An Irish Folk Tale.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14039, 23 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

An Irish Folk Tale.

There are many Irish folk-tales about "Gobhan." His name (Gobhan Saor) is sometimes said to mean the Handy-man. or tho Cheap A\orkman. but he is really a wonder-worker, a mythical personage, who has in course of time come to figure in comic.tales and parables. He was a great builder, and it is said that three wizards, who took tho form of crows, taught him his trade. This is one of tho stories: — The Gobhan Saor sat outside in tho sunshine, bnt it is little joy he had of the good day. He was wringing his hands and making lamentation. " Ochone! Ochone!" ho said. "My share of sorrow and the world's misfortune J Why was I given any cleverness at all, with nothing but- a daughter to leave it to. Ochone!" A woman was coming along the road. She, too, was clapping her hands and making lamentation, but she stopped it when she saw the state tho Gobhan was in. 11 "What has come over you. Jewel of the World," said she, "to be making lamentations?" Why wouldn't I make lamentations," said the Gobhan, "when I havo no one hot a daughter to leave my cleverness to? 'Tis a hard thing to have all the trades in the world and no one bnt a daughter to learn them!" "The topmost berry is always sweet," said the woman, "and the red apple that is beyond us draws our hearts. You are crying salt tears for a son, and I would give the world for a daughter." "Oh, what good is a daughter!" said the Gobhan. "What good's a girl to a man that robbed the crows of their cleverness and taught tricks to the foxes?"

"May be you'd bo worse off," said its woman, "if you had a son. Isn't it myself that is making a hand-clap-ping and shedding salt tears out of my eyes because of the son I've got—a heart-scald from sunrise till candlelight!" " 'Tis you," said the Gobhan, "that don't know how to manage him. He'd be a lamb of gentleness if I had him." "Oh, then, take him," said the woman, "and eite me your daughter.. I'll be well content with the bargain." It was agreed between them then and there.. Hie Gobhan took the son and the woman got the daughter. _ She went away after that and left no tidings of herself. She thought it likely the Gobhan would rue the bargain. Well, the Gobhan started to teach the son, but'what he taught him one hour the boy forgot the next. He would do northing but sit in the sunshine and play little tunes on a flute he made. He grew up that way. "Clever as I am," said the Gobhan, "the woman that got my daughter got the better of me, and a clever woman is what my son wants now for a wife." Ho gave out that news to the countryside, and many a woman came bragging of the daughter she had. "The eye that looks on its own sees little blemish," said the Gobhan. ?u'll take no cleverness on hearsay ; before I make a match for my son I must talk to the girl he is to pet." "When the first girl came the Gobhan showed her a room heaped tm with gold and treasure and the riches of the world. "That is what the woman will get that marries my son," said he. "There would be good spending in tlmt pile!" said the girl: "you could Ik? taking the full of your two hands out of it from morning till night every day in the year." " 'Tis not you will he taking the full, of-your two hands out of it." said the Gobhan. "My son will get a wiser woman." The second girl came. The Gobhnn showed her "the heao of treasure.' "Til put seven bolts and seven bars on it," she said, "and in a hundred years it will not grow less!" ' " 'Tis not you will nut. the bolts and bars on it," said the Gobhan; "my son will get a wiser woman." The third eirl came. The Gobhnn showed her the heap of treasure. "Big as it is,' 'said she. "It will be lonesome if rfc -is not added to!" •"I wonder," said the Gobhan, "if you have the wit to add to it." "Try me." said the girl. "I will," said the Gobhan. "Will you bargain with me for a slieeoskin ?" 'lf you have the wit to sell." said she, "I have the wit to boy. Show me -the skin and name your price." He. showed the'skin and named his price. It was a small price. She made it smaller. The "Gobhan gave in to her. "You have a bargain in it," said the Gobhan; "trivo me the money!" "I wBL" said she, "when I have the skin." "That's not my way at all,' said the Gobhan; "I must have the skin and the price of it " "May you never see death till you get it!" "I win get it from the woman that marries my son, and it is not you she win be.'" "O, good luck to you!" said the girl. " 'Tis in heaven the angels are." She went from him then, and many another went from him. There was not a girl. in. the whole district wise enough for the Gobhan. He called-the son to him. "Make Jfeady," said he, "to travel the world, for we mnst seek in the four quarters of it till we find the girl that had myself for a father. 'Tis she will give me the skin and the price of it." The son took up his flute and i went to the door. "Come back!" said the Gobhan. "Is it going you are without good advice and without leave taking?" ' The son came back, and the Gobhan threw the _ sheepskin on his shoulders. "Take that," he said, "and I will take the fellow of it. You will go to the west and I will go to the east, and neither of us will stop travelling till we meet the girl that can buy the skin." They Started. The Gobhan went to -the east, and -travelled and travelled. -The son went to the west, but he did not travel far. He stopped at the first pleasant valley he came to. He sat down ,and began to play on his Ante. At the sound of it all the folk within hearing came to listen. The music made them light-hearted, and they built a hut-for the Gobhan's son. He Tinner his sheepskin over the door and made himself at home there. The people brought him the newest of foods and the oldest of drinks, and ho lived happily. -The Gobhan found him there when he had travelled round the world. "My Shame and my Trouble!" he said, as soon as his eyes lit on him. "Is it here yoii»are taking your ease and never as much as trying to sell the sheepskin ?" " 'Tis hanging on my door," said the Bon, "for any oue that likes to buy it." "It wiD hang there till Doomsday hefore you get a buyer!" "I)on't say that!" said a girl who had come to listen to the flute-playing. "I will buy the skin." "Will you leave me the skin and the price of it?' said the son. "I will," said the girl: "name your price, he -named his price. It wall small; she made it smaller. "Take the money." she said, "and reach me the skin."_ He reached the skin. She nulled the wool off it and gave it hack to him. *'You have the skin and the price of it bow!" "You are my daughter!" said the Gobhan, and it was true for him.

There were great rejoicings then. The Gobhan asked her to take the son and the treasure. She dirl. and they lived hapnily ever after. —Ella Young, in the "Manchester Guardian."