Then all care was
at an end, and they lived happily together ever
after.
My tale is done; there runs a mouse; whosoever
catches it may make himself a big fur cap
out of it.
BURG HILL'S ON FIRE
A CELTIC FAIRY TALE
BY ELIZABETH W. GRIERSON (ADAPTED)
Once upon a time there was a rich farmer who had
a thrifty wife. She used to go out and gather all
the little bits of wool which she could find on the
hillsides, and bring them home. Then, after her
family had gone to bed, she would sit up and card
the wool and spin it into yarn, then she would
weave the yarn into cloth to make garments for
her children.
But all this work made her feel very tired, so
that one night, sitting at her loom, she laid down
her shuttle and cried:--
``Oh, that some one would come from far or
near, from land or sea, to help me!''
No sooner had the words left her lips than she
heard some one knocking at the door.
``Who is there?'' cried she.
``Tell Quary, good housewife,'' answered a
wee, wee voice. ``Open the door to me. As long
as I have you'll get.''
She opened the door and there on the threshold
stood a queer, little woman, dressed in a green
gown and wearing a white cap on her head.
The good housewife was so astonished that she
stood and stared at her strange visitor; but without
a word the little woman ran past her, and
seated herself at the spinning-wheel.
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