School: Cromghlinn (C) (roll number 15411)

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   “There was once a king in Ireland and his sister died leaving three small children.”

   

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   said the eldest, "because my father left it to me and said that you should decide between us which of us should have the wood". "Well" said the eldest "I say the wood is mine because my father left me all that was crooked and straight in it." "I say the wood is mine," said the second, "because my father left me all that was green and withered in it". "I say the wood is surely mine," said the youngest because my father left me all that was under and over the ground in it." Well," said the king, "I cannot tell which of you owns the wood. But I'll give the wood to whichever of you is the smartest. "The wood i mine", said the eldest, "because I am the smartest." "I am so smart", said he, "that if you had a roofless house and it filled with all the wild birds of the air I would round the top and would not let a single bird escape". "Surely you are smart," said the king "But he is not half as smart as I am" said the second. "I am so smart", said he "that I could put a shoe on the fastest horse that ever ran and he running at full speed". None of them is as smart as I am" said the youngest, "if I had a bag of feathers taken to a big hill on a windy day and let them off with the wind I would not let one escape". "Now" said

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Folktales index

   AT1950: The Three Lazy Ones

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Máire Ní Fhaoithe

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Kilskeagh, Co. Galway

   Informant

   Seán Ó Faoithe

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   50

   Address

   Kilskeagh, Co. Galway