A Pottle O' Brains
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once there was a boy named Tom. He was not very clever. He wanted to be clever. People laughed at Tom. He felt sad. Tom wanted good ideas. He heard about Old Woman Willow. She lived up on the hill. She could help him.
Tom told Mama. Mama said, "Go, my son. That is good." Tom went to Old Woman Willow. She sat by the fire. "I want good ideas," Tom said. "Bring your best thing," she said. "Then solve a riddle."
Tom liked cake best. He brought a big yummy cake. He gave it to Old Woman Willow. "What runs without feet?" she asked. Tom thought and thought. He did not know. "No good ideas today," she said.
Tom was sad. He liked his toy car best. He brought his special toy car. She asked, "What is yellow and shiny?" Tom thought and thought. He did not know.
Tom sat by the road. He felt very sad. A kind girl came. Her name was Lily. "Why are you sad?" Lily asked. Tom told her all. "I can help you," Lily said. "We can be friends."
Tom liked Lily best. They became good friends. Lily helped Tom much. Tom thought of Old Woman Willow. Lily said, "Let us solve them." Tom felt happy.
They went to Old Woman Willow. She asked, "What runs without feet?" Lily said, "Water!" She asked, "What is yellow and shiny?" Lily said, "The sun!"
Old Woman Willow asked a new riddle. She said, "What has no legs, then two, then four?" Lily whispered, "A little frog!" Tom said, "A little frog!"
Old Woman Willow smiled. She said, "Tom, your good ideas come from Lily."
Tom and Lily went home. Tom was very happy. He had a clever friend, Lily, to help him. He did not need good ideas alone.
Original Story
A Pottle o' Brains
Once in these parts, and not so long gone neither, there was a fool that wanted to buy a pottle o' brains, for he was ever getting into scrapes through his foolishness, and being laughed at by every one. Folk told him that he could get everything he liked from the wise woman that lived on the top o' the hill, and dealt in potions and herbs and spells and things, and could tell thee! all as 'd come to thee or thy folk. So he told his mother, and asked her if he could seek the wise woman and buy a pottle o' brains.
"That ye should," says she; "thou 'st sore need o' them, my son: and if I should die, who'd take care o' a poor fool such 's thou, no more fit to look after thyself than an unborn baby? but mind thy manners, and speak her pretty, my lad; for they wise folk are gey and light mispleased."
So off he went after his tea, and there she was, sitting by the fire, and stirring a big pot.
"Good e'en, missis," says he, "it's a fine night."
"Aye," says she, and went on stirring.
"It'll maybe rain," says he, and fidgeted from one foot to t' other.
"Maybe," says she.
"And m'appen it won't," says he, and looked out o' the window.
"M'appen," says she.
And he scratched his head and twisted his hat.
"Well," says he, "I can't mind nothing else about the weather, but let me see; the crops are getting on fine."
"Fine," says she.
"And—and—the beasts is fattening," says he.
"They are," says she.
"And—and—" says he, and comes to a stop—"I reckon we'll tackle business now, having done the polite like. Have you any brains for to sell?"
"That depends," says she, "if thou wants king's brains, or soldier's brains, or schoolmaster's brains, I dinna keep 'em."
"Hout no," says he, "jist ordinary brains—fit for any fool—same as every one has about here; something clean common-like."
"Aye so," says the wise woman, "I might manage that, if so be thou 'lt help thyself."
"How's that for, missis?" says he.
"Jest so," says she, looking in the pot; "bring me the heart of the thing thou likest best of all, and I'll tell thee where to get thy pottle o' brains."
"But," says he, scratching his head, "how can I do that?"
"That's no for me to say," says she, "find out for thyself, my lad! if thou doesn't want to be a fool all thy days. But thou 'll have to read me a riddle so as I can see thou 'st brought the right thing, and if thy brains is about thee. And I've something else to see to," says she, "so gode'en to thee," and she carried the pot away with her into the back place.
So off went the fool to his mother, and told her what the wise woman said.
"And I reckon I'll have to kill that pig," says he, "for I like fat bacon better than anything."
"Then do it, my lad," said his mother, "for certain 't will be a strange and good thing fur thee, if thou canst buy a pottle o' brains, and be able to look after thy own self."
So he killed his pig, and next day off he went to the wise woman's cottage, and there she sat, reading in a great book.
"Gode'en, missis," says he, "I've brought thee the heart o' the thing I like the best of all; and I put it hapt in paper on the table."
"Aye so?" says she, and looked at him through her spectacles. "Tell me this then, what runs without feet?"
He scratched his head, and thought, and thought, but he couldn't tell.
"Go thy ways," says she, "thou 'st not fetched me the right thing yet. I've no brains for thee to-day." And she clapt the book together, and turned her back.
So off the fool went to tell his mother. But as he got nigh the house, out came folk running to tell him that his mother was dying.
And when he got in, his mother only looked at him and smiled as if to say she could leave him with a quiet mind since he had got brains enough now to look after himself—and then she died.
So down he sat and the more he thought about it the badder he felt. He minded how she'd nursed him when he was a tiddy brat, and helped him with his lessons, and cooked his dinners, and mended his clouts, and bore with his foolishness; and he felt sorrier and sorrier, while he began to sob and greet.
"Oh, mother, mother!" says he, "who'll take care of me now? Thou shouldn't have left me alone, for I liked thee better than everything!"
And as he said that, he thought of the words of the wise woman. "Hi, yi!" says he, "must I take mother's heart to her?"
"No! I can't do that," says he. "What'll I do? what'll I do to get that pottle o' brains, now I'm alone in the world?" So he thought and thought and thought, and next day he went and borrowed a sack, and bundled his mother in, and carried it on his shoulder up to the wise woman's cottage.
"Gode'en, missis," says he, "I reckon I've fetched thee the right thing this time, surely," and he plumped the sack down kerflap! in the doorsill.
"Maybe," says the wise woman, "but read me this, now, what's yellow and shining but isn't gold?"
And he scratched his head, and thought and thought, but he couldn't tell.
"Thou 'st not hit the right thing, my lad," says she. "I doubt thou 'rt a bigger fool than I thought!" and shut the door in his face.
"See there!" says he, and set down by the road side and greets.
"I've lost the only two things as I cared for, and what else can I find to buy a pottle o' brains with!" and he fair howled, till the tears ran down into his mouth. And up came a lass that lived near at hand, and looked at him.
"What's up with thee, fool?" says she.
"Oo, I've killed my pig, and lost my mother and I'm nobbut a fool myself," says he, sobbing.
"That's bad," says she; "and haven't thee anybody to look after thee?"
"No," says he, "and I canna buy my pottle o' brains, for there's nothing I like best left!"
"What art talking about?" says she.
And down she sets by him, and he told her all about the wise woman and the pig, and his mother and the riddles, and that he was alone in the world.
"Well," says she, "I wouldn't mind looking after thee myself."
"Could thee do it?" says he.
"Ou, ay!" says she; "folks say as fools make good husbands, and I reckon I'll have thee, if thou 'rt willing."
"Can'st cook?" says he.
"Ay, I can," says she.
"And scrub?" says he.
"Surely," says she.
"And mend my clouts?" says he.
"I can that," says she.
"I reckon thou 'lt do then as well as anybody," says he; "but what'll I do about this wise woman?"
"Oh, wait a bit," says she, "something may turn up, and it'll not matter if thou 'rt a fool, so long'st thou 'st got me to look after thee."
"That's true," says he, and off they went and got married. And she kept his house so clean and neat, and cooked his dinner so fine, that one night he says to her: "Lass, I'm thinking I like thee best of everything after all."
"That's good hearing," says she, "and what then?"
"Have I got to kill thee, dost think, and take thy heart up to the wise woman for that pottle o' brains?"
"Law, no!" says she, looking skeered, "I winna have that. But see here; thou didn't cut out thy mother's heart, did thou?"
"No; but if I had, maybe I'd have got my pottle o' brains," says he.
"Not a bit of it," says she; "just thou take me as I be, heart and all, and I'll wager I'll help thee read the riddles."
"Can thee so?" says he, doubtful like; "I reckon they're too hard for women folk."
"Well," says she, "let's see now. Tell me the first"
"What runs without feet?" says he.
"Why, water!" says she.
"It do," says he, and scratched his head.
"And what's yellow and shining but isn't gold?"
"Why, the sun!" says she.
"Faith, it be!" says he. "Come, we'll go up to the wise woman at once," and off they went. And as they came up the pad, she was sitting at the door, twining straws.
"Gode'en, missis," says he.
"Gode'en, fool," says she.
"I reckon I've fetched thee the right thing at last," says he.
The wise woman looked at them both, and wiped her spectacles.
"Canst tell me what that is as has first no legs, and then two legs, and ends with four legs?"
And the fool scratched his head and thought and thought, but he couldn't tell.
And the lass whispered in his ear:
"It's a tadpole."
"M'appen," says he then, "it may be a tadpole, missis."
The wise woman nodded her head.
"That's right," says she, "and thou 'st got thy pottle o' brains already."
"Where be they?" says he, looking about and feeling in his pockets.
"In thy wife's head," says she. "The only cure for a fool is a good wife to look after him, and that thou 'st got, so gode'en to thee!" And with that she nodded to them, and up and into the house.
So they went home together, and he never wanted to buy a pottle o' brains again, for his wife had enough for both.
Story DNA
Moral
True wisdom often comes from the support and intelligence of others, especially a good partner.
Plot Summary
A foolish man, tired of his blunders, seeks a wise woman to buy 'brains'. She tasks him with bringing the 'heart of the thing he likes best' and solving riddles. He fails twice, first with a pig, then with his deceased mother, realizing his grief for her. Despondent, he meets a kind lass who marries him and proves to be a capable and clever wife. When he realizes he likes her best, she helps him solve the wise woman's riddles. The wise woman then reveals that his 'pottle o' brains' is, in fact, his wife's intelligence, which he now benefits from, and he lives happily, no longer needing to seek wisdom alone.
Themes
Emotional Arc
foolishness to contentment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-modern, rural society where wisdom might be sought from local 'wise women' and where practical intelligence for daily life was highly valued.
Plot Beats (12)
- A foolish man, tired of being laughed at, decides to seek a wise woman to buy a 'pottle o' brains'.
- His mother encourages him, and he visits the wise woman, who is cryptic and demands he bring her the 'heart of the thing he likes best' and solve a riddle.
- The fool, believing he likes fat bacon best, kills his pig and brings its heart to the wise woman, but fails her riddle: 'what runs without feet?'.
- His mother dies, and in his grief, he realizes he liked her best; he brings her body to the wise woman, but fails the second riddle: 'what's yellow and shining but isn't gold?'.
- Sitting by the roadside in despair, a lass approaches him, and after hearing his story, offers to marry him and look after him.
- They marry, and his wife proves to be an excellent homemaker, making him realize he likes her best of all.
- He contemplates taking her heart to the wise woman, but his wife, scared, suggests they try to solve the riddles together instead.
- The wife quickly solves the first two riddles ('water' and 'the sun').
- They return to the wise woman, who poses a third riddle: 'what has first no legs, then two legs, and ends with four legs?'.
- The fool's wife whispers the answer, 'a tadpole', to him.
- The wise woman reveals that his 'pottle o' brains' is in his wife's head, as a good wife is the only cure for a fool.
- The couple returns home, and the fool never again feels the need to buy brains, content with his clever wife.
Characters
The Fool
Of average height and build, with a generally bewildered or confused expression. He is not described with any specific distinguishing features, suggesting a common, unremarkable appearance for a young man of his social standing.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing typical of rural England in an unspecified historical period, likely 18th-19th century. This would include a coarse linen or wool tunic, possibly a waistcoat, sturdy breeches, and thick woolen stockings. He would wear heavy, worn leather boots. His hat is a simple, wide-brimmed felt or straw hat, often twisted in his hands or on his head.
Wants: To acquire 'brains' to avoid being laughed at and to be able to look after himself, driven by a desire for self-sufficiency and social acceptance.
Flaw: His extreme literal-mindedness and lack of common sense, which makes him unable to solve riddles or understand abstract concepts.
He begins as a literal fool, unable to care for himself. Through his quest and the loss of his mother, he experiences genuine grief and a nascent understanding of affection. He ultimately finds his 'brains' not within himself, but through the wisdom and practical support of his wife, learning that true self-sufficiency can come from partnership.
Foolish, simple-minded, literal, affectionate (especially towards his mother and later his wife), easily confused, persistent (in his quest for brains).
The Wise Woman
An old woman, likely thin and wiry from a life of herbalism and living on a hill. Her face is probably lined with age and wisdom, and her hands gnarled. She carries herself with an air of quiet authority.
Attire: Practical, dark, and sturdy clothing suitable for an elderly woman living in a rural, isolated cottage. This would include a long, dark wool or linen gown, possibly a simple apron, and a shawl draped over her shoulders. She might wear a plain coif or headscarf. Her clothing is clean but well-worn, in muted earth tones like deep greens, browns, or greys.
Wants: To guide others to self-discovery, rather than simply providing easy answers. To maintain her reputation as a wise woman.
Flaw: Her patience has limits, and she can be dismissive of those who don't show effort.
She remains consistent throughout the story, serving as a catalyst for the Fool's journey rather than undergoing a personal transformation.
Wise, enigmatic, patient (to a point), discerning, somewhat stern, pragmatic, a dispenser of tough love.
The Mother
A kind, perhaps slightly stooped, elderly woman. Her physical description is minimal, but she embodies the archetype of a nurturing, long-suffering mother.
Attire: Simple, clean, and practical peasant attire, similar to the Fool's but more feminine and perhaps a bit more worn. A long, plain linen or wool dress, a white apron, and a cap or headscarf covering her hair. Muted, natural colors.
Wants: To ensure her foolish son can care for himself after she is gone.
Flaw: Her deep love for her son makes her overprotective, potentially hindering his independence.
She dies early in the story, her death serving as a major catalyst for the Fool's emotional growth and realization of his affection for her.
Loving, patient, long-suffering, practical, concerned for her son's future, supportive.
The Lass (Wife)
A young woman of practical nature, likely sturdy and capable from rural life. Her appearance is not explicitly detailed, but she is presented as a sensible and appealing partner.
Attire: Simple, clean, and practical peasant clothing. A long, sturdy linen or wool dress in a muted color (e.g., blue, green, or brown), a clean white or patterned apron, and comfortable, low-heeled shoes or clogs. Her clothing would be well-maintained, reflecting her industrious nature.
Wants: To find a husband and build a home, and to care for someone, even a fool, seeing potential where others see only lack.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but perhaps a willingness to take on a challenge (marrying a fool) that others might avoid.
She enters the story as a potential helper and quickly becomes the Fool's wife, transforming his life by providing the 'brains' he sought. She remains a constant source of wisdom and support.
Practical, intelligent, kind, resourceful, patient, nurturing, sensible, decisive.
Locations
The Fool's Cottage
A simple, humble cottage, likely a half-timbered Fachwerk house with a thatched roof, where the fool lives with his mother. It contains a hearth for cooking and warmth, and a window looking out.
Mood: Initially warm and domestic, later becomes sorrowful and desolate after the mother's death, then regains a comfortable, well-kept atmosphere with the wife.
The fool discusses his quest with his mother, processes his grief, and later lives here with his new wife.
The Wise Woman's Cottage
A secluded cottage situated on the top of a hill, suggesting a slightly isolated and perhaps ancient dwelling. The interior features a fire and a large pot for potions, and later, a great book for reading. The exterior has a door where the wise woman sits.
Mood: Mysterious, slightly intimidating, and wise. The atmosphere is one of quiet power and ancient knowledge.
The fool repeatedly visits the wise woman to seek brains, receives riddles, and ultimately learns the true meaning of 'brains'.
The Roadside
A simple dirt road or path, likely winding through the countryside near the fool's home, where he sits and weeps in despair.
Mood: Desolate and sorrowful, reflecting the fool's despair.
The fool sits here weeping after being turned away by the wise woman for the second time, and meets the lass who will become his wife.