One day, as a young mother was rocking her baby to sleep, she was surprised, on looking up, to see a strange and beautiful lady standing in the middle of the room. The woman was dressed in a gown of costly green velvet, embroidered round with thread of gold and handsewn pearls. On her head was a crown of pearls and emeralds, and on her neck the same. As surprised as the young woman was to see such a visitor in her home, she did not forget the rules of hospitality her grandmother had taught her.
"Although I'm not sure how you came in without my hearing, sit by the fire and warm your bones. It's cold out this day".
"Thank you, no, fair Jennet," the woman said " But could I trouble you for a bowl of Oatmeal if you have some to spare?"
"Oatmeal? Aye, I have that and more, if you need it" replied Jennet. "My husband is the miller, you must know, and I'd be honored to share with you what we have". The woman in green was handed a bowl overflowing with freshly cooked oatmeal. "You have my thanks," she said "I'll see to it that you bowl is returned on the morrow."And as silently as the woman had entered the cottage, the woman left.
The very next day the bowl was returned, and filled to the brim with grain it was. The woman who carried it was a wee sprite of a thing, dressed in the same green as her mistress, but with a screeching yelping voice. "Braw meal," she squeaked, handing the bowl to Jennet. "It's the top pickle of the sin corn."
Excellent it was to. All the family sampled the gift, all but one servent boy, who refused to take even a mouthful. "I'll not eat faerie food," he said, "And if you were wise miss Jennet, you would not either. Such gifts always come at a price." But the stubborn child soon found himself ill, and Jennet and the miller believed it was because he refused to take his share of the meal.
They also firmly believed that their visitor was the Queen of the Faeries herself, and such a person was of course due great respect. Each evening, before going to bed, the millers wife would place on the doorstep a bowl of her finest porridge, and each morning would find in its place such delicacies the likes she had never seen before- strange and exotic fruits, honey wine, and sweetmeats aplenty. Her family drank and ate of these fine gifts and thrived. Such is the prosperity of one who befriends the faeries!
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