Folktales of Water Spirits, Kelpies, and Selkies by Various

Author:Various
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
Published: 2016-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

KELPIE STORIES FROM THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND.

KELPIE AS USEFUL.

A MAN in carting home his peats for winter fuel was in the habit of seeing a big black horse grazing on the banks of the Ugie, at Inverugie Castle, near Peterhead, each morning as he passed to the “moss.” He told some of his neighbours. They suspected what the horse was, and advised the man to get a “waith-horse” bridle, approach the animal with all care and caution, and cast the bridle over his head. The man now knew the nature of the creature, and followed the advice. Kelpie was secured, and did good work in carrying stones to build the bridge over the Ugie at Inverugie. When his services were no longer needed he was set at liberty. As he left he said;—

“Sehr back an sehr behns

Cairryt a’ the Brig o’ Innerugie’s stehns.”

The old man, who handed down this story to his children, from one of whom I have now got it, used to say to any of them that complained of being tired after a hard day’s work: “Oh, aye, ye’re like the kelpie that cairryt the stehns to big the brig o’ Innerugie, ‘sehr back an sehr behns.’ ”

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