The Farmer’s Wife of Deloraine

Just like today, farms in the Borders often had seasonal labourers who would come and work when things were busy. At Deloraine, one of the farmer’s wives was a generous lady who encouraged the workers to turn up early and get their breakfast at the farm. It wasn't anything fancy, just good old fashioned porridge.

Then one morning, the diners ran out of milk so the youngest took the jug through to the pantry for a look. He rummaged around the shelves and cupboards but no luck. Not a drop of milk to be found. When their hostess came through, she told them not to worry. There was plenty more and she’d refill it in a moment.

The young lad was looking embarrassed. He was sure there was no milk in that pantry, so he tiptoed after the woman to see where the hidden stash was. To his surprise, the mistress of the house didn't go to a secret cupboard. She approached a little peg in the wall instead. A quick turn of that peg and out poured fresh milk into the jug.

The labourer knew he'd just witnessed witchcraft, but it was just a bit of milk. The farmer’s wife had always been good to them, he didn’t want to repay that by spreading rumours. Some people didn’t take too kindly to witches, so he kept his mouth firmly shut.

A few hours into the day’s work and with the sun beating down, one of the labourers wished out loud for some more of that milk. The young man proudly declared that he knew where the milk was kept now. Making sure nobody else was around, he crept into the farmhouse and into the pantry.

At the peg in the wall, he smiled to himself and gave it a turn. Out poured plenty of milk and the jug was filled in seconds. He was feeling smug until he realised that it wouldn't stop. He tried turning the peg both ways, then pushing it and pulling it. He was filling up every jug, bucket and bowl he could find while screaming out for help.

The farmer's wife suddenly stormed into the room. She shoved the young labourer out the way and with a well-practiced tweak of the peg, the milk stopped. With a furious look in her eyes, she stared down at the man soaked in milk and shouted, "You daft eejit! You'll have drained every cow dry, from here to Yarrow!"

From that day on, the farm labourers had to eat their porridge with water. The young man learned the hard way that witchcraft is much harder than it looks.