Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/199

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from County Leitrim.
173

like a lord dressed with gold buttons and all things fittingfor a lord; and they brought in eating and drinking, and returned her many thanks. She thanked them, and said she was only after her supper, and couldn't eat or drink anything. "Well," says the mistress, "how much money will recompense you for your trouble when you'll neither eat nor drink." "None, at all, I'll take neither money or any payment; but I have a poor lame daughter at home; and if you can cure her I'll be for ever obliged to you."

The lady went in a great maze and paused for a while. "Nevertheless," then said she, "when you won't take money I'll do what you ask me. When you go home, look in your daughter's hough, behind, and you'll get a big needle stuck in it. One night I was airing my baby's clothes to the fire, and she annoyed me very much, for she blew the dust off the fire and destroyed my baby's clothes, and for that reason I did it to her. Little you thought," says she, "the day you gave the frog the tip of your toe, and wished it not to be delivered till you were there, that I was that frog; and that's the reason you were brought here to-night."

It was well for her poor daughter; for she'd never have got better, only her mother went that journey. She was left back home then, and took the needle out of her daughter's hough; and the girl was supple and happy for ever after.

For the reason above given frogs should never be ill-treated. One does not know who or what may be in that shape.

Anne Whelan, Driney.


The Carrageen in Aghacashlaun.

There is a fort in Aghacashlaun townland called the Corargeen. It is on a little rising ground, and is surrounded by bushes. Near this fort lived Frank ——. One night as he was going to bed there came a tap at the door; and on his