An ancient woman living at Innis-Sark said that in her youth she knew a
young woman who had been married for five years, but had no children.
And her husband was a rough, rude fellow, and used to taunt her and
beat her often, because she was childless. But in the course of time
it came to pass that a man-child was born to her; and he was beautiful
to look on as an angel from heaven. And the father was so proud of the
child that he often stayed at home to rock the cradle, and help his
wife at the work.
One day, however, as he rocked the cradle, the child looked up suddenly
at him, and lo! there was a great beard on its face. Then the father
cried out to his wife—
“This is not a child, but a demon! You have put an evil spell on him.”
And he struck her and beat her worse than ever he had done in his life
before, so that she screamed aloud for help. On this the place grew
quite dark, and thunder rolled over their heads, and the door flew wide
open with a great crash, and in walked two strange women, with red caps
on their heads and stout sticks in their hands. And they rushed at the
man, and one held his arms while the other beat him till he was nearly
dead.
“We are the avengers,” they said; “look on us and tremble; for if you
ever beat your wife again, we will come and kill you. Kneel down now,
and ask her pardon.”
And when the poor wretch did so, all trembling with fright, they
vanished away.
“Now,” said the man, when they were gone, “this house is no fit place
for me. I’ll leave it for ever.”
So he went his way, and troubled his wife no more.
Then the child sat up in the cradle.
“Now, mother,” says he, “since that man has gone, I’ll tell you what
you are to do. There is a holy well near this that you have never seen,
but you will know it by the bunch of green rushes that grows over the
mouth. Go there and stoop down and cry out aloud three times, and an
old woman will come up, and whatever you want she will give it to you.
Only tell no one of the well or of the woman, or evil will come of it.”
So the mother promised, and went to the well, and cried out three
times; and an old woman came up, and said—
“Woman, why dost thou call me?”