Gobborn Seer

There was once a man named Gobborn Seer, and he had a son named Jack. One day he sent Jack out to sell a sheepskin. "You must bring back both the skin and the money for it," said Gobborn. So Jack set off, but he couldn't find anyone who would let him keep the skin and also pay for it. He came home discouraged. "The next day Jack tried again, but still nobody wished to buy the skin on those terms. When he came home, his father said, "You must go and try your luck again tomorrow." The third day it seemed like it would be the same story, and Jack had half a mind to run away rather than face his father's disappointment. As he walked along, he came to a bridge, much like the Creek Road bridge you might know. He leaned over the parapet, deep in thought, wondering whether it would be foolish to run away from home. Just then he noticed a girl washing clothes on the bank below. " the girl replied. "Give it to me; it's easy enough."

So she took the skin, washed it in the stream, and carefully removed the wool. Jack's father was delighted. "That was a clever woman," he said. "She would make you a good wife. Do you think you could find her again?" Jack went to the bridge, and sure enough, the girl was there. He told her that his old father wished to meet her and asked if she would do them the honor of having tea with them. "All the better," said Jack, "for I'll have time to prepare." When she arrived, Gobborn Seer could see at once that she was a shrewd young woman. He asked her if she would marry his son Jack, and she agreed. Not long afterward, Gobborn Seer told Jack that they must go and build the finest castle ever seen, for a king who wanted to outshine all other kings with his wondrous palace. ""Then you're no use to me," said Gobborn. "So poor Jack turned back. When he arrived home, his wife saw him alone and asked, "Why have you come back by yourself?"

"You foolish man," said his clever wife, "if you had told a story, you would have made the way seem shorter. Now listen while I tell you a tale, and then hurry after Gobborn Seer. "So Jack hurried and overtook his father. When they finally reached their destination, they started building the castle that was to outshine all others. After a full year, wise Gobborn had built such a magnificent castle that thousands of people gathered to admire it. The king said, "The castle is complete. "But after the king had left, the housekeeper sent for Gobborn and Jack and told them she had been watching for a chance to warn them. "The king is afraid that you will take your skills elsewhere and build an even finer castle for another king," she said. When the king returned, Gobborn told him, "I have not been able to finish the ceiling, for I lack a special tool that I left at home. ""No, no," said the king.

""They would not know what to look for," replied the Seer. ""But I order that you and your son remain here," said the king. "Now there was a little hole in the wall, rather high up, and Jack's wife tried to reach a chest kept there, where the "crooked and straight" was stored. She asked the king's son to help her, for he was tall and his arms were long.

But when he leaned over the chest, she caught him by the ankles, shoved him in, and fastened the lid down. So there he stayed, both crooked and straight!When she brought him pen and ink, as he begged, she did not let him out but bored holes in the chest so he could breathe. He wrote a letter to his father, the king, saying that he would not be released until Gobborn Seer and Jack were safe back home.When the king received the letter, he realized he must pay Gobborn for his work and let them go home.As they were leaving, Gobborn told Jack, "Now that you have finished this work, you shall build an even finer castle for your clever wife."And indeed, Jack built her a castle far superior to the king's, and they lived there happily ever after.