The Black Bull

Over three hundred years ago, there was a woman who had three daughters. Her husband had died many years ago; so you can understand why the woman was somewhat worn and haggard from care and concern for her three daughters.

One day, first lass, who was very beautiful, approached her mother, and asked "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

The mother put her arm around her and said "If you want to know your future you must go to the wise old woman who lives down the way. Ask her your questions and do whatever she tells you to do."

The next day, the lass, with hope in her heart, went to the wise woman. The old woman received her with kindness and offered tea and cakes at her table. Soon the daughter asked the wise old woman of her questions "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

The wise old woman asked the girl, "What is it you want from life?"

The girl replied, "I want a handsome prince, dressed in velvet and gold with a castle on the hill."

The wise old woman then told the girl, "If you truly want to know your future, go to my back door, open it wide, and tell me of what you see."

The lass went to the door, opened it wide, and said "This is wondrous indeed, for I see a beautiful carriage all trimmed in gold, drawn by four huge and beautiful black horses. What does this mean?"

To which the woman replied, "This is your future, tomorrow you must prepare yourself, dress in your finest, and go down to the crossroads. There you will meet this fine carriage and a handsome prince will carry you away, to live happily ever after."

The girl thanked the old woman, and rushed home to tell her mother and sisters all she had seen and heard. They were all happy for the oldest daughter, so they all helped her dress and prepare. They saw her off the next morning with tears of love and joy. She reached the crossroads just as the golden carriage arrived and a handsome prince picked her up into the carriage and they rode away to live happily ever after.

A day or two later, the middle daughter, who was not as good looking as the eldest daughter but was much smarter, approached her mother and asked, "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

Once again, the mother put her arm around her and said "If you want to know your future you must go to the wise old woman who lives down the way. Ask her your questions and do whatever she tells you to do."

The next day, the lass, with hope in her heart, went to the wise woman. The old woman received her with kindness and offered tea and cakes at her table. Soon the middle daughter asked the wise old woman of her questions "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

The wise old woman asked the girl, "What is it you want from life?"

The girl replied, "I want a dashing prince, dressed in silks and silver with a castle by the loch."

The wise old woman then told the girl, "If you truly want to know your future, go to my back door, open it wide, and tell me of what you see."

The lass went to the door, opened it wide, and said "This is beyond belief, for I see a beautiful carriage all trimmed in silver, drawn by four huge and beautiful white horses. What does this mean?"

To which the woman replied, "This is your future, tomorrow you must prepare yourself, dress in your finest, and go down to the crossroads. There you will meet this fine carriage and a handsome prince will carry you away, to live happily ever after."

The girl thanked the old woman, and rushed home to tell her mother and sister of all she had seen and heard. They were happy for the middle daughter, so they helped her dress and prepare. They saw her off the next morning with tears of love and joy. She reached the crossroads just as the silver carriage arrived and a handsome prince picked her up into the carriage and they rode away to live happily ever after.

As you might guess, a day or two later, the youngest daughter who was not particularly beautiful, nor particularly smart, but she was . . . beautiful on the inside, thought of two older sisters and approached her mother and asked, "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

Once again, the mother put her arm around her daughter and said "If you want to know your future you must go to the wise old woman who lives down the way. Ask her your questions and do whatever she tells you to do."

The next day, with hope in her heart, the youngest daughter went to the wise old woman. As before she was received with kindness, and offered tea and cakes. "Doesn't your mother ever feed you?"

Before long, the youngest daughter asked the wise old woman of her questions "What am I to do for a husband? What has the future in store for me?"

The wise old woman asked the girl, "What is it you want from life?"

The girl replied, "All I want is a man who will love me passionately."

The wise old woman then told the girl, "If you truly want to know your future, go to my back door, open it wide, and tell me of what you see."

The lass went to the door, opened it wide, and gasped just as she froze with terror. "This is beyond belief, for what I see is a horrible creature. A huge and monstrous bull as black as the Devil's own soul. What can this mean?"

To which the old woman replied, "This is your future, tomorrow you must prepare yourself, dress in your finest, and with all the bravery and courage you can gather in your heart go down to the crossroads. There you will fulfill your destiny."

The lass gave tearful thanks as she fled home to cry to her mother of all she had seen and heard. Sadly, the mother and daughter followed the wise old woman's advice, and the girl went to the crossroads to meet her fate. She reached the crossroads just as the fierce black bull came charging up.

Wonder of wonders, the bull spoke, bidding the girl, "Mount me!" The bull ran..., faster than any mortal creature, carrying the girl far, far away. At nightfall, they stopped at the gates of a dark foreboding castle. The bull told the girl to enter and wait. He would return for her in the morning.

The castle was empty, yet the girl could still here voices whispering around every corner. Although she was frightened, she did as she was told and waited until the next day.

In the morning, she once again mounted the terrifying black bull. The bull carried her even farther than the first day finally to stop at an ancient forest. Again, he gave her strict instructions to wait there, not to wander away, and in no way was she to enter the forest.

Through the daylight hours it was not so bad. Come nightfall, however, the girl could hear the evil fairies dancing in the woods. As frightened as she might be, she did as she was told and waited until morning.

Finally, near daybreak, she was amazed to see the wise old woman leading the black bull, by the horns, out of the forest. The old woman explained, "The bull is really a King of the nearby castle, and he has been cursed to remain as a horrible beast until he should meet a lass brave enough to follow her fate, and ride away with him."

After a few magic words, the bull changed into a handsome prince. He carried the girl back to the castle, where they lived happily ever after.