Whuppity Stoorie facts for kids
"Whippitie Stourie" (pronounced whuppity stoorie) is a classic fairy tale from Scotland. It's a story about a clever woman who faces a big problem and needs to outsmart a tricky fairy. This tale is similar to the famous story of "Rumpelstiltskin" because it involves guessing a magical helper's secret name to break a deal. It teaches us that quick thinking can help you escape difficult situations.
What Happens in the Story?
Once upon a time, a woman lived alone with her baby son. Her husband had gone to the fair and never came back. All she had left was a large sow, which is a female pig. The sow was about to have piglets, and the woman hoped for a good litter. This would help her and her baby survive.
One day, the woman went to the pigpen and found her sow dying. She was very upset and didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a mysterious fairy woman appeared. The fairy asked the woman what she would give her if she saved the sow. The desperate woman promised the fairy anything she wanted.
The fairy kept her promise and saved the sow. But then, she demanded the woman's baby son as payment! The woman begged and pleaded, but the fairy would not change her mind. However, the fairy did say that according to fairy laws, she had to wait three days. If the woman could guess her name before then, she could keep her baby.
The first day, the woman was very sad and worried. She couldn't think of anything. But on the second day, she decided to go for a walk to clear her head. She wandered into a nearby forest. Deep in the woods, she found a quarry, which is a place where stone is dug from the ground.
There, she saw the fairy spinning thread and singing a strange song. The fairy was singing about her own name! The woman listened carefully and heard the fairy sing that her name was "Whuppity Stoorie."
The Clever Trick
The next day, the fairy came to collect the baby. The woman pretended to be very sad and desperate. She begged the fairy to take her sow instead of the baby. The fairy laughed and said she didn't want a pig.
Then, the woman offered herself, saying the fairy could take her instead. The fairy scorned her, asking why she would want such a woman. The woman then said, "I know I am not even worthy to tie the shoelaces for Whuppity Stoorie!"
As soon as the woman said the name, the fairy let out a loud shriek. She knew her secret was out! The fairy then vanished, screeching as she went, and was never seen again. The woman and her baby were safe, all thanks to her quick thinking and clever trick.
