Rashin-Coatie
Once, a long time ago, there was a gentleman had two lassies. The oldest was ugly and
ill natured, but the youngest was a bonnie lassie and good; but the ugly one was the
favorite with her father and mother. So they ill used the youngest in every way, and they
sent her into the woods to herd cattle, and all the food she got was a little porridge and
whey.
Well, amongst the cattle was a red calf, and one day it said to the lassie, "Gee
that porridge and whey to the doggie, and come wi' me."
So the lassie followed the calf through the wood, and they came to a bonnie hoosie,
where there was a nice dinner ready for them; and after they had feasted on everything
nice they went back to the herding.
Every day the calf took the lassie away, and feasted her on dainties; and every day she
grew bonnier. This disappointed the father and mother and the ugly sister. They expected
that the rough usage she was getting would take away her beauty; and they watched and
watched until they saw the calf take the lassie away to the feast. So they resolved to
kill the calf; and not only that, but the lassie was to be compelled to kill him with an
axe. Her ugly sister was to hold his head, and the lassie who loved him had to give the
blow and kill him.
She could do nothing but greet [weep]; but the calf told her not to greet, but to do as
he bade her; and his plan was that instead of coming down on his head she was to come down
on the lassie's head who was holding him, and then she was to jump on his back and they
would run off. Well, the day came for the calf to be killed, and everything was ready -
the ugly lassie holding his head, and the bonnie lassie armed with the axe. So she raised
the axe, and came down on the ugly sister's head; and in the confusion that took place she
got on the calf's back and they ran away. And they ran and better nor ran till they came
to a meadow where grew a great lot of rashes; and, as the lassie had not on many clothes,
they pu'ed rashes, and made a coatie for her. And they set off again and traveled, and
traveled, till they came to the king's house. They went in, and asked if they wanted a
servant. The mistress said she wanted a kitchen lassie, and she would take Rashin-Coatie.
So Rashin-Coatie said she would stop, if they keepit the calf too. They were willing to
do that. So the lassie and the calf stoppit in the king's house, and everybody was well
pleased with her; and when Yule came, they said she was to stop at home and make the
dinner, while all the rest went to the kirk. After they were away the calf asked if she
would like to go. She said she would, but she had no clothes, and she could not leave the
dinner. The calf said he would give her clothes, and make the dinner too. He went out, and
came back with a grand dress, all silk and satin, and such a nice pair of slippers. The
lassie put on the dress, and before she left she said:
Ilka peat gar anither burn,
An' ilka spit gar anither turn,
An' ilka pot gar anither play,
Till I come frae the kirk on gude Yule day.
So she went to the kirk, and nobody kent it was Rashin-Coatie. They wondered who the
bonnie lady could be; and, as soon as the young prince saw her, he fell in love with her,
and resolved he would find out who she was, before she got home; but Rashin-Coatie left
before the rest, so that she might get home in time to take off her dress, and look after
the dinner.
When the prince saw her leaving, he made for the door to stop her; but she jumped past
him, and in the hurry lost one of her shoes. The prince kept the shoe, and Rashin-Coatie
got home all right, and the folk said the dinner was very nice.
Now the prince was resolved to find out who the bonnie lady was, and he sent a servant
through all the land with the shoe. Every lady was to try it on, and the prince promised
to marry the one it would fit. That servant went to a great many houses, but could not
find a lady that the shoe would go on, it was so little and neat. At last he came to a
henwife's house, and her daughter had little feet. At first the shoe would not go on, but
she paret her feet, and clippit her toes, until the shoes went on. Now the prince was very
angry. He knew it was not the lady that he wanted; but, because he had promised to marry
whoever the shoe fitted, he had to keep his promise.
The marriage day came, and, as they were all riding to the kirk, a little bird flew
through the air, and it sang:
Clippit feet an' paret taes is on the saidle set;
But bonnie feet an' braw feet sits in the kitchen neuk.
"What's that ye say?" said the prince
"Oh," says the henwife, "would ye mind what a feel bird says?"
But the prince said, "Sing that again, bonnie birdie."
So the bird sings:
Clippit feet an' paret taes is on the saidle set;
But bonnie feet an' braw feet sits in the kitchen neuk.
The prince turned his horse and rode home, and went straight to his father's kitchen,
and there sat Rashin-Coatie. He kent her at once, she was so bonnie; and when she tried on
the shoe it fitted her, and so the prince married Rashin-Coatie, and they lived happy, and
built a house for the red calf, who had been so kind to her.
George Douglad: Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales. London 1901, p. 17 ff. (AT 510A,
Schottland)
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