Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

MacCodram and his Seal-Wife
Many years ago, there was a king and queen living deep down in the depths
below the restless surf. And, by all accounts, both of them were happy in their
ocean kingdom. They were blessed with many healthy children, who were
attractive tall and straight, and these sea princes and princesses also possessed
the most beautiful large brown eyes. And, whenever they got the chance, they
would play and frolic and create sweet music.
But then, sadness struck the king and his children, because his loving wife –
the queen − became very ill and presently died. And, after some time, when the
king saw how unhappy his children were, and how unkempt, neglected they
appeared, he said to himself that he would have to marry another woman who
could look after them, and who would comb out the tangles from their lovely
regal hair.
It so happened, that there was, living in a sort of under-water forest, a witch,
and the king asked her to marry him so that the children would have a mother.
She was delighted and agreed immediately. What an opportunity to reign as
Queen over a vast sea kingdom! But she was also aware that it would be her
duty to look after the children – as a Step-mother. She cared little for them, nor
them for her. In fact she was intensely envious of them for being so beautiful
and tall and straight in their bodies. And finally, when she could bear it no
longer, using some special plants and herbs, she distilled a potion, made the
children drink it and in doing so cast a binding spell on them.
The beautiful tall straight children were immediately turned into little podgy
round seals, destined to swim and travel the seas for ever more – except, on one
day of the year, from sunrise until sunset, they were permitted to come ashore,
take over their seal-skins and be children again, who would play and frolic and
make music. But at nightfall they had to make ready to return to the sea as seals
for yet another year.
As you can imagine, when their father, the King found out about this, he was
enraged, and he banished the witch back to her forest, cursing her all the way.
But despite his anger and his great regret, there was nothing he could do to
break the evil woman’s spell, or get his children back as they once were. And, as
seals do, they swam off and left their father alone in his palace, longing and
grieving for them each day they were gone.
Now, of all the places, which seals like to visit, the shores of the Western Isles
are particularly renowned – especially those in and around The Sound of Harris.
One day, a fisherman, called Ruairidh – Ruairidh MacCodram from the Island of
Beàrnaraigh was walking on the beach, as people did and still do, to see what
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