Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

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Fiefions of the Irish Celts.
there stoutly, notwithstanding its howls, while her
husband, raising it gently, proceeded to the bawn,
accompanied by the assembly, and, despite all opposition
on its part, placed it on a wisp of straw which crowned
the manure heap. The luxury of the seat did not succeed
in arresting his outcries, but his audience not taking
much notice, joined hands, and in their own parlance
serenaded the crowned heap three times, while the fairyman,
who had been summoned from Bawnard (high
court), recited an incantation in Irish, of which we give
a literal version :
" Come at our call, O Sighe mother !
Come and remove your offspring.
Food and drink he has received,
And kindness from the Ban-a-teagh.*
Here he no longer shall stay,
But depart to the Duine Matha.
Restore the lost child, O Bean-Sighe ! +
And food shall be left for thy people
When the cloth is spread on the harvest field,
On the short grass newly mown.
Food shall be left on the dresser-shelf,
And the hearthstone shall be clean,
When the Clann Sighe come in crowds.
And sweep in rings round the floor,
And hold their feast at the fire.
Restore the mortal child, O Bean-Sighe !
And receive thine own at our hands.
The charm and the third round ending at the same
time, all re-entered the house, and closed the door.
They soon felt the air around them sweep this way and
that, as if it was stirred by the motion of wings, but they
remained quiet and silent for about ten minutes. Opening
the door, they then looked out, and saw the bundle of
straw on the heap, but neither child nor fairy. " Go into,
your bedroom, Katty," said the fairy-man, " and see if
there's anything left on the bed." She did so, and they
soon heard a cry of joy, and Katty was among them in a
* Woman of the house. t Lady fairy.
"