Short Fiction · Chapter
The Child That Went with the Fairies explained
A widow named Mary Ryan lives in a remote cabin near Lisnavoura, a fairy-haunted hill.
What happens
A widow named Mary Ryan lives in a remote cabin near Lisnavoura, a fairy-haunted hill. One evening, her three children are playing outside when a magnificent, sinister carriage drawn by four white horses appears. The coachman and footmen are small, malicious creatures. The children's youngest brother, Billy, is lured into the carriage and vanishes. Despite attempts to find him, he is never recovered, though his ghostly visits continue for a time before ceasing entirely.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and the Uncanny
The fairy carriage, the vanishing child, and the ghostly visits embody the supernatural and uncanny elements central to the story.
Folklore and Local Tradition
The story draws heavily on Irish fairy lore, including protective measures like rowan trees, horseshoes, and holy water, and the belief in the 'Good people' of Lisnavoura.
Social Class and Decay
The contrast between the widow's poverty and the opulent, sinister fairy carriage highlights themes of social class and decay.
Characters to notice
- Moll Rial
Widow Mary Ryan, mother of the lost child Billy, who lives in a cabin near Lisnavoura.
- Nelly Carwell
Nell, the elder daughter who watches over the younger children and later reports the disappearance.
- Billy Malowney
Little Billy, the golden-haired five-year-old boy who is taken by the fairy carriage.
- Con Donovan
Con, one of the older children playing on the road when Billy is taken.
- Fanny
Peg, the little sister who witnesses the abduction and later sees Billy's ghostly visits.
Key passages
“Round the cabin stood half a dozen mountain ashes, as the rowans, inimical to witches, are there called. On the worn planks of the door were nailed two horseshoes, and over the lintel and spreading along the thatch, grew, luxuriant, patches of that ancient cure for many maladies, and prophylactic against the machinations of the evil one, the house-leek.”
The cabin was protected by rowan trees, horseshoes on the door, and house-leek on the thatch, all traditional charms against witches and evil spirits.
Describes the folkloric protections used by the widow against supernatural harm.
“Suddenly a startling voice with a screech called to them from behind, ordering them to get out of the way, and turning, they saw a sight, such as they never beheld before. It was a carriage drawn by four horses that were pawing and snorting, in impatience, as it just pulled up.”
A screeching voice ordered the children aside, and they turned to see a magnificent carriage with four impatient horses.
The sudden appearance of the fairy carriage marks the beginning of the supernatural event.
“Molly Ryan never more saw her darling. But something of the lost little boy was seen by his former playmates. Sometimes when their mother was away... they saw the pretty face of little Billy peeping in archly at the door, and smiling silently at them, and as they ran to embrace him, with cries of delight, he drew back, still smiling archly, and when they got out into the open day, he was gone.”
Billy's mother never saw him again, but his siblings occasionally glimpsed his face peeping at the door, smiling silently before vanishing when they approached.
The ghostly visits of the lost child reflect the lingering presence of the supernatural in the family's life.