PREFACE

This series of stories was written late in the year 2006 by V.B. Farrar, particularly for young girls.  “I just wanted a general storybook that I could have read to my own daughter, without the ‘good versus evil’ format that is more appropriate for older children. Such a book was non-existent when she was a child, particularly for a religious subject such as these stories entail.”

The Abbey in the stories is very small, and almost in ruins.  But the Sisters who reside there seem to be able to keep it vibrant with Erin’s help, and they celebrate all of the eight Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year

Erin lives in the adjacent village of Lofts with her widowed mother.  Erin’s mother, Alyssa, was raised in a Brighitine Abbey, and became a Sister of the Order in Ireland.  However, at age 16, she married Peter Farrel, a Fey Man (a blacksmith) and together, they had a baby girl.  They named their baby Erin, in honor of their homeland.  Soon after, Peter died, and Alyssa was widowed.  The land, however, was hers, and part of her Clan’s lands, so she and Erin resided on it for several years.  Alyssa’s Clan is nearby, and her brother, Lance, lives on the farmstead adjacent to her.  Alyssa is known for her fine weaving, and wonderful wool dyes, the making of which she holds secret.  The Vicar, Father Sinclair, is the Church’s minister, and is very friendly with everybody in the Village, where half of the residents are pagan folk.  This is his first parish, and he is young and innocent, hoping to live in harmony with the pagan village residents.  Father Sinclair was immediately smitten by Alyssa’s proud Celtic beauty, and charmed by her energetic and smart daughter, Erin.

V.B. Farrar introduces the notion of two religions existing amicably side-by-side and shows some of the similarities between customs at various times of the year.  Instead of the “good-versus-evil” stories for older children, these stories for younger children focus upon growing up without prejudice, learning new things, and being part of a community.

This first book about Erin progresses through a whole year, and leaves the reader feeling that everything that happens is related to everything else.  What a comforting idea!

ERIN HELPS OUT

Over by the woods,

Next to the Village of Lofts,

Down the narrow lane

And past the apple trees,

There lived Sister Moira

And Sister Laura,

And sometimes,

Lots of other Sisters came to visit.

They lived in little round houses

All made of stones and roof thatch,

With wooden doors

And a hole in the roof

Where the smoke came out from the fireplace.

And in the middle of all of the little round houses

Was a nice round meadow called the “Commons”

Where Sister Moira and Sister Laura

Sometimes kept their sheep.

And around all the round houses

And the nice round meadow

Was a big round wall

All made of the same kind of stones,

And lots of plants and vines grew up over the wall.

Everyday,

Sister Moira and Sister Laura weeded the garden,

Picked the vegetables,

Swept the little round houses clean,

Brushed the sheep;

And went for a walk where the apple trees grew.

They fed the ducks and the cats,

The birds and the bats,

And sometimes they sat under the apple trees,

Down the narrow lane

Over by the woods

Near the Village of Lofts.

When little Erin came from Lofts,

She liked to help the Sisters.

In the summer she walked barefooted,

Down the narrow lane when she came.

In the summertime she helped Sister Moira make flower wreaths for ladies

To wear at Midsummer Festival.

In the Fall, Erin walked down the narrow lane

With her outdoor shoes on,

And a cape so she could help Sisters weave pretty things from the wheat grass,

Special things for the Lamas celebration.

And at Mabon when she came,

She helped Sister Moira bake lots of bread,

And then Erin stayed late

And listened to the stories that the visiting Sisters told

While sitting around the fire.

Sister Moira and Sister Laura walked home with Erin

To keep her safe.

Then, at Samhain

Erin helped Sister Moira and Sister Laura

Pick apples for the apple pies,

And there was always a big party to start over for a brand new year!

Finally, came the Yuletide,

When there was all deep snow

That froze the apple trees,

And Erin wore her boots all the way up to her knees.

“Come, sit by the fire,” said Sister Moira.

“And drink some hot tea,” said Sister Laura.

The tea was sweet with honey,

And tasted good from the lavender flowers

That Erin helped pick in the summertime.

Sister Moira and Sister Laura were

  very glad to have company.

Here’s a present for you,” they said.

“Happy Yule.”

They gave little Erin red knitted socks, with pointy toes and jingle bells,

To wear at bedtime.

“Jingle, jingle” went the bells when she walked.

“These are my Elf shoes,” said Erin.

In February,

Erin went to visit the Sisters too,

Although sometimes the narrow lane was invisible!

She called, “Sister Moira; Sister Laura, can you hear me?”

“Yoo-hoo!” said Sister Moira.  “We are snowed in.  Can you get a shovel and make a path?  We will meet you in the middle.”

Then it was time to make new candles and keep warm by the fire indoors.

When Oestara came

Then came the Spring rain

And mud!

And tiny flowers grew in the round meadow

In the middle of all the round stone houses with thatch,

Surrounded by the round stone wall

With the vines and plants.

Everything started to grow again.

“I’m a whole year older now,”  said Erin.

“Yes, you are!” said Sister Laura.

“I’m big enough to learn the runes!” said Erin.

Sister Moira and Sister Laura smiled.

“You are old enough to learn lots of things,” they said.

“We can ask your mother.”

“Goodie!” said Erin. “I am all grown up.”

“Almost,” said Sister Laura.  “Let’s have a party.”

And so little Erin had her birthday party right exactly on Oestara!

Published on the web 12 27 2007