School: Tuairín Árd (roll number 14078)

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1. The Thankless Mother

   

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   The Thankless Mother - (Michael Doody - See Page I.

   There was a couple there long ago and they weren't very well off. They had a young son. The mother was a laundry-woman. After his death, the wife took the youngster with her and went doing laundry-work into a big city in England. She was there for three years. The King and his wife were walking the flags one day, when he noticed this grand work in the laundry window. He saw some collars made up so he went in and asked who made up those. He was told. He wanted to see the woman. She was brought to him and he says "Come along with me and I'll pay you whatever money you'll want; if you will consent to be my laundry woman". "I cannot", she said, "for I have a youngster". "He'll be alright" said the King, "I'll get him looked after".

   Away she went and carried on the same business. After a time, the youngster went to school, and in the course of some years, the King, made a post-boy out of him.

   Time went on and the post boy grew up to be a fine man. Now the King had a beautiful daughter who had refused many grand offers of marriage but who was of late greatly attracted by her father's handsome post-man. Now when the King heard it, he fell into an awful rage. He called his advizer to him and said "Go and find out, if there is any truth in the rumour that my daughter, the Princess is madly in love with that n'eer do well post-man of mine. I give you twenty-four hours to find this out, or if not I'll get you beheaded. The twenty-four hours were up and the advizer came with the news to the King. He told him that the Princess and the post-boy were on great terms - that they were going to get married.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Folktales index

   AT0461: Three Hairs from the Devil's Beard

   AT0590: The Prince and the Arm Bands

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Liam Ó Murchadha

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Address

   Knocknagashel, Co. Kerry

   Informant

   Michael Doody

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   68

   Occupation

   Oibrí

   Address

   Ahaneboy, Co. Kerry