The Magic Apron

County Cork

A long time ago, there once lived a girl who used to sell her buttermilk in Baltimore, County Cork. She would stand next to her churn which was mounted on her donkey, and would sell the buttermilk to anyone who wished to buy it.

One fine day, a sailor purchased some of her milk and drank it to quench some of his thirst. He then proceeded in wiping his mouth using a corner of the girl's apron. As if by magic, the actions of the sailor had acted like a catalyst, and the girl left her buttermilk and donkey to one side and just followed the sailor wherever he went.

As evening approached, the girl's uncle came and became startled because he did not know what had happened to his niece. So he began searching for his niece. He found her in a public house in close attendance with the sailor.

The father knew everything was not as it should be, because his niece was not known for drinking fine ales. Guessing the apron had mystical powers, he quickly cut its strings and proceeded in throwing it into the fire, so that its magic would be no more.

Within an instance, the girl left the sailor stranded, and returned to her buttermilk and donkey. Again she started selling the milk, as if nothing had happened!