human breed,
Well might we pass for fools, indeed.

With the above fine satire I bring my remarks on Fairy Changelings to a
close.

FAIRY MOTHERS AND HUMAN MIDWIVES.

Fairies are represented in Wales as possessing all the passions,
appetites, and wants of human beings. There are many tales current of
their soliciting help and favours in their need from men and women. Just
as uncivilized nations acknowledge the superiority of Europeans in
medicine, so did the Fairies resort in perplexing cases to man for aid.
There is a class of tales which has reached our days in which the Fairy
lady, who is about to become a mother, obtains from amongst men a
midwife, whom she rewards with rich presents for her services. Variants
of this story are found in many parts of Wales, and in many continental
countries. I will relate a few of these legends.

1. _Denbighshire Version of a Fairy Mother and Human Midwife_.

The following story I received from the lips of David Roberts, whom I
have previously mentioned, a native of Denbighshire, and he related the
tale as one commonly known. As might be expected, he locates the event
in Denbighshire, but I have no recollection that he gave names. His
narrative was as follows:--

A well-known midwife, whose services were much sought after in
consequence of her great skill, had one night retired to rest, when she
was disturbed by a loud knocking at her door. She immediately got up and
went to the door, and there saw a beautiful carriage, which she was
urgently requested to enter at once to be conveyed to a house where her
help was required. She did so, and after a long drive the carriage drew
up before the entrance to a large mansion, which she had never seen
before. She successfully performed her work, and stayed on in the place
until her services were no longer required. Then she was conveyed home
in the same manner as she had come, but with her went many valuable
presents in grateful recognition of the services she had rendered.

The midwife somehow or other found out that she had been attending a
Fairy mother. Some time after her return from Fairy land she went to a
fair, and there she saw the lady whom she had put to bed nimbly going
from stall to stall, and making many purchases. For awhile she watched
the movements of the lady, and then presuming on her limited
acquaintance, addressed her, and asked how she was. The lady seemed
surprised and annoyed at the