Faerie Glen

The Laird o’ Co (a faerie tale)

In the days of yore, the land-owners of Colzean, in Ayrshire, were known by the title of Lairds o’ Co’, named after the coves in the rock beneath the castle.

One morning, a very little boy, carrying a small wooden can, addressed the Laird near the castle gate, begging for a little ale for his mother, who was sick. The Laird directed him to go to the butler and get his can filled; so away he went as directed. The butler had a barrel of ale on tap, though only half full.  He proceeded to fill the lad’s can, but to his amazement he emptied the cask, and still the little can was not nearly full.

The butler was unwilling to open another barrel, but the little fellow insisted the butler obey the Laird’s order.  Puzzled, the butler explained the strange “bottomless” can to the Laird, but the Laird only confirmed his orders to fill it even if all the ale in the cellar was needed. Obedient to this command, the butler opened another cask, but had only poured a drop when suddenly, the can was full, and the wee boy departed with expressions of gratitude.

Many years afterwards the Laird being at the wars in Flanders was taken prisoner, and for some reason or other (probably as a spy) condemned to die a felon’s death. The night prior to the day for his execution, being confined in a dungeon strongly barricaded, the doors suddenly flew open, and the same wee lad reappeared, saying—

    “Laird o’ Co’, rise an’ go.”

a summons too welcome to require repeating. On emerging from prison, the boy urged the Laird to mount on his shoulders, and in a short time set him down at the Laird’s own gate, on the very spot where they had first met, saying—

“One good turn deserves another. Take ye that for being so kind to my old mother,”

and wi’ that, he vanished.