THE PONY SOLD TWICE

At the fair by the water In Cromarty there were a deal of donkeys being sold. The first consideration when thinking to but a donkey is not what will it carry, but will it move for you at all? A donkey that will take a heavy load, but then dig in its heels, is of no use. So donkeys are not shown for sale tethered, but led up and down, their owners making great play of how easily and well they move when called on.

One country lad from away up on the Mulbuie was there, come far east from home to his first selling fair, and he had watched how the seller had shown the beast, and led her by call and a light tug on the halter. When he had bought the animal the country fellow led her in the same light way, and walked through the market to show off his purchase.

Two town louts were watching to spot a mark, and they spied one in the country fellow. They went carefully up behind him, one carefully lifted off the halter, put it on his own neck and paced after the owner, imitating the donkey's gait. His partner clapped a hand over the donkey's mouth, slipped a new halter on it and led it away. The haltered one watched to make sure no other had seen, and his partner was well away, then he stood stock still.

The Mulbuie lad yerked at the rope and called, but the lout still stood his ground. The country fellow looked round, and dropped the rope in amazement. He stared, and asked, "Who and what are you?"

The cheater said, "Don't you know me? Ah'm yer donkey."

"How that can ye be my donkey? Ye are an man!"

"Aye, but listen. Ah hae an auld mother that lives over tae Ferintosh, and she is one o the Ferintosh witches. A year ago today ah cam hame drunk, and drunker than ah hae been before, and ah was disobedient tae her, and rude tae her, and refused tae dae her biddin. So ye got fired up, and cursed me, and said, 'Ye act like a donkey, so ye maun be a donkey for an year and an day, and maybe that'll cure ye'. She turned me tae one then and there, and sold me tae a fairmer forby to mak me work the harder.

"But yesterday it was an year since ah wis bewitched, and here ah am freed frae the spell, and ah maun go hame and beg her pardon and say ah've learnt ma lesson and will not touch spirituous liquors ever again."

"Well," said the lad from the Mulbuie. "Well, well. I have heard of them witches that bides to Ferintosh. An ye are a son of one? Marvellous indeed. Will you come with me and explain about yourself to the farmer that I was after buying you from, for I must get my money back from him?"

"Naw, naw, ah canny wait, ah maun gang hame now."

Off ran the lout.

The country fellow went back to his father's croft, and was astonished to be laughed at, and told to be away with his havers of the witches of Ferintosh and to sue for recompense in the churchyard at midnight, for he'd get no money back. He paced up and down, and thought about this advice, but he thought it not seriously meant. At last he thought he must take the little money he had in hand and see if any donkey could be acquired for the price.

Going back to the donkey selling area, he watched the yet unsold beasts being paraded, and was startled to see the donkey he had earlier bought, being led by the other lout, who did not notice him. The Mulbuie lad got into step beside the donkey, lifted up its ear and spoke into it.

"So ho, my fine fellow. You swore to go home and beg forgiveness from your mother. Instead you went and began to drink again, did you not? And your mother's spell has turned you to a donkey again! Well, I was caught once, but I'll never buy you more. Let some other poor fool pay the price, and find in a year's time he is cheated on the deal."

And he went away home.