In Borve, Harris, or, according to some, in Mealista Uig, there was a poor widow who had a large family of young boys. She was one night busily engaged teasing some wool, of which she intended to make some stuff for clothing her boys. As she was laying by her work for the night she exclaimed with a sigh, ‘ When shall this wool be spun ? I wish–goodness be between me and harm-that this were the night.’ She had no sooner ceased her speaking than a strange woman presented herself, followed by a host of others, and demanded work. The poor woman was bewildered, and did not know what to do or say until the principal visitor reminded her of the wish she had expressed a short time before. She immediately gave the wool, and the leader of the party ordered that they should commence work, saying, ‘Siudaibh mhnathan ciribh siudaibh mhnathan cardaibh siudaibh mhnathan sniomhaibh.’ Each of the train com-menced work busily. Cards and spinning-wheels were soon in requisition and as soon procured-where from nobody knew–and the wool was spun and ready for the loom in less than no time. No sooner was the loom required than it was provided, and the stuff was woven in less time still. In fine the cloth was waulked and ready for immediate use. Having accomplished what the woman wished for they demanded more work. The woman could think of none to give them, but fearing some mischief she made an excuse to go out for some work, and she went direct to her nearest neighbour’s and consulted him as to how to get rid of the Fairies, telling him the circumstances. He told her to take a vessel containing dirty water to the door, at the same time pretending that she was getting work for them. When she got to the door she was to cry out in a loud voice, ‘Tha’n Dun ri theine,’ and no sooner would they hear this than they would make a speedy retreat. When the foremost of them would pass her in the door-way the man recommended that the vessel containing the dirty water should be thrown across her back (i.e. the Fairy’s back), and that they would never return to demand more work. The woman did so and the Fairies never returned. Anon ‘Fairy Tales’, The Celtic Review 5 (1908), 155-171 at 165-166