“Dear good friend Charcoal-burner, give me charcoal, the charcoal I’ll
give to the Smith, the Smith’ll give me an axe, the axe I’ll give to
the Woodcutter, the Woodcutter’ll give me wood, the wood I’ll give to
the Baker’s wife, the Baker’s wife’ll give me a bannock, the bannock
I’ll give to the Thresher, the Thresher’ll give me corn, the corn I’ll
give to the Sow, the Sow’ll give me bristles, the bristles I’ll give to
the Shoemaker, the Shoemaker’ll give me shoes, the shoes I’ll give to
the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary’ll give me a red ribbon, the red
ribbon I’ll give to the Linden, the Linden’ll give me leaves, the
leaves I’ll give to the Spring, the Spring’ll give me water, the water
I’ll give to Dame Partlet my mate, who lies at death’s door in the
hazel-wood.
So the Charcoal-burner took pity on the Cock, and gave him a bit of
charcoal, and then the Smith got his coal, and the Woodcutter his axe,
and the Baker’s wife her wood, and the Thresher his bannock, and the
Sow her corn, and the Shoemaker his bristles, and the Virgin Mary her
shoes, and the Linden its red ribbon with a golden edge, and the Spring
its leaves, and the Cock his drop of water, and he gave it to Dame
Partlet, his mate, who lay there at death’s door in the hazel-wood, and
so she got all right again.