Welcome back sleepy listeners,
I'm your host Joanne and I'm so glad you're here with me tonight.
For tonight's bedtime story,
I'll be reading The Widow's Daughter.
Light-hearted old Irish folktale about a young woman named Nabla.
An unexpected turn of fortune.
And a rather clever path to happily ever after.
I'll be reading the story through twice,
Giving you a little extra time to relax,
Settle in and drift off to sleep.
So now,
As we get ready to begin.
.
.
Make yourself comfortable and cozy Let your head rest softly against your pillow.
Feel the bed supporting you beneath you.
And if it feels right.
Take a slow,
Easy breath.
And as you settle in.
.
.
Begin to let go of the day that has passed.
Whatever fills your hours today can be set aside for now.
There's nothing you need to figure out tonight.
Nothing you need to finish and nowhere else you need to be.
Allow the thoughts of the day to become a little quieter as you bring your attention here to this moment.
Notice the comfort of your bed.
The softness of your blankets.
And the gentle rhythm of your breathing.
With each breath.
Give yourself permission to relax a little more.
Let your shoulders soften Allow your body to grow still.
For the next little while you can simply listen.
Allowing the sound of my voice and the words of this old tale to carry you gently along as you slowly drift closer and closer towards sleep.
End.
Whenever you're ready.
Let's begin.
There was once a poor widow woman living in the north of Ireland who had one daughter named Nabla.
And Nabla grew up both idle and lazy.
Till at length,
When she had grown to be a young woman,
She was both riftless and useless,
Fit only to sit with her heels in the ashes and croon to the cat the day long.
Her mother was annoyed with her.
So that one day.
When Nabla refused to do some little trifle about the house.
Her mother finally lost patience and scolded her soundly.
As her mother was scolding Nabla for her idleness.
Who should happen to be riding past but the king's son himself?
He heard the mother scolding.
And Nabla crying and pleading within.
So he drew rain.
And at the top of his voice shouted to know what was the matter.
The widow came to the door.
Curtsying which he saw who he was.
Not wishing to give out a bad name on her daughter.
She told the king's son.
That she had a daughter who worked herself weary the leelong day.
And refused to rest when her mother asked her.
So that she was forever having to persuade the girl to put her work aside and take a little rest.
What work can your daughter do?
The prince asked.
So you can spin,
Weave,
And sew.
And do every work that ever a woman did,
" the mother replied.
Now it so happened that,
A year earlier,
The prince had decided it was time to marry.
His mother wanting only the very best wife for her son.
Had with his approval.
Sent messengers all across Ireland in search of a woman who could perform all the duties expected of her.
Including the three accomplishments the widow had named.
Spinning weaving and sewing.
But all the candidates whom the messengers had secured were found unsatisfactory on being put to trial.
And the prince had remained unwedded.
When now the king's son heard this account of Nabla from her own mother,
He said,
You are not fit to have charge of such a good girl.
For twelve months,
Through all parts of my mother's kingdom,
Search was being made for just such a young woman that she might become my wife.
I'll take Nabla with me.
Nabla was rejoiced,
And her mother astonished.
The king's son helped Nabla to a seat behind him on the horse's back.
And bidding adieu to the widow,
Wrote off.
When he had got Nabla home.
He introduced her to his mother.
Telling the Queen that by good fortune,
He had secured the very woman they had so long sought in vain.
The queen asked what Naga could do.
And he replied that she could spin,
Weave and sew,
And do everything else a woman should.
And,
Moreover,
She was so eager for work.
Her mother was scolding her to make her rest herself when he arrived on the scene at Napa's own cottage.
The queen said that was well.
She took Nabla to a large room.
And gave her a heap of silk and a golden wheel.
And told her she must have all the silk spun into thread in 24 hours.
Then she bolted her in.
Or nabla in amazement.
Sat looking at the big heap of silk and the golden wheel.
And at length she began to cry.
For she had not spun a yard of thread in all her life.
As she cried.
An old woman,
Having one of her feet as big as a bolster,
Appeared before her.
What are you crying for?
She asked.
Nabla told her.
And the woman said,
I'll spin the silk for you if you ask me to the wedding.
I'll do that,
" Nabla said.
And then the woman sat down to the wheel,
And working it with her big foot,
Very soon had the whole heap spun.
When the queen came and found all spun,
She said,
That is good.
Then she brought in a golden loom and told Nabla she must have all that thread woven in 24 hours.
When the queen had gone,
Nabla sat down and looked from the thread to the loom and from the loom to the thread.
Wondering,
For she had not in all her life even thrown a shuttle.
At length,
She put her face in her hands and began to cry.
There now appeared to her an old woman.
With one hand as big as a pot hanging by her side.
She asked Napa why she cried.
Nabla told her.
And then the woman said,
I'll weave all that for you,
If you'll give me the promise of your wedding.
Nabla said she would surely.
So the woman sat down to the golden loom.
And very soon had all the thread woven into webs.
When again the queen came and found all woven she said That is good.
And then she gave Nabla a golden needle and thimble,
And said that in 24 hours more she must have all the webs made into shirts for the prince.
Again when the queen had gone.
Nabla,
Who had never even threaded a needle in all her life,
Sat for a while looking at the needle and thimble.
And looking at the webs of self.
And again she broke down and began to cry heartily.
As she cried.
An old woman with a monstrously big nose came into the room and asked,
Why do you cry?
When Nabla had told her,
The old woman said,
I'll make up all those webs into shirts for the Prince,
If you promise me to the wedding.
I'll do that,
" Nabba said.
And a thousand welcomes.
So the woman with the big nose,
Taking the needle and thimble,
Sat down.
And in a short time had made all the silk into shirts and disappeared again.
When the queen came a third time and found all the silk made up in shirts.
She was mightily pleased and sad.
You are the very woman for my son.
For he'll never want a housekeeper while he has you.
Then Naba and the prince were betrothed.
And on the wedding night.
There was a gay and gorgeous company in the hall of the castle.
All was mirth and festivity.
But as they were about to sit down to a splendid repast,
There was a loud knock at the door.
A servant opened it.
And there came in an old woman with one foot as big as a bolster who amid the loud laughter of the company.
Hobbled along the floor and took a seat at the table.
She was asked of which party was she.
The bride or the grooms.
And she replied that she was at the bride's party.
When the prince heard this,
He believed that she was one of Nabla's poor friends.
He went up to her.
And asked her what had made her foot so big.
Spinning,
She said.
I have been all my life at the wheel,
And that's what it has done for me.
Then by my word,
Said the prince,
Striking the table a great blow.
My wife shall not turn a wheel while I am here to prevent it.
As the guests were again settling themselves,
Another knock came to the door.
A servant opening it.
Let in a woman with one hand as big as a pot.
The weight of this hand hanging by her side gave her body a great lean over.
So that as she hobbled along the floor.
The company at the table lay back.
Laughing and clapping their hands at the funny sights.
A woman taking a seat at the table.
Was asked by whose invitation she was there.
To which she replied,
That she was at the bride's party.
Then the prince went up to her and inquired,
What caused her hand to be so big?
Weaving,
" she said.
I have slaved at the shuttle all my life.
That's what has come on me.
Then,
The prince said,
Striking the table a thundering blow.
By my word.
My wife shall never throw a shuttle again while I live to prevent it.
A third time,
The guests were ready to begin their repast.
When again,
There came a knock to the door.
Everyone looked up.
And they saw the servant now admit an old woman with the most monstrous nose ever beheld.
This woman likewise took a chair at the table.
She was then asked who had invited her.
The bride or the groom.
She said she was one of the bride's party.
Then the prince,
Going up to her,
Asked her why her nose had become so very big.
It's with sewing,
She said.
All my life,
I've been bending my head over sewing.
So that every drop of blood ran down into my nose,
Swelling it out like that.
Then the prince struck the table a blow that made the dishes leap and rattle.
By my word,
He said.
My wife shall never either put a needle in cloth again.
Or do any other sort of household work while I live to prevent it.
The prince faithfully kept his word.
He was always on the lookout to try and catch Nabla spinning,
Weaving or sewing,
Or doing any other sort of work.
Brie thought she might at any time try to work on the sly.
Poor Nabla,
However,
Never did anything to confirm his uneasiness.
But taking her old mother to stay in the castle with her.
Lived happy and contented and as lazy as the day was long ever after.
There was once a poor widow woman living in the north of Ireland who had one daughter named Nabla.
And Nabla grew up both idle and lazy.
Till at length,
When she had grown to be a young woman,
She was both riftless and useless,
Fit only to sit with her heels in the ashes and croon to the cat the day long.
Her mother was annoyed with her.
So that one day.
When Nabla refused to do some little trifle about the house.
Her mother finally lost patience and scolded her soundly.
As her mother was scolding Nabla for her idleness.
Who should happen to be riding past but the king's son himself?
He heard the mother scolding.
And Nabla crying and pleading within.
So he drew rain.
And at the top of his voice shouted to know what was the matter.
The widow came to the door.
Curtsying when she saw who he was.
Not wishing to give out a bad name on her daughter.
She told the king's son.
That she had a daughter who worked herself weary the li-long day.
And refused to rest when her mother asked her.
So that she was forever having to persuade the girl to put her work aside and take a little rest.
What work can your daughter do?
The prince asked.
So you can spin,
Weave,
And sew.
And do every work that ever a woman did,
" the mother replied.
Now it so happened that,
A year earlier,
The prince had decided it was time to marry.
His mother wanting only the very best wife for her son.
Had with his approval.
Sent messengers all across Ireland in search of a woman who could perform all the duties expected of her.
Including the three accomplishments the widow had named.
Spinning weaving and sewing.
But all the candidates whom the messengers had secured were found unsatisfactory on being put to trial.
And the prince had remained unwedded.
When now the king's son heard this account of Nabla from her own mother,
He said,
You are not fit to have charge of such a good girl.
For 12 months through all parts of my mother's kingdom.
Search was being made for just such a young woman that she might become my wife.
I'll take Nabla with me.
Nabla was rejoiced,
And her mother astonished.
The king's son helped Nabla to a seat behind him on the horse's back.
And bidding adieu to the widow,
Wrote off.
When he had got Nabla home.
He introduced her to his mother.
Telling the queen that by good fortune,
He had secured the very woman they had so long sought in vain.
The queen asked what Nabba could do.
And he replied that she could spin,
Weave,
And sew,
And do everything else a woman should.
And,
Moreover,
She was so eager for work.
Her mother was scolding her to make her rest herself when he arrived on the scene at Napa's own cottage.
The Queen said that was well.
She took Knabla to a large room.
And gave her a heap of silk and a golden wheel.
And told her she must have all the silk spun into thread in 24 hours.
Then she bolted her in.
Or nabla in amazement.
Sat looking at the big heap of silk and the golden wheel.
And at length she began to cry.
For she had not spun a yard of thread in all her life.
As she cried.
An old woman,
Having one of her feet as big as a bolster,
Appeared before her.
What are you crying for?
She asks.
Nabla told her.
And the woman said,
I'll spin the silk for you if you ask me to the wedding.
I'll do that,
" Nabla said.
And then the woman sat down to the wheel,
And working it with her big foot,
Very soon had the whole heap spun.
When the queen came and found all spun,
She said,
That is good.
Then she brought in a golden loom and told Nabla she must have all that thread woven in 24 hours.
When the queen had gone.
Nabla sat down and looked from the thread to the loom and from the loom to the thread.
Wondering,
For she had not in all her life even thrown a shuttle.
At length,
She put her face in her hands and began to cry.
There now appeared to her an old woman.
With one hand as big as a pot hanging by her side.
She asked Napa why she cried.
Nagla told her.
And then the woman said.
I'll weave all that for you,
If you'll give me the promise of your wedding.
Nabla said she would surely.
So the woman sat down to the golden loom,
And very soon had all the thread woven into webs.
When again the queen came and found all woven she said That is good.
And then she gave Nabla a golden needle and thimble,
And said that in twenty-four hours more she must have all the webs made into shirts for the prince.
Again when the queen had gone.
Nabla,
Who had never even threaded a needle in all her life.
Sat for a while looking at the needle and thimble.
And looking at the webs of self.
And again she broke down and began to cry heartily.
As she cried,
An old woman with a monstrously big nose came into the room and asked,
Why do you cry?
When Nabla had told her,
The old woman said,
I'll make up all those webs into shirts for the Prince,
If you promise me to the wedding.
I'll do that,
" Nabba said.
And a thousand welcomes.
So the woman with the big nose,
Taking the needle and thimble,
Sat down.
And in a short time had made all the silk into shirts and disappeared again.
When the queen came a third time and found all the silk made up in shirts.
She was mightily pleased and sad.
You are the very woman for my son.
For he'll never want a housekeeper while he has you.
Then Naba and the prince were betrothed.
And on the wedding night.
There was a gay and gorgeous company in the hall of the castle.
All was mirth and festivity.
But as they were about to sit down to a splendid repast,
There was a loud knock at the door.
A servant of the dead.
And there came in an old woman with one foot as big as a bolster who amid the loud laughter of the company.
Hobbled along the floor and took a seat at the table.
She was asked of which party was she.
The bride or the grooms.
And she replied that she was at the bride's party.
When the prince heard this.
He believed that she was one of Nabla's poor friends.
He went up to her.
And asked her what had made her foot so big.
Spinning,
She said.
I have been all my life at the wheel.
And that's what it has done for me.
Then by my word,
Said the prince,
Striking the table a great blow.
My wife shall not turn a wheel while I am here to prevent it.
As the guests were again settling themselves,
Another knock came to the door.
A servant opening it.
Let in a woman with one hand as big as a pot.
The weight of this hand hanging by her side gave her body a great lean over.
So that as she hobbled along the floor.
The company at the table lay back.
Laughing and clapping their hands at the funny sights.
A woman taking a seat at the table.
Was asked by whose invitation she was there.
To which she replied,
That she was at the bride's party.
Then the prince went up to her and inquired,
What caused her hand to be so big?
Weaving,
" she said.
I have slaved at the shuttle all my life.
That's what has come on me.
Then,
The prince said,
Striking the table a thundering blow.
By my word.
My wife shall never throw a shuttle again while I live to prevent it.
A third time,
The guests were ready to begin their repast.
When again,
There came a knock to the door.
Everyone looked up.
And they saw the servant now admit an old woman with the most monstrous nose ever beheld.
This woman likewise took a chair at the table.
She was then asked who had invited her.
The bride or the groom.
She said she was one of the bride's party.
Then the prince,
Going up to her,
Asked her why her nose had become so very big.
It's with sewing,
She said.
All my life,
I've been bending my head over sewing.
So that every drop of blood ran down into my nose,
Swelling it out like that.
Then the prince struck the table a blow that made the dishes leap and rattle.
By my word,
He said.
My wife shall never either put a needle in cloth again.
Or do any other sort of household work while I live to prevent it.
The prince faithfully kept his word.
He was always on the lookout to try and catch Nabla spinning,
Weaving or sewing,
Or doing any other sort of work.
Brie thought she might at any time try to work on the sly.
Poor Nabla,
However,
Never did anything to confirm his uneasiness.
But taking her old mother to stay in the castle with her.
Lived happy and contented,
And as lazy as the day was long ever after.
Sweet dreams my friends.
Sleep well.
