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152

Campbell, J. F., Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Edinburgh, 1860-62. vol. i, pp. 225 ff. No. XIVa. (Narrated in September 1859, by a girl in Benbecula to MacCraw, from whom Campbell had it. It was told with a great deal of queer old language which MacCraw could not remember.)

"MARGERY WHITE COATS."

[You can read Campbell's Margery White Coats on SurLaLune.]

ABSTRACT

Deceased wife's clothes marriage test--Unnatural father-- Uncle aid--Countertasks--Magic dresses--Heroine flight (on filly with magic bridle)-- Menial heroine--Royal mistress throws basin of water at heroine--Meeting-place (ball)--Token objects (heroine says she comes from "Broken-basin Land", and after wards, from "Candlesticks")--Twofold flight--Lost shoe--Love sick prince--Shoe marriage test--Mutilated feet--Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) King has four daughters, and after wife's death will marry one whom her clothes fit.-- (2) Youngest alone able, and is importuned by father to marry him.-- (3) Mother's brother advises her to ask for gown of bird's down, of colours of sky woven with silver, of colours of stars woven with gold, and glass shoes.-- (4) With uncle's help she escapes on filly with magic bridle, she on one side, the chest on other.-- (5) She comes to king's palace, hides chest in rushes, turns filly loose, and goes to palace in petticoat and shift.-- (6) She grows dirty and ugly, and must blow the bellows all day.-- (7) King's son returns, and there is to be a feast.-- (8) Heroine asks to go, bat is refused by queen.-- (9) Who throws a basin of water at her and breaks it.-- (10) Heroine gives to him, shakes magic bridle, filly comes, and both go to the feast.-- (11) The king's son sets her on his own lap, and dances every reel with her.-- (12) To his question whence she comes, she answers from Broken Basin-land.-- (13) She escapes, returns to cook, and is reproved for joining in conversation about the beautiful lady.-- (14) This happens a second time, save that it is the candlesticks which are thrown at heroine, and that eight men were set to catch her.-- (15) And that when she escapes she leaves behind her a glass shoe.-- (16) Prince's illness follows, and determination only to marry whom shoe should fit.-- (17) All ladies cut off heels and toes for this purpose.-- (18) Prince asks if none remain, and a small creature mentions the cook-maid.-- (19) He learns about basin and candlestick from his mother.-- (20) Shoe is tried and fitted, and all are in despair.-- (21) But heroine retires and returns on filly with her magic dresses, whereupon wedding takes place.

[Campbell notes the Highland colouring of this tale and the preceding. The chest, the shift, and petticoat, the ball-feast, are all taken from the daily life of the narrators.]

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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