There was once a king who had three daughters. The two eldest were very
proud and quarrelsome, but the youngest was as good as they were bad.
Well, three princes came to court them, and two of them were exactly
like the eldest ladies, and one was just as lovable as the youngest. One
day they were all walking down to a lake that lay at the bottom of the
lawn when they met a poor beggar. The king wouldn’t give him anything,
and the eldest princesses wouldn’t give him anything, nor their
sweethearts; but the youngest daughter and her true love did give him
something, and kind words along with it, and that was better than all.
When they got to the edge of the lake what did they find but the
beautifullest boat you ever saw in your life; and says the eldest, ‘I’ll
take a sail in this fine boat’; and says the second eldest, ‘I’ll take a
sail in this fine boat’; and says the youngest, ‘I won’t take a sail in
that fine boat, for I am afraid it’s an enchanted one.’ But the others
persuaded her to go in, and her father was just going in after her, when
up sprung on the deck a little man only seven inches high, and ordered
him to stand back. Well, all the men put their hands to their swords;
and if the same swords were only playthings, they weren’t able to draw
them, for all strength that was left their arms. Seven Inches loosened
the silver chain that fastened the boat, and pushed away, and after
grinning at the four men, says he to them. ‘Bid your daughters and your
brides farewell for awhile. You,’ says he to the youngest, ‘needn’t
fear, you’ll recover your princess all in good time, and you and she
will be as happy as the day is long. Bad people, if they were rolling
stark naked in gold, would not be rich. Good-bye.’ Away they sailed, and
the ladies stretched out their hands, but weren’t able to say a word.
Well, they weren’t crossing the lake while a cat ‘ud be lickin’ her ear,
and the poor men couldn’t stir hand or foot to follow them. They saw
Seven Inches handing the three princesses out of the boat, and letting
them down by a basket into a draw-well, but king nor princes ever saw an
opening before in the same place. When the last lady was out of sight,
the men found the strength in their arms and legs again. Round the lake
they ran, and never drew rein till they came to the well and windlass;
and there was the silk rope rolled on the axle, and the nice white
basket hanging to it. ‘Let me down,’ says the youngest prince. ‘I’ll die
or recover them again.’ ‘No,’ says the second daughter’s sweetheart, ‘it
is my turn first.’ And says the other, ‘I am the eldest.’ So they gave
way to him, and in he got into the basket, and down they let him. First
they lost sight of him, and then, after winding off a hundred perches of
the silk rope, it slackened, and they stopped turning. They waited two
hours, and then they went to dinner, because there was no pull made at
the rope.
Guards were set till next morning, and then down went the second prince,
and sure enough, the youngest of all got himself let down on the third
day. He went down perches and perches, while it was as dark about him
as if he was in a big pot with a cover on. At last he saw a glimmer far
down, and in a short time he felt the ground. Out he came from the big
lime-kiln, and, lo! and behold you, there was a wood, and green fields,
and a castle in a lawn, and a bright sky over all. ‘It’s in Tir-na-n-Oge
I am,’ says he. ‘Let’s see what sort of people are in the castle.’ On he
walked, across fields and lawn, and no one was there to keep him out or
let him into the castle; but the big hall-door was wide open. He went
from one fine room to another that was finer, and at last he reached the
handsomest of all, with a table in the middle. And such a dinner as was
laid upon it! The prince was hungry enough, but he was too mannerly to
eat without being invited. So he sat by the fire, and he did not wait
long till he heard steps, and in came Seven Inches with the youngest
sister by the hand. Well, prince and princess flew into one another’s
arms, and says the little man, says he, ‘Why aren’t you eating?’ ‘I
think, sir,’ says the prince, ‘it was only good manner to wait to be
asked.’ ‘The other princes didn’t think so,’ says he. ‘Each o’ them fell
to without leave, and only gave me the rough words when I told them they
were making more free than welcome. Well, I don’t think they feel much
hunger now. There they are, good marble instead of flesh and blood,’
says he, pointing to two statues, one in one corner, and the other in
the other corner of the room. The prince was frightened, but he was
afraid to say anything, and Seven Inches made him sit down to dinner
between himself and his bride; and he’d be as happy as the day is long,
only for the sight of the stone men in the corner. Well, that day went
by, and when the next came, says Seven Inches to him, ‘Now, you’ll have
to set out that way,’ pointing to the sun, ‘and you’ll find the second
princess in a giant’s castle this evening, when you’ll be tired and
hungry, and the eldest princess to-morrow evening; and you may as well
bring them here with you. You need not ask leave of their masters; and
perhaps if they ever get home, they’ll look on poor people as if they
were flesh and blood like themselves.’
Away went the prince, and bedad! it’s tired and hungry he was when he
reached the first castle, at sunset. Oh, wasn’t the second princess glad
to see him! And what a good supper she gave him. But she heard the giant
at the gate, and she hid the prince in a closet. Well, when he came in,
he snuffed, an’ he snuffed, and says he, ‘By the life, I smell fresh
meat.’ ‘Oh,’ says the princess, ‘it’s only the calf I got killed
to-day.’ ‘Ay, ay,’ says he, ‘is supper ready?’ ‘It is,’ says she; and
before he rose from the table he ate three-quarters of a calf, and a
flask of wine. ‘I think,’ says he, when all was done, ‘I smell fresh
meat still.’ ‘It’s sleepy you are,’ says she; ‘go to bed.’ ‘When will
you marry me?’ says the giant. ‘You’re putting me off too long.’ ‘St.
Tibb’s Eve,’ says she. ‘I wish I knew how far off that is,’ says he; and
he fell asleep, with his head in the dish.
Next day, he went out after breakfast, and she sent the prince to the
castle where the eldest sister was. The same thing happened there; but
when the giant was snoring, the princess wakened up the prince, and they
saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them. But
the horses’ heels struck the stones outside the gate, and up got the
giant and strode after them. He roared and he shouted, and the more he
shouted, the faster ran the horses, and just as the day was breaking he
was only twenty perches behind. But the prince didn’t leave the castle
of Seven Inches without being provided with something good. He reined
in his steed, and flung a short, sharp knife over his shoulder, and up
sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves. They caught the
wind that blew before them, and the wind that blew behind them did not
catch them. At last they were near the castle where the other sister
lived; and there she was, waiting for them under a high hedge, and a
fine steed under her.
But the giant was now in sight, roaring like a hundred lions, and the
other giant was out in a moment, and the chase kept on. For every two
springs the horses gave, the giants gave three, and at last they were
only seventy perches off. Then the prince stopped again, and flung the
second knife behind him. Down went all the flat field, till there was a
quarry between them a quarter of a mile deep, and the bottom filled with
black water; and before the giants could get round it, the prince and
princesses were inside the kingdom of the great magician, where the high
thorny hedge opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in. There
was joy enough between the three sisters, till the two eldest saw their
lovers turned into stone. But while they were shedding tears for them,
Seven Inches came in, and touched them with his rod. So they were flesh,
and blood, and life once more, and there was great hugging and kissing,
and all sat down to breakfast, and Seven Inches sat at the head of the
table.
When breakfast was over, he took them into another room, where there
was nothing but heaps of gold, and silver, and diamonds, and silks,
and satins; and on a table there was lying three sets of crowns: a gold
crown was in a silver crown, and that was lying in a copper crown.
He took up one set of crowns, and gave it to the eldest princess; and
another set, and gave it to the second youngest princess; and another,
and gave it to the youngest of all; and says he, ‘Now you may all go to
the bottom of the pit, and you have nothing to do but stir the basket,
and the people that are watching above will draw you up. But remember,
ladies, you are to keep your crows safe, and be married in them, all
the same day. If you be married separately, or if you be married without
your crowns, a curse will follow--mind what I say.’
So they took leave of him with great respect, and walked arm-in-arm to
the bottom of the draw-well. There was a sky and a sun over them, and
a great high wall, covered with ivy, rose before them, and was so high
they could not see to the top of it; and there was an arch in this wall,
and the bottom of the draw-well was inside the arch. The youngest
pair went last; and says the princess to the prince, ‘I’m sure the two
princes don’t mean any good to you. Keep these crowns under your cloak,
and if you are obliged to stay last, don’t get into the basket, but put
a big stone, or any heavy thing inside, and see what will happen.’
As soon as they were inside the dark cave, they put in the eldest
princess first, and stirred the basket, and up she went. Then the basket
was let down again, and up went the second princess, and then up went
the youngest; but first she put her arms round her prince’s neck, and
kissed him, and cried a little. At last it came to the turn of the
youngest prince, and instead of going into the basket he put in a big
stone. He drew on one side and listened, and after the basket was drawn
up about twenty perches, down came it and the stone like thunder, and
the stone was broken into little bits.
Well, the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle;
and through it and round it he walked, and the finest of eating and
drinking he got, and a bed of bog-down to sleep on, and long walks he
took through gardens and lawns, but not a sight could he get, high or
low, of Seven Inches. He, before a week, got tired of it, he was so
lonesome for his true love; and at the end of a month he didn’t know
what to do with himself.
One morning he went into the treasure room, and took notice of a
beautiful snuff-box on the table that he didn’t remember seeing there
before. He took it in his hands and opened it, and out Seven Inches
walked on the table. ‘I think, prince,’ says he, ‘you’re getting a
little tired of my castle?’ ‘Ah!’ says the other, ‘if I had my princess
here, and could see you now and then, I’d never know a dismal day.’
‘Well, you’re long enough here now, and you’re wanted there above.
Keep your bride’s crowns safe, and whenever you want my help, open this
snuff-box. Now take a walk down the garden, and come back when you’re
tired.’
The prince was going down a gravel walk with a quickset hedge on each
side, and his eyes on the ground, and he was thinking of one thing
and another. At last he lifted his eyes, and there he was outside of
a smith’s gate that he often passed before, about a mile away from the
palace of his betrothed princess. The clothes he had on him were as
ragged as you please, but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak.
Then the smith came out, and says he, ‘It’s a shame for a strong, big
fellow like you to be lazy, and so much work to be done. Are you any
good with hammer and tongs? Come in and bear a hand, an I’ll give you
diet and lodging, and a few pence when you earn them.’ ‘Never say’t
twice,’ says the prince. ‘I want nothing but to be busy.’ So he took the
hammer, and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning
on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes.
They hadn’t been long at work when a tailor came in, and he sat down
and began to talk. ‘You all heard how the two princess were loth to
be married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her
sweetheart. But after the windlass loosened accidentally when they were
pulling up her bridegroom that was to be, there was no more sign of a
well, or a rope, or a windlass, than there is on the palm of your hand.
So the princes that were courting the eldest ladies wouldn’t give
peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the
marriage, and it was to take place this morning. Myself went down out o’
curiousity, and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses of
the two brides, and the three crowns on their heads--gold, silver, and
copper, one inside the other. The youngest was standing by mournful
enough, and all was ready. The two bridegrooms came in as proud and
grand as you please, and up they were walking to the altar rails, when
the boards opened two yards wide under their feet, and down they went
among the dead men and the coffins in the vaults. Oh, such shrieks as
the ladies gave! and such running and racing and peeping down as there
was! but the clerk soon opened the door of the vault, and up came the
two princes, their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs and
mould.
So the king said they should put off the marriage. ‘For,’ says he, ‘I
see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three
crowns, and is married with the others. I’ll give my youngest daughter
for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to me like the others; and if
he doesn’t care to be married, some other one will, and I’ll make his
fortune.’
‘I wish,’ says the smith, ‘I could do it; but I was looking at the
crowns after the princesses got home, and I don’t think there’s a black
or a white smith on the face of the earth that could imitate them.’
‘Faint heart never won fair lady,’ says the prince. ‘Go to the palace
and ask for a quarter of a pound of gold, a quarter of a pound of
silver, and a quarter of a pound of copper. Get one crown for a pattern,
and my head for a pledge, I’ll give you out the very things that are
wanted in the morning.’ ‘Are you in earnest?’ says the smith. ‘Faith, I
am so,’ says he. ‘Go! you can’t do worse than lose.’
To make a long story short, the smith got the quarter of a pound of
gold, and the quarter of a pound of silver, and the quarter of a pound
of copper, and gave them and the pattern crown to the prince. He shut
the forge door at nightfall, and the neighbours all gathered in the
yard, and they heard him hammering, hammering, hammering, from that to
daybreak; and every now and then he’d throw out through the window bits
of gold, silver, and copper; and the idlers scrambled for them, and
cursed one another, and prayed for the good luck of the workman.
Well, just as the sun was thinking to rise, he opened the door, and
brought out the three crowns he got from his true love, and such
shouting and huzzaing as there was! The smith asked him to go along with
him to the palace, but he refused; so off set the smith, and the whole
townland with him; and wasn’t the king rejoiced when he saw the crowns!
‘Well,’ says he to the smith, ‘you’re a married man. What’s to be done?’
‘Faith, your majesty, I didn’t make them crowns at all. It was a big
fellow that took service with me yesterday.’ ‘Well, daughter, will
you marry the fellow that made these crowns?’ ‘Let me see them first,
father,’ said she; but when she examined them she knew them right well,
and guessed it was her true love that sent them. ‘I will marry the man
that these crowns came from,’ says she.
‘Well,’ says the king to the elder of the two princes, ‘go up to the
smith’s forge, take my best coaches, and bring home the bridegroom.’ He
did not like doing this, he was so proud, but he could not refuse.
When he came to the forge he saw the prince standing at the door, and
beckoned him over to the coach. ‘Are you the fellow,’ says he, ‘that
made these crowns?’ ‘Yes,’ says the other. ‘Then,’ says he, ‘maybe you’d
give yourself a brushing, and get into that coach; the king wants to see
you. I pity the princess.’ The young prince got into the carriage, and
while they were on the way he opened the snuff-box, and out walked Seven
Inches, and stood on his thigh. ‘Well,’ says he, ‘what trouble is on you
now?’ ‘Master,’ says the other, ‘please let me go back to my forge, and
let this carriage be filled with paving stones.’ No sooner said than
done. The prince was sitting in his forge, and the horses wondered what
was after happening to the carriage.
When they came into the palace yard, the king himself opened the
carriage door, for respect to his new son-in-law. As soon as he turned
the handle, a shower of small stones fell on his powdered wig and his
silk coat, and down he fell under them. There was great fright and some
laughter, and the king, after he wiped the blood from his forehead,
looked very cross at the eldest prince. ‘My lord,’ says he, ‘I’m very
sorry for this accident, but I’m not to blame. I saw the young smith get
into the carriage, and we never stopped a minute since.’ ‘It’s uncivil
you were to him. Go,’ says he to the other prince, ‘and bring the young
smith here, and be polite.’ ‘Never fear,’ says he.
But there’s some people that couldn’t be good-natured if they tried, and
not a bit civiller was the new messenger than the old, and when the king
opened the carriage door a second time, it’s shower of mud that came
down on him. ‘There’s no use,’ says he, ‘going on this way. The fox
never got a better messenger than himself.’
So he changed his clothes, and washed himself, and out he set to the
prince’s forge and asked him to sit along with himself. The prince
begged to be allowed to sit in the other carriage, and when they were
half-way he opened his snuff-box. ‘Master,’ says he, ‘I’d wish to be
dressed now according to my rank.’ ‘You shall be that,’ says Seven
Inches. ‘And now I’ll bid you farewell. Continue as good and kind as you
always were; love your wife; and that’s all the advice I’ll give you.’
So Seven Inches vanished; and when the carriage door was opened in the
yard, out walks the prince as fine as hands could make him, and the
first thing he did was to run over to his bride and embrace her.
Every one was full of joy but the two other princes. There was not much
delay about the marriages, and they were all celebrated on the one day.
Soon after, the two elder couples went to their own courts, but the
youngest pair stayed with the old king, and they were as happy as the
happiest married couple you ever heard of in a story.
From ‘West Highland Tales.’