Part 30 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Monanday Sneeze for a Letter]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Tuesday Something Better]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Wednesday Kiss a Stranger]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Feersday Sneeze for Danger]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Friday Sneeze for Sorrow]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sneeze on Sat.u.r.day see your Sweetheart Tomorrow]

THE WELL O' THE WORLD'S END

There was once an old widow woman, who lived in a little cottage with her only daughter, who was such a bonnie la.s.sie that everyone liked to look at her.

One day the old woman took a notion into her head to bake a girdleful of cakes. So she took down her bakeboard, and went to the girnel and fetched a basinful of meal; but when she went to seek a jug of water to mix the meal with, she found that there was none in the house.

So she called to her daughter, who was in the garden; and when the girl came she held out the empty jug to her, saying, ”Run, like a good la.s.sie, to the Well o' the World's End and bring me a jug of water, for I have long found that water from the Well o' the World's End makes the best cakes.”

So the la.s.sie took the jug and set out on her errand.

Now, as its name shows, it is a long road to that well, and many a weary mile had the poor maid to go ere she reached it.

But she arrived there at last; and what was her disappointment to find it dry.

She was so tired and so vexed that she sat down beside it and began to cry; for she did not know where to get any more water, and she felt that she could not go back to her mother with an empty jug.

While she was crying, a nice yellow Paddock, with very bright eyes, came jump-jump-jumping over the stones of the well, and squatted down at her feet, looking up into her face.

”And why are ye greeting, my bonnie maid?” he asked. ”Is there aught that I can do to help thee?”

”I am greeting because the well is empty,” she answered, ”and I cannot get any water to carry home to my mother.”

”Listen,” said the Paddock softly. ”I can get thee water in plenty, if so be thou wilt promise to be my wife.”

Now the la.s.sie had but one thought in her head, and that was to get the water for her mother's oat-cakes, and she never for a moment thought that the Paddock was in earnest, so she promised gladly enough to be his wife, if he would get her a jug of water.

No sooner had the words pa.s.sed her lips than the beastie jumped down the mouth of the well, and in another moment it was full to the brim with water.

The la.s.sie filled her jug and carried it home, without troubling any more about the matter. But late that night, just as her mother and she were going to bed, something came with a faint ”thud, thud,” against the cottage door, and then they heard a tiny little wee voice singing:

”Oh, open the door, my hinnie, my heart, Oh, open the door, my ain true love; Remember the promise that you and I made Down i' the meadow, where we two met.”

”Wheesht,” said the old woman, raising her head. ”What noise is that at the door?”

”Oh,” said her daughter, who was feeling rather frightened, ”it's only a yellow Paddock.”