Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/80

72 fahr come ye?" "Oh," says the bannockie, "I cam fae a little wee mannie an a far less wifie, an fae twa wall-washers, an fae twa barnihrashers, an I think I'll win fae you yet." "Come nearer me a bittie, bonnie bannockie," said the tod; "I dinna hear verra weel, an tell me that again." "Oh," says the bannockie, comin nearer an speakin looder, "I cam fae a little wee mannie an a far less wifie, an fae twa wall-washers an fae twa barn-thrashers, an I think" "Grap," says the tod, an ate her up.

At the word "grap" the story-teller suddenly seizes the child to whom the story is told.

The Red Calf.

Ance a long time ago there was a gentleman had two lassies. The oldest was ugly and ill-natured, but the youngest was a bonnie lassie and good; but the ugly one was the favourite with her father and mother. So they ill used the youngest in every way, and they sent her into the woods to herd cattle, and all the food she got was a little porridge and whey.

Well, amongst the cattle was a red calf, and one day it said to the lassie, "Gee that porridge and whey to the doggie, and come wi' me."

So the lassie followed the calf through the wood, and they came to a bonnie hoosie, where there was a nice dinner ready for them, and after they had feasted on everything nice they went back to the herding.

Every day the calf took the lassie away, and feasted her on dainties, and every day she grew bonnier. This disappointed the father and mother and the ugly sister. They expected that the rough usage she was getting would take away her beauty; and they watched and watched until they saw the calf take the lassie away to the feast. So they resolved to kill the calf; and not only that, but the lassie was to be compelled to kill him with an axe. Her ugly sister was to hold his head, and the lassie who loved him had to give the blow and kill him. She could do nothing but greet; but the calf told her not to