John Roy, who lived in Glenbroun,
in the parish of Abernethy, being out one night on the hills in search of
his cattle, met a troop of fairies, who seemed to have got a prize of some
sort or other. Recollecting that the fairies are obliged to exchange whatever
they may have with any one who offers them anything, however low in value,
for it, he flung his bonnet to them, crying Shuis slo slumus sheen (i.e.,
mine is yours and yours is mine). The fairies dropped their booty, which proved
to be a Sassenach (English) lady whom the dwellers of Shian of Coir-laggac
had carried away from her own country, leaving a stock in her place which,
of course, died and was buried. John brought her home, and she lived for many
years in his house.
"It happened, however, in the
course of time," said the Gaelic narrator, "that the new king found it necessary
to make the great roads through these countries by means of soldiers, for
the purpose of letting coaches and carriages pass to the northern cities;
and those soldiers had officers and commanders in the same way as our fighting
army have now. Those soldiers were never great favourites in these countries,
particularly during the time that our kings were alive; and consequently it
was no easy matter for them, either officers or men, to procure for themselves
comfortable quarters."
But John Roy would not keep up
the national animosity to the cottan dearg (red-coats), and he offered a residence
in his house to a Saxon captain and his son. When there they could not take
their eyes off the English lady, and the son remarked to his father what a
strong likeness she bore to his deceased mother. The father replied that he
too had been struck with the resemblance, and said he could almost fancy she
was his wife. He then mentioned her name and those of some persons connected
with them. The lady by these words at once recognized her husband and son,
and honest John Roy had the satisfaction of reuniting the long-separated husband
and wife, and receiving their most grateful acknowledgments.
Source: Thomas Keightley, The
Fairy Mythology: Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various Countries
(London: H. G. Bohn, 1850), p. 391-392.