THE HOBYAHS
by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
Turpie and the Hobyahs
In a small house, lived an Old Man. An Old Woman lived there too. They had a dog. His name was Turpie. Turpie barked at people. He kept the house safe.
One night, Hobyahs came. They walked on their toes. They wanted the Old Man. They wanted the Old Woman. Turpie barked very loud. The Hobyahs ran away fast. Turpie saved them.
The Old Man woke up. Turpie barked too much. The Old Man was not happy. "Turpie barks too loud," he said. "I cannot sleep." He took Turpie's tail.
Another night, Hobyahs came again. They walked on their toes. Turpie barked very loud. The Hobyahs ran away fast. The Old Man woke up. "Turpie barks too loud," he said. He made Turpie's legs disappear.
The Hobyahs came a third time. They walked on their toes. Turpie barked very loud. The Hobyahs ran away fast. The Old Man woke up. "Turpie barks too loud," he said. He took away Turpie's head.
Now Turpie could not bark. The Hobyahs came again. They walked on their toes. No bark scared them away. They took the Old Woman. They put her in a bag. The Old Man hid under his bed.
The Hobyahs went to their house. They put the Old Woman in a bag. They poked the bag. "Look!" they said. Then they went to sleep. Hobyahs sleep all day.
The Old Man was sad. The Old Woman was gone. He knew Turpie was good. He put Turpie's tail back. He put Turpie's legs back. He put Turpie's head back. Turpie was whole.
Turpie sniffed the ground. He found the Hobyahs' house. The Hobyahs were asleep. Turpie heard the Old Woman. She cried in the bag. Turpie bit the bag open. The Old Woman hopped out.
The Old Woman ran home fast. Turpie hid in the bag. He waited for the Hobyahs. He was very clever. The Old Woman was safe.
The Hobyahs woke up. They poked the bag. Turpie jumped out! He barked very loud. He scared the Hobyahs. The Hobyahs ran away fast. They ran away forever.
The Hobyahs never came back. The Old Man was happy. The Old Woman was happy. They were safe now. The Old Man learned a lesson. Always be kind to friends.
Original Story
THE HOBYAHS.
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Once upon a time there lived a little old man and a little old woman in a house all made of hemp stalks. And they had a little dog named Turpie who always barked when any one came near the house.
One night when the little old man and the little old woman were fast asleep, creep, creep, through the woods came the Hobyahs, skipping along on the tips of their toes.
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry away the little old woman,” cried the Hobyahs.
Then little dog Turpie ran out, barking loudly, and he frightened the Hobyahs so that they ran away home again. But the little old man woke from his dreams, and he said:
“Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his tail.”
So when it came morning, the little old man took off little dog Turpie’s tail to cure him of barking.
The second night along came the Hobyahs, creep, creep through the woods, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they cried:
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat the little old man, and carry away the little old woman.”
Then the little dog Turpie ran out again, barking so loudly that he frightened the Hobyahs, and they ran away home again.
But the little old man tossed in his sleep, and he said:
“Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his legs.”
So when it came morning, the little old man took off Turpie’s legs to cure him of barking.
The third night the Hobyahs came again, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they called out:
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry away the little old woman.”
Then little dog Turpie barked very loudly, and he frightened the Hobyahs so that they ran away home again.
But the little old man heard Turpie, and he sat up in bed, and he said:
“Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his head.”
So when it came morning, the little old man took off Turpie’s head, and then Turpie could not bark any more.
That night the Hobyahs came again, skip- ping along on the tips of their toes, and they called out:
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat the little old man, and carry off the little old woman.”
Now, since little dog Turpie could not bark any more, there was no one to frighten the Hobyahs away. They tore down the hemp stalks, they took the little old woman away in their bag, but the little old man they could not get, for he hid himself under the bed.
Then the Hobyahs hung the bag which held the little old woman up in their house, and they poked it with their fingers, and they cried:
“Look you! Look you!”
But when it came daylight, they went to sleep, for Hobyahs, you know, sleep all day.
The little old man was very sorry when he found that the little old woman was gone. He knew then what a good little dog Turpie had been to guard the house at night, so he brought Turpie’s tail, and his legs, and his head, and gave them back to him again.
Then Turpie went sniffing and snuffing along to find the little old woman, and soon came to the Hobyahs’ house. He heard the little old woman crying in the bag, and he saw that the Hobyahs were all fast asleep. So he went inside.
Then he cut open the bag with his sharp teeth, and the little old woman hopped out and ran home; but Turpie got inside the bag to hide.
When it came night, the Hobyahs woke up, and they went to the bag, and they poked it with their long fingers, crying:
“Look you! Look you!”
But out of the bag jumped little dog Turpie, and he ate every one of the Hobyahs. And that is why there are not any Hobyahs now.
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Moral of the Story
Do not punish those who protect you, for you may come to regret their absence.
Characters
Little Old Man ◆ supporting
A small, frail elderly man, likely stooped with age. His build is thin and his movements are slow, except when hiding.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing typical of a rural setting, such as a coarse linen shirt, woolen breeches, and a simple tunic, all in muted, earthy tones like grey or brown. Perhaps a nightcap for sleeping.
Wants: To get a good night's sleep and live peacefully, free from disturbances.
Flaw: His selfishness and lack of foresight, leading him to harm his protector.
Starts as a selfish man who punishes his dog for protecting him, leading to the abduction of his wife. He then experiences regret and attempts to undo his wrongs, learning the value of his loyal companion.
Selfish, short-sighted, easily annoyed, regretful, somewhat cowardly. He prioritizes his own comfort over the safety of his home and wife.
Little Old Woman ◆ supporting
A small, frail elderly woman, likely with a gentle demeanor. Her build is slight.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing, such as a long-sleeved linen dress or smock in a muted color like cream or pale blue, with a dark woolen apron over it. Perhaps a white mob cap covering her hair.
Wants: To live peacefully and return home safely.
Flaw: Her physical vulnerability makes her an easy target for the Hobyahs.
Starts as a passive figure, becomes a victim, and is ultimately rescued, returning to her previous life.
Passive, vulnerable, resilient (survives being carried away). She doesn't speak much but her actions (crying in the bag) show her distress.
Turpie ★ protagonist
A small, agile dog, likely a terrier type given the name 'Turpie' and its role as a protector. Its fur is probably scruffy and practical for a farm dog.
Attire: None, as a dog.
Wants: To protect his home and owners, especially the Little Old Woman, and to fulfill his duty as a guard dog.
Flaw: His inability to communicate his warnings in a way his owners understand, leading to his dismemberment.
Starts as a loyal protector, is cruelly dismembered, is then restored, and ultimately becomes the hero who rescues the Little Old Woman and eliminates the threat of the Hobyahs.
Loyal, brave, persistent, intelligent, forgiving. He tirelessly protects his owners despite their mistreatment.
Hobyahs ⚔ antagonist
Small, shadowy, and mischievous creatures. They move on the tips of their toes, suggesting a light, stealthy, and perhaps somewhat spindly build. They have long fingers for poking. Their appearance is not explicitly described beyond their movement and actions, implying they are somewhat grotesque or unsettling.
Attire: No clothing mentioned, suggesting a wild or primal appearance.
Wants: To terrorize, abduct, and consume humans, specifically the Little Old Man and Woman.
Flaw: Fear of loud noises (Turpie's bark) and their habit of sleeping all day, making them vulnerable.
They are a static threat that is ultimately defeated and consumed, leading to their extinction.
Mischievous, predatory, persistent, cowardly (when faced with Turpie's bark), cruel (poking the bag), nocturnal, foolish (easily tricked by Turpie).
Locations
The Hemp Stalk House
A small, simple house constructed entirely from dried hemp stalks, likely with a thatched or simple roof, providing a rustic and somewhat fragile appearance.
Mood: Initially cozy and safe, becoming increasingly vulnerable and eerie as the nights progress.
The recurring target of the Hobyahs' attacks, where Turpie barks to defend, and where the old woman is eventually captured.
The Woods
A dark, dense forest surrounding the hemp stalk house, serving as the Hobyahs' approach path.
Mood: Mysterious, foreboding, and a pathway for unseen threats.
The Hobyahs' route to and from the old couple's house, where they 'creep, creep' and 'skip along on the tips of their toes'.
The Hobyahs' House
The dwelling of the Hobyahs, where they take the old woman and sleep during the day. Its specific architecture is not described, implying a crude or hidden lair.
Mood: Eerie, menacing, and later, a place of unexpected reversal.
The climax of the story, where the old woman is held captive, Turpie enacts his revenge, and the Hobyahs are defeated.
Story DNA
Moral
Do not punish those who protect you, for you may come to regret their absence.
Plot Summary
An old man and woman live with their dog, Turpie, who barks to scare away the menacing Hobyahs. Annoyed by the barking, the old man progressively dismembers Turpie (tail, legs, head) after each successful defense. Eventually, with Turpie unable to bark, the Hobyahs abduct the old woman. The old man, filled with regret, reassembles Turpie, who then tracks the old woman to the Hobyahs' lair, frees her, and ultimately devours all the Hobyahs, ensuring the couple's safety.
Themes
Emotional Arc
security to fear to regret to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This is a traditional English folk tale, often told to children, emphasizing the dangers of not appreciating one's protectors.
Plot Beats (12)
- An old man and woman live in a hemp stalk house with their dog, Turpie, who barks at intruders.
- Hobyahs attempt to attack the house, but Turpie's barking scares them away.
- The old man, annoyed by Turpie's barking, removes his tail.
- The Hobyahs return, Turpie barks them away again, and the old man removes his legs.
- The Hobyahs return a third time, Turpie barks them away, and the old man removes his head.
- With Turpie unable to bark, the Hobyahs successfully raid the house, taking the old woman and leaving the old man hidden.
- The Hobyahs hang the old woman in a bag in their house and go to sleep during the day.
- The old man, regretting his actions, reassembles Turpie.
- Turpie tracks the old woman to the Hobyahs' house, finds them sleeping, and frees her from the bag.
- Turpie hides in the bag, and the old woman escapes home.
- When the Hobyahs wake and poke the bag, Turpie jumps out and eats them all.
- The Hobyahs are gone forever, and the old couple is safe.
