, and the shepherd fell madly in love with her. lie won. her as his bride and the marriage was joyfully celebrated at Mothvey Church. “Now, mind,” said the fairy maid to her husband, “if ever you strike me three times without cause, J shall have to return to Van Lake.” The shepherd said he would n;ve.dream of touching her, and they lived happily together, and. three little bo.vs were born to them. But when the shepherd asked his wife to go-for a horse fo r them to ride to the christening she quite forgot to do so, and, without thinking of her threat, he slapped her on the shoulder, telling her to do as she had been bidden. •'That’s one,”, said the fairy maid. Soon afterwards they went to a fairy wedding, and instead of merrymaking the fairy maid, cried all the time. “Why do you cry? ’ said the shepherd. “Because the marriage will prove unhappy,’’ she replied. “And mind, you have now struck me twice!’’ The shepherd became very careful, but later, at a funeral, his wife shocked everybody by laughing and dancing. Quite forgetting himself once more, the. shepherd tapped her. say.ng". “Is this a time for rejoicing?” “Yes,” said the fairy maid. “The baby has escaped the sorrows of earth and entered the Kingdom of Heaven. But that is the third blow Farewell!” and she entered Van Lake. When her three sons grew up, however, the fairy maid appeared again, and g;ave them .the gift of healing.