Denbighshire Version Of A Fairy Mother And Human Midwife

: FAIRY MOTHERS AND HUMAN MIDWIVES.
: Welsh Folk-lore

The following story I received from the lips of David Roberts, whom I

have previously mentioned, a native of Denbighshire, and he related the

tale as one commonly known. As might be expected, he locates the event

in Denbighshire, but I have no recollection that he gave names. His

narrative was as follows:--



A well-known midwife, whose services were much sought after in

consequence of her great skill, ha
one night retired to rest, when she

was disturbed by a loud knocking at her door. She immediately got up and

went to the door, and there saw a beautiful carriage, which she was

urgently requested to enter at once to be conveyed to a house where her

help was required. She did so, and after a long drive the carriage drew

up before the entrance to a large mansion, which she had never seen

before. She successfully performed her work, and stayed on in the place

until her services were no longer required. Then she was conveyed home

in the same manner as she had come, but with her went many valuable

presents in grateful recognition of the services she had rendered.



The midwife somehow or other found out that she had been attending a

Fairy mother. Some time after her return from Fairy land she went to a

fair, and there she saw the lady whom she had put to bed nimbly going

from stall to stall, and making many purchases. For awhile she watched

the movements of the lady, and then presuming on her limited

acquaintance, addressed her, and asked how she was. The lady seemed

surprised and annoyed at the woman's speech, and instead of answering

her, said, And do you see me? Yes, I do, said the midwife. With

which eye? enquired the Fairy. With this, said the woman, placing her

hand on the eye. No sooner had she spoken than the Fairy lady touched

that eye, and the midwife could no longer see the Fairy.



Mrs. Lowri Wynn, Clocaenog, near Ruthin, who has reached her eightieth

year, and is herself a midwife, gave me a version of the preceding which

differed therefrom in one or two particulars. The Fairy gentleman who

had driven the woman to and from the Hall was the one that was seen in

the fair, said Mrs. Wynn, and he it was that put out the eye or blinded

it, she was not sure which, of the inquisitive midwife, and Lowri thought

it was the left eye.



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