'The Langhill Fairy' & 'Riddling the reek'

The last appearance of fairies has been preserved in 'Droll Recollections of Whithorn' by James F. Cannon. 

A farmers wife on the Glasserton Estate was washing in a stream near her house, when a 'trig' little creature of her own sex and human in shape and general semberlance. suddenly arrested her attention. The mistress stared with amazement at the mite of a body that stood by her side, and the astonishment of the former was not lessened, when with an appealing look on her tiny features, the elf solicited a favour of 'a wee sowp o' milk for an unweal wean'. Then they freely entered into conversation, and walked together to the byre, were the fairy was duly supplied with what she'd asked for. She was very profuse with her thanks and foretold that her donor would never be without a pinch of snuff (of all things) while she should require it.

It was not a hazardous prediction, nor did it give promise of great remuneration for the obligation confirmed; but there was a note of gratitude in it which was thoroughly appreciated by her to whom it was spoken. I believe that there was an additional hint that the milk pails of the elf's patroness would always be filled.

A Poetical version of the above appears in Bards of Galloway, under the title of the 'The Langhill Fairy'. Langhill, now Longhill is adjacent to the Rispain Iron Age farmstead just outside Whithorn.

'Riddling the reek' was a common? countryside expression for a rough and ready method of treating a fairy changeling so that it may be restored to it's proper human constition. An account of which is preserved in Galoway Gossip (Wigtownshire). And the account, the parents lived in Sorbie seems to be a a form of exorcism.

Link to the pages

Superstitious Record in the south western district of Scotland, J Maxwell 1911