Black-haired John of Lewis (1)
I’d like to tell you a story. A story
with the name of Black-haired John
of Lewis, the Sailor.
Black-haired John was the son
of a fisherman. He lived with his
uncle. That was near Stornoway in
Lewis. This particular evening, John
saw a beautiful ship. She was sailing
into the harbour. John was greatly
interested in boats. He went out to
the ship. He went on board.
The captain asked if John
would like to be a sailor. John
replied that he would.
“Go home,” said the captain.
“Get permission to sail with me.”
John returned the next day. He
told the captain that he got
permission from his uncle. “And did
he say anythin gabout an
engagement?” said the captain.
“Oh, yes,” replied Black-haired
John. “I’ll be on board for five
years. I’ll learn seamanship.”
“And what did he say about
wages?” the captain asked.
“He said that I’ll get a
halfpenny at the end of the first
month. I’ll get two halfpennies at the
end of the second month. And it will
double like that every month to the end of the five years.”
The captain smiled. Without
thinking, he said, “You’ll get that,
lad.” Next day, the ship sailed away
with John on board. She went to
foreign countries. At the end of four
years she returned to England. She
reached her own port.
The folk who owned the ship
came on board. One of them asked
where they got the young sailor.
“On the Isle of Lewis,” the captain
replied.
“Are you giving him good
wages?” said the first man.
“Because he’s a good sailor.”
“Well,” said the captain, “I
haven’t given him any wages yet.”
The captain explained the bargain.
“He himself asked for a halfpenny at
the end of the first month,” he said,
“and two halfpennies at the end of
the second month, doubling like that
every month.”
“What did you do?!” said the
man who owned the ship. “You
promised the lad more than the ship
is worth!”
The captain saw that was true.
What was going to happen to Black
John? The story continues next
week.
Iain Dubh Leòdhasach (1)
Bu mhath leam stòiridh innse dhuibh.
Stòiridh leis an ainm Iain Dubh Leòdhasach, an Seòladair.
B’ e mac iasgair a bh’ ann an Iain
Dubh. Bha e a’ fuireach còmhla ri
uncail. Bha sin faisg air Steòrnabhagh
ann an Leòdhas. Feasgar a bha seo,
chunnaic Iain long bhrèagha. Bha i a’
seòladh a-staigh don chala. Bha ùidh
mhòr aig Iain ann am bàtaichean. Chaidh
e a-mach don luing. Chaidh e air bòrd.
Dh’fhaighnich an sgiobair am bu
toigh le Iain a bhith na sheòladair.
Fhreagair Iain gum bu toil.
“Thalla dhachaigh,” ars’ an
sgiobair. “Faigh cead airson seòladh
leam.”
Thill Iain an ath latha. Dh’innis e
don sgiobair gun d’ fhuair e cead o
uncail. “Agus an tuirt e dad mu
mhuinntireas?” ars’ an sgiobair. “O,
thubhairt,” fhreagair Iain Dubh. “Bidh
mi air bòrd fad còig bliadhna. Bidh mi
ag ionnsachadh seòladaireachd.”
“Agus dè thuirt e mu thuarastal?”
dh’fhaighnich an sgiobair.
“Thuirt gum faigh mi bonn-a-sia
aig ceann a’ chiad mhìos. Bidh mi a’
faighinn dà bhonn-a-sia aig ceann an
dara mìos. Agus bidh e a’ dùblachadh
mar sin gach mìos gu deireadh nan còig
bliadhna.”
Rinn an sgiobair gàire. Gun
smaoineachadh, thuirt e, “Gheibh thu
sin, a laochain.” Air an ath latha, sheòl
an long air falbh, le Iain air bòrd. Chaidh
i do dhùthchannan cèin. Aig ceann
ceithir bliadhna thill i a Shasainn. Ràinig
i am port aice fhèin.
Thàinig an fheadhainn leis an
robh an long air bòrd. Dh’fhaighnich
fear dhiubh cà’ d’ fhuair iad an seòladair
òg. “Fhuair ann an Eilean Leòdhais,”
fhreagair an sgiobair.
“A bheil thu a’ toirt tuarastal
math dha?” thuirt a’ chiad fhear.
“Oir ’s
e seòladair math a tha ann.”
“Uill,” ars’ an sgiobair, “cha tug
mi tuarastal sam bith dha fhathast.”
Mhìnich an sgiobair am bargan.
“Dh’iarr
e fhèin bonn-a-sia aig ceann a’ chiad
mhìos,” thuirt e, “agus dà bhonn-a-sia
aig ceann an dara mìos, a’ dùblachadh
mar sin gach mìos.”
“Dè rinn thu?!” thuirt am fear leis
an robh an long. “Gheall thu don ghille
tuilleadh nas fhiach an long fhèin!”
Chunnaic an sgiobair gun robh
sin fìor. Dè bha a’ dol a thachairt do
dh’Iain Dubh? Tha an stòiridh a’
leantainn an ath-sheachdain.
