The Fairies of Merlin's Craig - Page 2

than pass Merlin's Craig when the
sun was below the horizon.

On a subsequent occasion the tiny inhabitants of Merlin's Craig surprised
a shepherd when watching his fold at night; he was asleep, and his bonnet
had fallen off and rolled to some little distance. He was awakened by
the fairies dancing round him in a circle, and was induced to join them;
but recollecting the fate of John Smith, he would not allow his female
companion to take hold of his hands. In the midst of their gambols they
came close to the hillock where the shepherd's bonnet lay,--he affected
to stumble, fell upon his bonnet, which he immediately seized, clapping
it on his head, when the whole troop instantly vanished. This exorcism
was produced by the talismanic power of a Catechism containing the Lord's
Prayer and the Apostles' Creed, which the shepherd most fortunately
recollected was deposited in the crown of his bonnet.