The Hobyahs
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, in a little house. It was made of tall hempstalks. Grandpa, Grandma, and Lily lived there. They had a small dog. His name was Turpie.
One night, naughty Hobyahs came. They wanted to sneak into the house. They said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah!" Little Turpie heard them. He barked very loud. The Hobyahs did not like this. They ran away fast.
Grandpa did not like the noise. "Turpie barks too much," he said. "I cannot sleep." In the morning, Grandpa tied Turpie up. Turpie could not bark anymore. He was very quiet. He could not guard the house.
The next night, Hobyahs came again. They said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah!" Turpie tried to bark. He could not. Grandpa put Turpie in a box. Turpie was quiet again. Grandpa put him far away. Turpie could not help the family. The Hobyahs still ran away.
One more night, Hobyahs came. Grandpa put Turpie very far away. Turpie was too sad to bark. He was too quiet to help. He could not make any sound. The family had no protector now.
The next night, Hobyahs came again. Turpie was not there. He could not bark. The Hobyahs pushed down the house. Grandpa and Grandma ran away. They disappeared into the night. The Hobyahs took Lily. They put her in a big bag.
The Hobyahs took the bag to their cave. They hung the bag up high. They said, "We will play with her later." Then the Hobyahs went to sleep. They slept all day.
Lily cried inside the bag. A Kind Man walked nearby. He had a very big dog. The Kind Man heard Lily's soft cry. "What is that sound?" he asked.
The Kind Man opened the bag. He helped Lily come out. Lily was safe. He put his Big Dog in the bag. The Big Dog was friendly. The Kind Man took Lily home. His home was safe.
The next night, Hobyahs woke up. They took the bag down. "Time to play!" they said. They opened the bag. The Big Dog jumped out! "Woof!" said the Big Dog. The Hobyahs were very scared. They ran far, far away. They never came back.
Original Story
The Hobyahs
Once there was an old man and woman and a little girl, and they all lived in a house made of hempstalks. Now the old man had a little dog named Turpie; and one night the Hobyahs came and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off his tail." So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's tail.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off one of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off one of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off little dog Turpie's head." So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's head.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" And when the Hobyahs found that little dog Turpie's head was off they tore down the hempstalks, ate up the old man and woman, and carried the little girl off in a bag.
And when the Hobyahs came to their home they hung up the bag with the little girl in it, and every Hobyah knocked on the top of the bag and said, "Look me! look me!" And then they went to sleep until the next night, for the Hobyahs slept in the daytime.
The little girl cried a great deal, and a man with a big dog came that way and heard her crying. When he asked her how she came there and she told him, he put the dog in the bag and took the little girl to his home.
The next night the Hobyahs took down the bag and knocked on the top of it, and said "Look me! look me!" and when they opened the bag—
Story DNA
Moral
Those who harm their protectors will suffer the consequences of their foolishness.
Plot Summary
An old man, woman, and little girl live in a house protected by their dog, Turpie, who repeatedly barks away the menacing Hobyahs. Annoyed by the barking, the old man cruelly punishes Turpie by progressively mutilating him until he cuts off his head. Without Turpie, the Hobyahs succeed in their attack, eating the old couple and abducting the little girl. A passing man with a big dog hears the girl, rescues her, and replaces her with his dog in the Hobyahs' bag, leading to the monsters' demise.
Themes
Emotional Arc
security to terror to rescue
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is often associated with English folklore, particularly from Yorkshire, and serves as a cautionary tale about valuing one's protectors.
Plot Beats (10)
- An old man, woman, and little girl live in a house made of hempstalks with their dog, Turpie.
- The Hobyahs come at night, threatening to destroy the house and harm the family, but Turpie's barking scares them away.
- The old man, annoyed by Turpie's barking, punishes him by cutting off his tail.
- This sequence of Hobyah attack, Turpie's barking, and the old man's cruel punishment (cutting off a leg each time) repeats four more times.
- Finally, the old man cuts off Turpie's head, eliminating the family's protector.
- The next night, the Hobyahs return, find Turpie gone, tear down the house, eat the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl in a bag.
- The Hobyahs hang the bag in their home and go to sleep, planning to 'look' at the girl later.
- A man with a big dog hears the little girl crying from the bag.
- The man rescues the little girl, replaces her with his big dog in the bag, and takes the girl to his home.
- The Hobyahs wake up, take down the bag, and when they open it, they find the big dog.
Characters
The Old Man
A gaunt, stooped elderly man of average height, with thin limbs and a generally frail appearance. His skin is weathered and wrinkled from age and outdoor living.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing typical of 19th-century rural England: a coarse, patched brown linen tunic, loose-fitting grey wool trousers, and sturdy, scuffed leather boots. His clothes are practical but show signs of extensive wear and repair.
Wants: To get a good night's sleep, even at the expense of others' safety and well-being.
Flaw: His extreme selfishness and lack of foresight, leading him to harm his protector.
Experiences a tragic downfall due to his own cruelty and poor judgment, being eaten by the Hobyahs.
Selfish, short-sighted, irritable, cruel, ungrateful.
The Old Woman
A small, frail elderly woman, slightly shorter than the old man, with a thin build. Her hands are likely gnarled from years of work.
Attire: Modest, practical peasant attire typical of 19th-century rural England: a long, dark grey wool skirt, a simple cream linen blouse, a plain brown apron, and a white linen cap covering her hair. Her clothes are clean but well-worn.
Wants: To live peacefully, though she seems to accept her husband's decisions.
Flaw: Her passivity and inability to stand up to her husband's harmful actions.
Experiences a tragic downfall, being eaten by the Hobyahs.
Passive, likely resigned, quiet. She does not intervene in the old man's cruelty.
The Little Girl
A small, delicate child of pre-teen age, with a slender build. Her features are soft and innocent.
Attire: A simple, light-colored linen dress, possibly pale blue or cream, with short sleeves and a modest hemline, typical of a rural child's attire in 19th-century England. Her clothes are clean but plain.
Wants: To survive the Hobyahs and escape her predicament.
Flaw: Her physical vulnerability as a child.
Goes from being a helpless victim to being rescued, symbolizing hope and the triumph of good over evil.
Vulnerable, innocent, fearful, resilient (after being rescued).
Turpie
A small, scruffy terrier-type dog, likely with wiry fur. Initially has a tail and four legs, but progressively loses them. His body is lean and agile.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To protect his family from the Hobyahs.
Flaw: His physical vulnerability to the old man's cruelty.
Sacrifices himself repeatedly for his family, only to be cruelly punished, ultimately leading to his death and the family's demise. His arc is one of tragic loyalty.
Loyal, brave, protective, persistent.
The Hobyahs
Small, grotesque, shadowy figures, possibly with disproportionate limbs or features. They are likely gaunt and menacing, with a general air of malevolence. Their skin might be grey or greenish, leathery and rough.
Attire: No specific clothing, perhaps tattered rags or simply their own grotesque forms.
Wants: To destroy, consume, and abduct, driven by pure malevolence.
Flaw: Fear of Turpie's barking (initially).
Successfully achieve their goals of destruction and abduction, only to be outsmarted by the Man with a Big Dog.
Malicious, predatory, persistent, cruel, opportunistic.
The Man with a Big Dog
A sturdy, capable man of average height and build, suggesting strength and competence. He appears to be a traveler or wanderer.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suitable for travel and outdoor life in 19th-century England: a sturdy dark wool coat, a simple linen shirt, practical trousers, and worn but strong leather boots. He might carry a satchel or pack.
Wants: To help those in distress and right wrongs.
Flaw: None shown, he is presented as a heroic figure.
Acts as a rescuer and delivers justice, bringing the story to a resolution.
Resourceful, compassionate, brave, intelligent.
The Big Dog
A large, powerful dog, possibly a mastiff or a large hound, with a muscular build and a formidable presence. Its fur is likely short and dark, suggesting strength.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To protect its master and carry out his commands.
Flaw: None shown, it is presented as an effective protector.
Serves as the instrument of justice, effectively dealing with the Hobyahs.
Loyal, brave, intelligent, powerful.
Locations
Hempstalk House
A small, rustic dwelling constructed entirely from dried hempstalks, likely resembling a simple, possibly wattle-and-daub style cottage common in rural European folklore, with a single door and perhaps small, unglazed windows. The interior would be humble, with basic furnishings.
Mood: Initially safe and cozy, becoming increasingly tense and vulnerable due to the repeated threats and the old man's cruelty.
The repeated nightly attacks by the Hobyahs and the old man's escalating cruelty towards Turpie, culminating in the house's destruction and the abduction of the little girl.
Hobyahs' Home
The dwelling of the Hobyahs, described as a place where they hang the bag with the little girl. It is likely a crude, dark, and possibly subterranean lair or a very primitive structure, reflecting their monstrous nature, with rough-hewn walls and a low ceiling. The interior would be dim, lit only by whatever faint light penetrates or by the Hobyahs' own eerie glow.
Mood: Eerie, menacing, and claustrophobic, filled with the presence of the sleeping Hobyahs.
The little girl's imprisonment and subsequent rescue by the man with the big dog, and the Hobyahs' eventual discovery of the trick.