The Sprightly Tailor
by Joseph Jacobs · from Collected Folk Tales
Adapted Version
Once, there was a little tailor. He was very brave.
The Laird asked him a question. "Can you sew pants at night? In my old, quiet building? You will get a nice gift!"
The little tailor said yes. He went to the old building at night. He sat on a big stone. He lit a small candle. He began to sew the pants.
Suddenly, the floor moved. A big head slowly rose from the ground. A deep voice said, "Do you see me?"
The little tailor kept sewing. "But I'll sew this!" he said.
A long neck came up. "Do you see my neck?" asked the giant. "I see, but I'll sew this!" said the tailor.
Big shoulders and a chest came up. "Do you see my chest?" asked the giant. "I see, but I'll sew this!" said the tailor.
Two big arms came up. "Do you see my arms?" asked the giant. "I see, but I'll sew this!" said the tailor. He sewed very fast.
A big leg came up. It tapped the ground. "Do you see my leg?" asked the big giant. "I see that, but I'll sew this!" cried the tailor. He sewed very, very fast.
The pants were done! The big giant tried to come out more. But the little tailor was faster. He blew out his light. He took the pants. He ran away!
The big giant shouted loudly. He chased the tailor down a path. "Stop!" he called.
But the little tailor ran faster. He got to the big house door. He went inside. He closed the door safe.
The big giant was angry. He hit the wall above the door. He made a handprint there. You can still see it today!
The little tailor got his nice gift. The Laird smiled. "You were brave and clever!" he said.
Being brave helps you do hard things. The little tailor was very happy.
Original Story
THE SPRIGHTLY TAILOR
sprightly tailor was employed by the great Macdonald, in his castle at Saddell, in order to make the laird a pair of trews, used in olden time. And trews being the vest and breeches united in one piece, and ornamented with fringes, were very comfortable, and suitable to be worn in walking or dancing. Macdonald had said to the tailor that if he would make the trews by night in the church he would get a handsome reward. For it was thought that the old ruined church was haunted, and that fearsome things were to be seen there at night.
The tailor was well aware of this; but he was a sprightly man, and when the laird dared him to make the trews by night in the church, the tailor was not to [69] be daunted, but took it in hand to gain the prize. So, when night came, away he went up the glen, about half a mile distance from the castle, till he came to the old church. Then he chose him a nice grave-stone for a seat and he lighted his candle, and put on his thimble, and set to work at the trews, plying his needle nimbly, and thinking about the hire that the laird would have to give him.
For some time he got on pretty well, until he felt the floor all of a tremble under his feet; and looking about him, but keeping his fingers at work, he saw the appearance of a great human head rising up through the stone pavement of the church. And when the head had risen above the surface, there came from it a great, great voice. And the voice said: "Do you see this great head of mine?"
"I see that, but I'll sew this!" replied the sprightly tailor; and he stitched away at the trews.
Then the head rose higher up through the pavement, until its neck appeared. And when its neck was shown, the thundering voice came again and said: "Do you see this great neck of mine?"
"I see that, but I'll sew this!" said the sprightly tailor; and he stitched away at his trews.
Then the head and neck rose higher still, until the great shoulders and chest were shown above the ground. And again the mighty voice thundered: "Do you see this great chest of mine?"
And again the sprightly tailor replied: "I see that, but I'll sew this!" and stitched away at his trews.
And still it kept rising through the pavement, [70] until it shook a great pair of arms in the tailor's face, and said: "Do you see these great arms of mine?"
"I see those, but I'll sew this!" answered the tailor; and he stitched hard at his trews, for he knew that he had no time to lose.
The sprightly tailor was taking the long stitches, when he saw it gradually rising and rising through the floor, until it lifted out a great leg, and stamping with it upon the pavement, said in a roaring voice: "Do you see this great leg of mine?"
"Aye, aye: I see that, but I'll sew this!" cried the tailor; and his fingers flew with the needle, and he took such long stitches, that he was just come to the end of the trews, when it was taking up its other leg. But before it could pull it out of the pavement, the sprightly tailor had finished his task; and, blowing out his candle, and springing from off his grave-stone, he buckled up, and ran out of the church with the trews under his arm. Then the fearsome thing gave a loud roar, and stamped with both his feet upon the pavement, and out of the church he went after the sprightly tailor.
Down the glen they ran, faster than the stream when the flood rides it; but the tailor had got the start and a nimble pair of legs, and he did not choose to lose the laird's reward. And though the thing roared to him to stop, yet the sprightly tailor was not the man to be beholden to a monster. So he held his trews tight, and let no darkness grow under his feet until he had reached Saddell Castle. He had no sooner got inside the gate, and shut it, than the [71] monster came up to it; and, enraged at losing his prize, struck the wall above the gate, and left there the mark of his five great fingers. You may see them plainly to this day, if you'll only peer close enough.
But the sprightly tailor gained his reward: for Macdonald paid him handsomely for the trews, and never discovered that a few of the stitches were somewhat long.
[72]
Story DNA
Moral
Courage and quick thinking can overcome even the most fearsome challenges.
Plot Summary
A sprightly tailor accepts a laird's dare to sew a pair of trews in a haunted church at night for a handsome reward. As he works, a monstrous entity gradually rises from the floor, asking if he sees its emerging body parts. Undaunted, the tailor repeatedly replies, "I see that, but I'll sew this!" and stitches furiously. He finishes the trews just as the monster fully emerges, then flees the church with the roaring creature in pursuit. The tailor reaches the safety of the castle, and the monster, enraged, leaves the imprint of its fingers on the wall, while the tailor collects his well-earned reward.
Themes
Emotional Arc
challenge to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects a common folk motif of proving bravery by spending a night in a haunted place, often a church or graveyard, and the specific mention of 'trews' grounds it in Scottish culture.
Plot Beats (13)
- A laird challenges a sprightly tailor to make trews in a haunted church at night for a reward.
- The tailor, undaunted, accepts and goes to the church at night, setting up on a gravestone to sew.
- A monstrous head begins to emerge from the church floor, asking the tailor if he sees it.
- The tailor replies, "I see that, but I'll sew this!" and continues his work.
- The monster continues to rise, revealing its neck, then chest, then arms, each time repeating its question.
- The tailor consistently gives his defiant reply and stitches faster.
- A great leg emerges, stamps, and asks the same question; the tailor replies and stitches furiously.
- The tailor finishes the trews just as the monster is about to pull out its second leg.
- The tailor blows out his candle, grabs the trews, and flees the church.
- The monster roars and pursues the tailor down the glen.
- The tailor outruns the monster and reaches the castle gate, shutting it just in time.
- The enraged monster strikes the castle wall, leaving the mark of its fingers.
- The tailor receives his handsome reward from the laird, who doesn't notice the long stitches.
Characters
The Sprightly Tailor ★ protagonist
Nimble, quick-footed, and not easily daunted.
Attire: Period-appropriate tailor's attire, likely simple and practical, carrying a thimble and needle.
Brave, determined, quick-witted, industrious.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young, energetic man with a lean build and nimble fingers, wearing a well-worn leather apron over a simple linen shirt and trousers. His hair is short and slightly tousled, and he has a bright, focused expression with a hint of a smile. He stands in a dynamic pose, one hand holding a pair of large, gleaming scissors, the other hand pinching a measuring tape draped over his shoulder. His posture is upright and alert, suggesting readiness and skill. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Macdonald ◆ supporting
Implied to be a man of authority and wealth.
Attire: Period-appropriate Scottish laird's attire, possibly including trews.
Challenging, generous (in reward), perhaps a bit mischievous for daring the tailor.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a kind, weathered face and a warm, welcoming smile. He has short, salt-and-pepper hair and gentle brown eyes. He is dressed in a simple, earth-toned tunic made of rough-spun wool, belted at the waist with a leather strap, and sturdy brown trousers. He wears a leather apron, smudged with dirt and clay, and has a small leather satchel slung over his shoulder. His posture is relaxed but attentive, leaning slightly forward as if ready to help, with one hand resting on the handle of a small tool in his belt and the other holding a small, woven pouch. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Fearsome Thing ⚔ antagonist
A colossal entity that rises from the ground, revealing a great head, neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and legs. It has five great fingers.
Attire: None, as it emerges from the earth.
Terrifying, persistent, easily enraged when thwarted.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, gaunt figure with ashen skin stretched tight over sharp cheekbones. Deep-set eyes glow with a malevolent amber light. Dressed in tattered, black robes that fray at the edges, revealing glimpses of dark, scaled skin beneath. Long, clawed fingers curl menacingly. Wild, matted black hair frames a face twisted into a cruel sneer. Hunched posture suggests lurking danger. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Old Ruined Church
An old, ruined church, thought to be haunted, with a stone pavement. It is located about half a mile up a glen from the castle.
Mood: eerie, suspenseful, ancient, foreboding
The tailor attempts to sew the trews, and a monstrous figure rises from the pavement, leading to a tense confrontation.
Image Prompt & Upload
Dusk settles over a desolate glen, heavy mist clinging to the ground. The silhouette of a ruined Gothic church rises against a bruised, overcast sky. Its crumbling stone walls are draped in ivy and moss, the roof long gone. A broken stained-glass window emits a faint, eerie glow. An overgrown stone pavement leads to a grand, arched doorway, half-collapsed. Twisted, skeletal trees frame the scene, their branches bare. The air is thick with a damp, silent atmosphere, the only color coming from the deep greens of moss and the grey of ancient, weathered stone. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Glen
A valley or narrow, secluded valley, about half a mile long, connecting the castle to the church. Described as a path for running.
Mood: urgent, thrilling, dark
The tailor flees the church with the monster in pursuit, running down the glen towards the castle.
Image Prompt & Upload
Dawn light filters through a misty, secluded valley, a narrow glen winding between gentle, forested slopes. A well-trodden dirt path, soft with dew, meanders through lush emerald grass and clusters of bluebells and ferns. Ancient, moss-covered oaks and birches line the route, their leaves just beginning to catch the golden hour glow. In the far distance, at one end of the half-mile valley, the silhouette of a stone castle keep rises against the pale sky. At the other, the slender spire of a small church is barely visible through the morning haze. The air is cool and still, with a serene, untouched atmosphere. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Saddell Castle Gate
The entrance to Macdonald's castle, featuring a gate and a wall above it.
Mood: safe haven, tense, relief
The tailor reaches safety just as the monster arrives, leaving its mark on the castle wall.
Image Prompt & Upload
Golden hour light casts long shadows across the weathered stone archway of Saddell Castle Gate. The ancient, moss-covered wall rises high above, its rough-hewn blocks glowing amber and gold. A heavy wooden gate, reinforced with black iron straps and studs, stands slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of the shadowed courtyard beyond. The cobblestone path leading to the gate is damp, reflecting the fiery sky. Gnarled ivy creeps over the stonework, and wild grasses sprout from the cracks. The atmosphere is quiet and majestic, with a soft mist beginning to form in the cool air as day turns to dusk. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
