The Fairies Placing Money On The Ground For A Poor Man

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

The following tale was told me by Thomas Jones, a small mountain farmer,

who occupies land near Pont Petrual, a place between Ruthin and

Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr. Jones informed me that he was acquainted with

all the parties mentioned in the tale. His story was as follows:--



A shoemaker, whose health would not permit him to pursue his own trade,

obtained work in a tanyard at Penybont, near Corwen. The shoemaker live

in a house called Ty'n-y-graig, belonging to Clegir isa farm. He walked

daily to his employment, a distance of several miles, because he could

not afford to pay for lodgings. One day, he noticed a round bit of green

ground, close to one of the gates on Tan-y-Coed farm, and going up to it

discovered a piece of silver lying on the sward. Day after day, from the

same spot, he picked up a silver coin. By this means, as well as by the

wage he received, he became a well-to-do man. His wife noticed the many

new coins he brought home, and questioned him about them, but he kept the

secret of their origin to himself. At last, however, in consequence of

repeated inquiries, he told her all about the silver pieces, which daily

he had picked up from the green plot. The next day he passed the place,

but there was no silver, as in days gone by, and he never discovered

another shilling, although he looked for it every day. The poor man did

not live long after he had informed his wife whence he had obtained the

bright silver coins.