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Ferrar, William J.

"More English Fairy Tales"


"Cheerless is the evening grey
When Causleen hath died away,
But ever bright and ever fair
Are they who breathe this evening air,
And lean upon the self-bored stone
Unseen by all but me alone."
The song ended, Scantlie Mab asked Habetrot what she meant by the last
line, "Unseen by all but we alone."
"There is one," replied Habetrot, "whom I bid to come here at this
hour, and he has heard my song through the self-bored stone." So saying
she rose, opened another door, which was concealed by the roots of an
old tree, and invited the pair to come in and see her family.
The laird was astonished at the weird-looking company, as he well might
be, and inquired of one after another the cause of their strange lips.
In a different tone of voice, and with a different twist of the mouth,
each answered that it was occasioned by spinning. At least they tried to
say so, but one grunted out "Nakasind," and another "Owkasaaend," while a
third murmured "O-a-a-send.


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