The Three Bog Cotton Shirts (2)
I’m continuing with the story ‘The Three Bog Cotton Shirts’. One of the
sons of the king went to the witch’s house. ‘My stepmother wants the
fine comb,’ he said.
‘There’s the fine comb at the base of the bench,’ said the witch.
The lad went over. He put his hand on the comb. But the witch struck
him on his back with her magic wand. The lad changed into a grey dog
and leaped out of the window.
The second son went over. ‘My stepmother wants the fine comb,’ he said.
‘There it is at the base of the bench,’ said the witch.
The lad put his hand on the comb. But the witch struck him on his back
with her magic wand. The lad changed into a grey dog and leaped out of
the window.
Now, the daughter saw [had seen] everything from her window. She went
over. When the witch picked up her magic wand, the girl grabbed her
hand. She pulled her hand from her arm. Then she left to look for her
brothers.
She found a house. There was nobody inside. After a while, the woman of
the house returned. She was the Woman of the Green Gown. ‘What’s your
news?’ she asked.
‘I don’t have any,’ the girl replied. ‘Do you have any yourself?’
‘I saw your brothers. They are in the form of grey dogs,’ said the
Woman of the Green Gown.
Next morning, the girl left to find her brothers. ‘Take this shoe with
you,’ said the Woman of the Green Gown. ‘It will keep you on the right
road. When you reach the house of the big old man, the shoe will turn
this way. It will return by itself.’
The girl reached the house of the big old man. She turned the shoe the
way it had come. The shoe returned home by itself. The girl went
inside.
‘What news does the [woman] stranger have?’ aske the old man.
‘Nothing,’ said she.
‘I have news,’ he said. ‘Your brothers are living in yonder cave.’
‘How will I reach them?’ asked the girl.
‘I have a fine hempen string,’ he said. ‘Take hold of it.’
We’ll see next week how she found her brothers.
Na Trì Lèintean Canaich (2)
Tha mi a’ leantainn leis an sgeulachd ‘Na Trì Lèintean Canaich’. Chaidh
fear de mhic an rìgh gu taigh na bana-bhuidsich. ‘Tha mo mhuime ag iarraidh
na cìre mìne,’ thuirt e.
‘Siud a’ chìr mhìn aig bonn na beingidh,’ thuirt a’ bhana-bhuidseach,
Chaidh an gille a-null. Chuir e a làmh air a’ chìr. Ach thug a’
bhana-bhuidseach slaic air a dhruim le a slacan draoidheil. Leum an gille
na chù glas a-mach air an uinneig.
Chaidh an dàrna gille a-null. ‘Tha mo mhuime ag iarraidh na cìre mìne,’
thuirt e.
‘Siud i aig bonn na beingidh,’ ars a’ bhana-bhuidseach.
Chuir an gille a làmh air a’ chìr. Ach thug a’ bhana-bhuidseach slaic air a
dhruim le a slacan draoidheil. Leum an gille na chù glas a-mach air an
uinneig. Thachair an aon rud don treas gille.
Nise, chunnaic an nighean a h-uile rud bhon uinneig aice. Chaidh i a-null.
Nuair a thog a’ bhana-bhuidseach an slacan draoidheil, ghabh an nighean
grèim air a làimh. Spìon i a làmh on ghàirdean aice. An uair sin, dh’fhalbh
i a lorg a bràithrean.
Lorg i taigh. Cha robh duine a-staigh. An dèidh greis, thill bean an
taighe. B’ ise Bean a’ Chòta Chaoil Uaine. ‘Dè do naidheachd?’
dh’fhaighnich i.
‘Chan eil naidheachd agam,’ fhreagair an nighean. ‘A bheil gin agad fhèin?’
‘Chunnaic mi do bhràithrean. Tha iad nan coin ghlasa,’ arsa Bean a’ Chòta
Chaoil Uaine.
An ath-mhadainn, dh’fhalbh an nighean a lorg a bràithrean. ‘Thoir a’ bhròg
seo leat,’ arsa Bean a’ Chòta Chaoil Uaine. ‘Cumaidh i air an rathad cheart
thu. Nuair a ruigeas tu taigh seann duine mòr, tionndaidh a’ bhròg an
rathad seo. Tillidh i dhachaigh leatha fhèin.’
Ràinig an nighean taigh an t-seann duine mhòir. Thionndaidh i a’ bhròg an
taobh a thàinig i. Dh’fhalbh a’ bhròg dhachaigh leatha fhèin. Chaidh an
nighean a-steach.
‘Dè an naidheachd a th’ aig a’ bhana-choigrich?’ dh’fhaighnich an seann
duine.
‘Chan eil gin,’ fhreagair ise.
‘Tha naidheachd agamsa,’ ars esan. ‘Tha do bhràithrean a’ fuireach anns an
uaimh ud.’
‘Ciamar a gheibh mi thuca?’ dh’fhaighnich an nighean.
‘Tha sreang chaol chainbe agam,’ thuirt esan. ‘Gabh grèim oirre.’
Chì sinn an-ath-sheachdain mar a lorg i a bràithrean.
