A young man died suddenly on May Eve while he was lying asleep
under a hay-rick, and the parents and friends knew immediately that he had
been carried off to the fairy palace in the great moat of Granard. So a
renowned fairy man was sent for, who promised to have him back in nine
days. Meanwhile he desired that food and drink of time best should be left
daily for the young man at a certain place on the moat. This was done, and
time food always disappeared, by which they knew time young man was
living, and came out of the moat nightly for the provisions left for him by
his people.
Now on the ninth day a great crowd assembled to see time young man
brought back from Fairyland. And in time midst stood the fairy doctor
performing his incantations by means of fire and a powder which he threw
into the flames that caused a dense grey smoke to arise. Then, taking off his
hat, and holding a key in his hand, he called out. three times in a loud voice,
"Come forth, come forth, come forth!" On which a shrouded figure slowly
rose up in time midst of the smoke, and a voice was heard answering,
"Leave me in peace; I am happy with my fairy bride, and my parents need
not weep for me, for I shall bring them good luck, and guard them from evil
evermore."
Then the figure vanished and the smoke cleared, and the parents were
content, for they believed the vision, and having loaded the fairy-man with
presents, they sent him away home.
MAY-DAY SUPERSTITIONS
THE marsh marigold is considered of great use in divination, and is
called "the shrub of Beltaine." Garlands are made of it for the cattle and the
door-posts to keep off the fairy power. Milk also is poured on the threshold,
though none would be given away; nor fire, nor salt--these three things
being sacred. There are many superstitions concerning May-the. It is not
safe to go on the water the first Monday in May. Hares found on May
morning are supposed to be witches, and should be stoned.
If the fire goes out on May morning it is considered very unlucky, and it
cannot be re-kindled except by a lighted sod brought from the priest's
house. And the ashes of this blessed turf are afterwards sprinkled on the
floor and the threshold of the house. Neither fire, nor water, nor milk, nor
salt should he given away for love or money, and if a wayfarer is given a
cup of milk, he must drink it in the house, and salt must he mixed with it.
Salt and water as a drink is at all times considered a potent. Charm against
evil, if properly prepared by a fairy doctor and the magic words said over it.
One day in May a young girl lay down to rest at noontide on a fairy rath
and fell asleep--a thing of great danger, for the fairies are strong in power