1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,720
Speaker 1: The Voyage of the wee Red Cap by Ruth Sawyer Durrant.

2
00:00:04,599 --> 00:00:07,839
It was the knight of Saint Stephen, and tig sat

3
00:00:07,879 --> 00:00:11,080
alone by his fire, with naught in his cupboard but

4
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,160
a pinch of tea and a bare mixing of meal,

5
00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:17,359
and a heart inside of him as soft and warm

6
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,399
as the ice on the water bucket outside the door.

7
00:00:20,719 --> 00:00:23,879
The tuft was near burnt on the hearth a handful

8
00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,280
of golden cinders left just and tig took to counting

9
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:33,560
them greedily on his fingers. There's one, two, three, and

10
00:00:33,799 --> 00:00:39,479
four and five, he laughed, faith there be more bits

11
00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,719
of real gold hit under the loose clay in the corner.

12
00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,039
It was the truth, and it was the scraping and

13
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,200
scrooching for the last piece that had left Tigu's copboard

14
00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,200
bare of a Christmas dinner. Gold is better nor eaten

15
00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,920
and drinking. And if ye have naught to give, there'll

16
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,439
be nought as stuggy, and he laughed again. He was

17
00:01:03,479 --> 00:01:06,359
thinking of the neighbors, and the doles of food and

18
00:01:06,519 --> 00:01:10,359
piggins of milk that would pass over their thresholds that night,

19
00:01:10,599 --> 00:01:14,120
to the vagabonds and paupers who were sure to come begging,

20
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,319
And on the heels of that thought followed another who

21
00:01:18,359 --> 00:01:22,400
would be giving Old Barney his dinner. Barney lived a

22
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,719
stone's throw from take alone in a wee tumbled in cabin,

23
00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,719
and for a score of years past Tige had stood

24
00:01:30,719 --> 00:01:34,840
on the doorstep every Christmas Eve, and, making a hollow

25
00:01:34,879 --> 00:01:40,000
of his two hands, had called across the road, Hey there, Barney,

26
00:01:40,239 --> 00:01:44,519
wi ye come over for us up? And Barney had

27
00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,439
reached for his crutches, there being but one leg to him,

28
00:01:48,879 --> 00:01:53,560
and had come. Faith, said Tige, trying another laugh barneck

29
00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,599
and fast for the once twill be all the same

30
00:01:56,719 --> 00:01:59,599
in a month's time, and he fell to thinking of

31
00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,359
the gold again. A knock came at the door. Tig

32
00:02:03,599 --> 00:02:06,640
pulled himself down in his chair where the shadow would

33
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:12,199
cover him, and held his tongue. Tig, Tig, it was

34
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,520
the widow o' donnolly's voice, if ye are there, open

35
00:02:16,599 --> 00:02:19,240
your door. I have not got the pay for the

36
00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:25,400
springing this month, and the childer are needing food. But

37
00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,599
Tig put the leash on his tongue and never stirred

38
00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,719
till he saw the tramp of her feet going on

39
00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,719
to the next cabin. Then he saw to it that

40
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,360
the door was tight barred. Another knock came, and it

41
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,800
was a stranger's voice. This time the other cabins are filled,

42
00:02:43,159 --> 00:02:46,919
not one but has its hearth crowded. Will ye take

43
00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,879
us in? The two of us, the wind bites mortal sharp.

44
00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,520
Not a morsel of food have na tasted this day? Master,

45
00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,159
Will ye take us in? But tig set on a

46
00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:03,159
holding his tongue, and the tramp of the stranger's feet

47
00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:08,039
passed down the road. Others took their place, small feet running.

48
00:03:08,439 --> 00:03:11,439
It was the miller's wee Cassie, and she called out

49
00:03:11,479 --> 00:03:15,280
as she ran by, Oh, Barney's watching for ye, ye'll

50
00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,520
not be forgetting him? Will ye take And then the

51
00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:22,879
child broke into a song, sweet and clear as she

52
00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:23,919
passed down the road.

53
00:03:24,759 --> 00:03:29,159
Speaker 2: Listen, no, ye tis the feast of Saint Stephen. Mind

54
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,759
that you keep it this holly, even open your door

55
00:03:34,199 --> 00:03:38,439
and greet ye this stranger. For ye mind that the

56
00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:44,479
wee Lord had nought but a manger. Mere artra feed

57
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,719
ye the hungry and resty, the weary, This ye must

58
00:03:48,719 --> 00:03:52,000
do for his sake of our marry. Tis Will that

59
00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,159
ye mind, ye who sit by the fire, that the

60
00:03:57,319 --> 00:04:03,080
Lord he was born in a darkened colbaire Miro asked

61
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:08,319
trow Tig put his fingers deep in his ears, a

62
00:04:08,479 --> 00:04:12,319
million murthering curses on them that won't let me be.

63
00:04:12,919 --> 00:04:15,800
Can't a man tried to keep what it sees without

64
00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:20,120
being pestered by them that has only idled and wasted

65
00:04:20,199 --> 00:04:24,759
in their days. And then the strange thing happened. Hundreds

66
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,439
and hundreds of wee lights began dancing outside the window,

67
00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,319
making the room bright. The hands of the clock began

68
00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:35,519
chasing each other round the dial, and the bolt of

69
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,759
the door drew itself out slowly, without a creak or

70
00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,920
a cringe. The door opened, and in there trooped a

71
00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,560
crowd of the good people, their weak green cloak folded

72
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,959
close about them, and each carried a rush candle. Tige

73
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,720
was filled with great wonderment entirely when he saw the fairies.

74
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,600
But when they saw him, they laughed, we.

75
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,639
Speaker 1: Are taking the loan of your cabin this night, Tea

76
00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,920
said they, ye art the only man hereabout with an

77
00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:12,920
empty hearth, and where neatn one. Without saying more, they

78
00:05:12,959 --> 00:05:16,959
bustled about the room, making ready. They lengthened out the

79
00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,160
table and spread and set it more of the good

80
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:25,000
people trooped in, bringing stools and food and drink. The

81
00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:29,199
pipers came last, and they set themselves around the chimney

82
00:05:29,199 --> 00:05:33,759
piece a blowing their chanters and trying the drones. The

83
00:05:33,759 --> 00:05:36,800
feasting began, and the pipers played, and never had Tea

84
00:05:36,959 --> 00:05:40,560
seen such a sight in his life. Suddenly a wee

85
00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,079
man sang out, clip pop, clip pop, I wish I

86
00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,360
had my wee red cap, and out of the air

87
00:05:47,399 --> 00:05:50,759
there tumbled the neatest cap. Tea ever laid his two

88
00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,519
eyes on the wee man clapt it on his head, crying,

89
00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,600
I wish I was in Spain, and whisked up the

90
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,680
chimney he went, and away out of sight. It happened

91
00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,160
just as I'm telling it. Another wee man called for

92
00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,600
his cap, and away he went after the first, and

93
00:06:10,639 --> 00:06:14,240
then another and another, until the room was empty, and

94
00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:20,319
Tek sat alone again. Buy my soul, said Tig, I'd

95
00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:24,279
like to travel that way myself. It's a grand saving

96
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,759
of tickets and baggage, and ye get to a place

97
00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,839
before ye've had time to change yer mind. Faith, there

98
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,240
is no harm done if I'd thry it. So he

99
00:06:36,319 --> 00:06:39,439
sang the fairies rhyme, and out of the air dropped

100
00:06:39,519 --> 00:06:42,680
a wee cap for him. For a moment the wonder

101
00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,000
had him, but the next he was clapping the cap

102
00:06:45,079 --> 00:06:50,279
on his head and crying Spain. Then weist up the chimney.

103
00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,160
He went after the fairies, and before he had time

104
00:06:53,199 --> 00:06:55,560
to let out his breath, he was standing in the

105
00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,920
middle of spain and strangeness all about him. He was

106
00:07:00,079 --> 00:07:03,240
in a great city. The doorways of the houses were

107
00:07:03,519 --> 00:07:06,800
hung with flowers, and the air was warm and sweet

108
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,879
with the smell of them. Torches burned along the streets.

109
00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:15,000
Sweetmeat cellars went about crying their wares, and on the

110
00:07:15,079 --> 00:07:20,279
steps of the cathedral crouched a crowd of beggars. What's

111
00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:23,920
the meaning all that, asked he of one of the fairies.

112
00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,720
They are waiting for those that are hearing mass. When

113
00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:30,199
they come out, they give half of what they have

114
00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,600
to those that have nothing. So on this night, all

115
00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,560
of the year, there shall be no hunger and cold.

116
00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,360
And then far down the street came the sound of

117
00:07:39,399 --> 00:07:45,519
a child's voice, singing, Listen, all ye tis the fiesta, saints, devon,

118
00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:52,879
mind that you keep it this holy even carrosit said

119
00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,560
teg can a song fly after? Are he and then

120
00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:02,000
he heard the fairies cry Holland, and cried Holland too.

121
00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:07,519
In one leap he was over Frantz, and another over Belgium,

122
00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,560
and with the third he was standing by long ditches

123
00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,839
of water frozen fast, and over them glided hundreds upon

124
00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:19,319
hundreds of lads and maids. Outside each door stood a

125
00:08:19,399 --> 00:08:23,079
wee wooden shoe, empty tikesaw, scores of them. As he

126
00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,480
looked down the ditch of a street. What is the

127
00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:30,920
meaning of the shoes, he asked the fairies. Ye poor lad,

128
00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,240
answered the wee man next to him. Are ye not

129
00:08:34,519 --> 00:08:37,879
knowing anything? This is the gift knight of the year,

130
00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:43,120
when every man gives to his neighbor. A child came

131
00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:45,240
to the window of one of the houses, and in

132
00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,440
her hand was a lighted candle. She was singing as

133
00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,200
she put the light down close to the glass, and

134
00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:56,600
Tige caught the words open your door and greet ye

135
00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,240
the stranger. For ye mind that the wee lord had

136
00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:06,320
not but a manger. Mihur etro tis the Dedl's work,

137
00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,240
cried Tig, and he set the red cap more firmly

138
00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,840
on his head. I'm for another country. I cannot be

139
00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,519
telling you, Ahulf of the adventures Teag had that night,

140
00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,399
nor half the sights that he saw. But he passed

141
00:09:20,399 --> 00:09:23,440
by fields that held sheaves of grain for the birds,

142
00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,759
and door steps that held bowls of porridge for the

143
00:09:26,759 --> 00:09:31,360
wee creatures. He saw lighted trees sparkling and heavy with gifts,

144
00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,639
and he stood outside the churches and watched the crowds

145
00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,000
pass in bearing gifts to the Holy Mother and Child.

146
00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:42,639
At last, the fairies straightened their caps and cried now

147
00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,360
for the Great Hall in the King of England's palace.

148
00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,039
Whist and away they went, and Teague after them, And

149
00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,600
the first thing he knew he was in London, not

150
00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,240
an arm's length from the King's throne. It was a

151
00:09:56,279 --> 00:09:59,240
grander sight than he had seen in any other country.

152
00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,480
The all was filled entirely with lords and ladies, and

153
00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:05,879
the great doors were opened for the poor and the

154
00:10:05,919 --> 00:10:09,279
homeless to come in and warm themselves by the King's

155
00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,799
fire and feast from the king's table. And many a

156
00:10:12,919 --> 00:10:17,320
hungry soul did the King serve with his own hands.

157
00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,159
Those that had anything to give gave it in return.

158
00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,039
It might be a bit of music played on a

159
00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,080
harp or a pipe, or it might be a dance

160
00:10:27,399 --> 00:10:30,679
or a song, but more often it was a wish,

161
00:10:31,399 --> 00:10:35,600
just for good luck and safe keeping. Tea was so

162
00:10:35,879 --> 00:10:38,440
taken up with the watching that he never heard the

163
00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,639
fairies when they wished themselves on. Moreover, he never saw

164
00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,879
the wee girl that was fed and went laughing away,

165
00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,279
but he heard a bit of her song as she

166
00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,799
passed through the door. Faid ye, the hungry and rusty,

167
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,679
the weary, this ye must do for the sake of

168
00:10:55,759 --> 00:11:01,039
our marry. Then the anger had Tea, I'll stop your

169
00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:05,440
pestering tongue once on the foot all time, and catching

170
00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,039
the cap from his head, he threw it after her.

171
00:11:08,759 --> 00:11:11,960
No sooner was the cap gone than every soul in

172
00:11:12,039 --> 00:11:16,159
the hall saw him. The next moment they were about him,

173
00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,559
catching at his coat and crying, where is he from?

174
00:11:20,799 --> 00:11:24,120
What does he hear? Bring him before the king, and

175
00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,919
tag was dragged along by a hundred hands to the

176
00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,559
throne where the king sat. He was stealing food, cried one,

177
00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,279
he was robbing the king's jewels, cried another, he looks evil,

178
00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,159
cried a third. Kill him, And in a moment all

179
00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,559
the voices took it up, and the hall rang with aye,

180
00:11:44,919 --> 00:11:49,879
kill him, kill him. Tig's legs took to trembling, and

181
00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,399
Fear put the leash on his tongue. But after a

182
00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,360
long silence, he managed to whisper, I have done evil

183
00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:02,159
to no one, no one, maybe, said the king. But

184
00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,679
have ye done good? Come? Tell us have ye given

185
00:12:06,759 --> 00:12:10,480
aught to any one this night? If ye have, we

186
00:12:10,639 --> 00:12:15,919
will pardon ye. Not a word could Tig say. Fear

187
00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,600
tightened the leash, for he was knowing full well there

188
00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:24,639
was no good to him that night. Then you must die,

189
00:12:25,159 --> 00:12:31,279
said the king. Will ye try hanging or beheading? Hanging? Please,

190
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:37,159
your majesty, said Tigue. The guards came rushing up and

191
00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,360
carried him off, but as he was crossing the threshold

192
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,279
of the hall, a thought sprang at him and held

193
00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,639
him Your majesty, he called after him, Will ye grant

194
00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:54,080
me a last request? I will, said the king. Thank ye.

195
00:12:54,519 --> 00:12:57,679
There's a wee red cap that I'm mortal fond of,

196
00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,000
and I've lost it a while ago. If I could

197
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,799
be hung with it on, I would hang a deal

198
00:13:03,919 --> 00:13:08,320
more comfortable. The cap was found and brought to Tege.

199
00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:13,720
Clip clap, clip clap for my wee red cap. I

200
00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:17,879
wish I was home, He sang up and over the

201
00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:22,240
heads of the dumbfounded guard. He flew and whist and

202
00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,919
away out of sight. When he opened his eyes again,

203
00:13:26,039 --> 00:13:29,679
he was sitting close by his own hearth, with a

204
00:13:29,799 --> 00:13:33,600
fire burnt low. The hands of the clock were still,

205
00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,080
the bolt was fixed firm in the door. The fairy's

206
00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,080
lights were gone, and the only bright thing was the

207
00:13:41,159 --> 00:13:44,639
candle burning in Old Barney's cabin across the road. A

208
00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:48,080
running of feet sounded outside, and then the snatch of

209
00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,360
a song. Tis will that ye mind, ye who sit

210
00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:56,080
by the fire, that the Lord he was born in

211
00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:02,480
a dark and cold byre mere, I'll wait ye, whoever

212
00:14:02,639 --> 00:14:05,519
ye are. And Tea was away to the corner, digging

213
00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,519
fast at the loose clay as a terrier digs at

214
00:14:08,519 --> 00:14:11,799
a bone. He filled his hands full of the shining gold,

215
00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,919
then hurried to the door, unbarring it. The miller's wee

216
00:14:15,919 --> 00:14:20,200
Cassie stood there peering at him out of the darkness.

217
00:14:20,799 --> 00:14:23,600
Take these to the widow, O'Donnelly, do ye hear, and

218
00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,000
take the rest to the store. Ye tell Jamie to

219
00:14:27,039 --> 00:14:30,559
bring up all that he has that is eatable and drinkable,

220
00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,600
And to the neighbors, ye say, Tig's keepin the feasts

221
00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:39,120
this night. Hurry now, Tig stopped a moment on the

222
00:14:39,159 --> 00:14:42,039
threshold until the tramp of her feet had died away.

223
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,159
Then he made a hollow of his two hands, and

224
00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:48,840
called across the road, Hey there, Barney, will ye come over?

225
00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,399
For a sup end of the Voyage of the wee

226
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,320
Red Cap by Ruth Sawyer Durrant