English Fairy Tales

English Fairy Tales

XXVIII. JOHNNY-CAKE.

Source.—American Journal of Folk-Lore, ii. 60.

Parallels.—Another variant is given in the same Journal, p.
277, where reference is also made to a version “The Ginger-
bread Boy,” in St. Nicholas, May 1875. Chambers gives two
versions of the same story, under the title “The Wee
Bunnock,” the first of which is one of the most dramatic
and humorous of folk-tales. Unfortunately, the Scotticisms
are so frequent as to render the droll practically untranslat-
able. “The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow” in Uncle Remus is simi-
lar to that of Johnny-Cake.

XXIX. EARL MAR’S DAUGHTER.

Source.—From the ballad of the same name as given in Mr.
Allingham’s Ballad Book: it is clearly a fairy tale and not a
ballad proper.

Parallels.—The lover visiting his spouse in guise of a bird, is

a frequent motif in folk-tales.

XXX. MR. MIACCA.

Source.—From memory of Mrs. B. Abrahams, who heard it

from her mother some x years ago (more than 40). I have

transposed the two incidents, as in her version Tommy Grimes

was a clever carver and carried about with him a carven leg.

This seemed to me to exceed the limits of vraisemblance even

for a folk-tale.

Parallels.—Getting out of an ogre’s clutches by playing on

the simplicity of his wife, occurs in “Molly Whuppie” (No.

xxii.), and its similars. In the Grimms’ “Hansel and Grethel,”

Hansel pokes out a stick instead of his finger that the witch

may not think him fat enough for the table.

Remarks.—Mr. Miacca seems to have played the double rôle