The Fairies Rewarding A Woman For Taking Care Of Their Dog

: FAIRY MONEY TURNEN TO DROSS.

Mention has already been made of Fairy Dogs. It would appear that now

and again these dogs, just like any other dogs, strayed from home; but

the Fairies were fond of their pets, and when lost, sought for them, and

rewarded those mortals who had shown kindness to the animals. For the

following tale I am indebted to the Rev. Owen Jones.



One day when going home from Pentrevoelas Church, the wife of Hafod y

Gareg found on the ground in an exhausted state a Fairy dog. She took it

up tenderly, and carried it home in her apron. She showed this kindness

to the poor little thing from fear, for she remembered what had happened

to the wife of Bryn Heilyn, who had found one of the Fairy dogs, but had

behaved cruelly towards it, and consequently had fallen down dead. The

wife of Hafod y Gareg therefore made a nice soft bed for the Fairy dog in

the pantry, and placed over it a brass pot. In the night succeeding the

day that she had found the dog, a company of Fairies came to Hafod y

Gareg to make inquiries after it. The woman told them that it was safe

and sound, and that they were welcome to take it away with them. She

willingly gave it up to its masters. Her conduct pleased the Fairies

greatly, and so, before departing with the dog, they asked her which she

would prefer, a clean or a dirty cow? Her answer was, A dirty one.

And so it came to pass that from that time forward to the end of her

life, her cows gave more milk than the very best cows in the very best

farms in her neighbourhood. In this way was she rewarded for her

kindness to the dog, by the Fairies.