Reading Notes: March's Ears, Part A

March' Ears
Author: W. Jenkyn Thomas

This story was about a lord named March. He had a secret that nobody knew, except his barber. The secret was that March had horse ears. He was embarrassed and ashamed by them, so he never wanted anyone to see them.

He made his barber take an oath saying that he would never share the information with anyone. Eventually, the barber became ill because he had been keeping this secret for so long. The barber went to see a physician to get help with his illness.

The physician said that the only way he could get better was to share the secret. The barber whispered the secret to the ground, and where he did, the ground began to grow fine crops.

Later that evening, March had a party. This party involved music, drinking, and a lot of people. As a piper was playing, March found out that he knew his secret. March tried to kill him with his sword but could not. March was no longer ashamed of his ears. For they allowed him to hear the music extremely well.

                                                                   Horse Ears

Reading Notes: Beth Gellert, Part B

Celtic Fairy Tales: Beth Gellert
Author: Joseph Jacobs

There once was a prince, named Prince Llewelyn. This prince had a hound named Gellert. Gellert was the best dog that the prince had ever had. He always took Gellert with him when he went hunting.

One afternoon, Prince Llewelyn wanted to go hunting but couldn't find Gellert. He called for him, but no response. So the prince went hunting without Gellert.

Upon his return, Gellert greeted the prince with blood dripping from his mouth. Worried about his toddler, the prince hurried to the nursery. When he got to the nursery, his child was nowhere to be found. He looked everywhere for him.

Assuming that Gellert had killed his child, the prince took his sword and stabbed the hound. When Gellert let out a big yelp, the child awoke and made a noise. Unharmed, the prince found his child under the crib awakening from a nap. Under the crib with the baby was a wolf that had been killed.

Gellert had protected the child from harm. The prince tried to revive the dog, but couldn't.

Beth Gellert

Reading Notes: The Horned Women, Part A

Celtic Fairy Tales: The Horned Women
Author: Joseph Jacobs

There once was a rich woman who was sitting with her servants around her carding and preparing wool.

There was a knock at the door and the woman got up to answer. At the door was a witch with a horn growing from her head. She entered and began carding and preparing wool.

The knocking continued for a total of 12 times. Each with that came had one more horn than the one before.

The woman was under their spell and couldn't move or speak. They eventually proposed that she make them a cake. So she went to gather the necessary ingredients needed to make a cake.

The Spirit of the Well took over and demanded that the witches break the curse and leave town. They were reluctant at first, but left in a hurry, all crying and screaming. The Spirit of the Well had won and helped the rich woman.

The Horned Women