School: Boston, Tubber (roll number 10763)

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1. Story - Jack the Tinker (Origin of Jack of the Lantern or Will o' the Wisp) (continued)

   

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   pony and bring him in till he see him before he went. The death got stook to the pony's back and would not release him till he would promise him that it would be a thousand years before he could come again for him. The thousand years passed away and death called again and Jack pretended that he was sorry for asking for so long a period, namely, the thousand years. When death arrived Jack said he was anxious, but asked the death to go out to the gooseberry bush and bring in a few gooseberries that they would eat on the road. The death went out and got caught on the gooseberry bush and Jack would not release him unless the death promised him to give him another thousand years of life. Times rolled on, the thousand years came to an end, so death arrived on the appointed day and would take no excuse and would do nothing Jack would ask him. Jack then asked the death would he allow him to say three Hail Mary's before he would go, as it was a long time since he prayed. The death granted his requests and Jack refused to say them and Death could not bring him until he said the three Hail Mary's. Years passed by and this fine morning Jack was sitting on the side of the road and a young scholar came running along the road crying. Jack took pity on him and asked him what was wrong. The

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. supernatural and legendary beings (~14,864)
         1. Will-o’-the-wisp (~74)

   Folktales index

   AT0330A: The Smith and the Devil (Death)

   AT0332: Godfather Death

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Mary Noone

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Rockvale, Co. Clare

   Informant

   Patrick Mullins

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Rockvale, Co. Clare