My Own Self facts for kids
My Own Self is a fun and clever fairy tale from Northumbria, a region in northern England. It's also known as Me Aan Sel or Ainsel. This story was collected by a famous folklorist named Joseph Jacobs. Another version of the tale can be found in Scottish Folk Tales by Ruth Manning-Sanders.
This type of story, where someone uses clever words to trick another, is very old. It's similar to a famous Greek myth about Odysseus and a giant named Polyphemus. In "My Own Self," a human child outsmarts a fairy using a smart trick with words.
The Story of My Own Self
Once upon a time, a mother and her son lived in a small cottage. Many "Good Folk," like elves and fairies, lived nearby. One night, the boy did not want to go to bed. His mother eventually went to sleep, leaving him awake.
Suddenly, a tiny fairy girl came down the chimney! She told the boy her name was "My Own Self." The boy, being quick-witted, told her he was "Just my own self too." They started playing together, having a lot of fun.
A Fiery Accident
As they played, the boy stirred the fire. A spark flew out and landed right on the fairy girl's foot! She cried out loudly because it hurt. Her mother, who was up the chimney, heard the cry.
The fairy mother's voice boomed down the chimney. "What happened?" she demanded to know. The little fairy girl, still crying, replied, "Just my own self burned my foot!"
A Lesson Learned
The fairy mother heard this and became annoyed. "If you did it yourself," she said, "then you shouldn't make such a fuss!" A long arm then reached down the chimney. It grabbed the little fairy girl and pulled her back up.
The boy was very scared by all of this. He had learned his lesson! From that night on, he always went to bed when his mother told him to.
