Dòmhnall Thormaid agus Haley's Comet

GF088i03 DÒMHNALL THORMOID AGUS A' HALEY'S COMET

Beulaiche: Lachlann Dhòmhnaill Nìll | Lachlan MacLellan
Tar-Sgrìobhadh: Oighrig NicFhraing | Effie Rankin

( An cuala tu )…. riamh an naidheachd a bhiodh iad a' bruidhinn air a' Haley's Comet? Bha Haley's Comet dol a thighinn, bha i dol a thighinn a-nuas air an t-saoghal seo 'is ma dh'fhaoidte gun robh i dol a smàladh an t-saoghail uile, gun robh i na bu mhotha na 'n saoghal seo. Ach cò-dhiù na dheth, bha Dòmhnall …cha robh e math gu leughadh, cha robh 's dad de sgoil idir aige ach leughadh e gu leòr as a' phàipear a thuigeadh e car gu dé bha iad a' ciallachadh. Ach, dé thachair aig Bliadhn' Ùir, bha aifhrionn dol a bhith aca thall aig—ann am Parraiste Naomh Eòsaiph, thall air an abhainn mar a theireamaid. Aifrionn dol a bhith ann air meadhoin oidhche 's cha robh seo, cha do thachair seo riamh roimhe. Agus bha Dòmhnall a' deanamh dheth, bho 'n a bha 'n aifhrionn dol a bhith ann air meadhoin oidhche gu robh a' Haley's Comet a bha seo a' tighinn—bha e cur a h-uile sian còmhla is bhuail eagal uamhasach e. Ach air an oidhche—an oidhche bha 'ad a' dol ann, oidhche na Bliadhn' Ùire, bha 'ad a' coiseachd dha 'n eaglais agus bha Dòmhnall, agus bha cleòca mór, fada, dubh air agus tippet air a chùlaibh. Agus thuit a-mach an oidhche bha seo gun robh soirbheas o 'n iar-thuath ann, cuimseach math làidir, is dh'éirich an sin an soirbheas na b' àirde uile 's na bu mhotha 's na bu treasa. Agus bha Dòmhnall, còmhlan eile cò' ris, agus e ag innse dhaibh mu dheidhinn a' Haley's Comet –gun robh i dol a thighinn. Agus aig a' cheart àm, thàinig squall mhòr de shoirbheas agus thog i 'n tippet a bh' air Dòmhnall…a bh' air druim Dhòmhnaill agus chuir i mun cuairt air (a) cheann—air aodann mar seo e. "A Dhia seall air m' anam," ars esan, "tha i seo!"

Translation:

DONALD NORMAN AND THE HALEY'S COMET

(Did you ever hear)…the story they used to tell about (the) Haley's Comet? Haley's Comet was due to appear, it was due to descend over this earth and perhaps it would extinguish the entire earth, it could be bigger than this earth. In any case, Donald was…he was not a good reader, he had no schooling at all, but he could read enough from the paper to understand to some extent what was meant. But, what came about at New Year, but a mass which they were to have over at …in St.Joseph's parish, across the river, as we used to say. There was to be a mass at midnight, and this was not… this had never happened before. And Donald was thinking that, since there was to be a mass at midnight, that this Haley's Comet was coming— he was connecting it all and a tremendous fear struck him. However, on the night…the night on which they were going, New Year's night, they were walking to church, and Donald had, he had on a great, long, black cloak with a tippet behind it. And it happened this night that there was a north west wind, quite strong and then the wind rose much higher, greater and stronger. And Donald was with another group telling them about Haley's Comet—that it was coming. And at that very moment, a huge squall of wind came and lifted Donald's tippet…which was on his back and flung it around his head…his face like this. "Lord, look to my soul," said he, it is here!"