He then hurried off to the place where the child lay, and saw that it was alive and well, and perceived the remains of the serpent scattered all around the cradle, proof of the virtue and faithfulness of the mongoose.  Who can imagine or describe his grief at the sight that presented itself to him!

The moral of the story is, “Whoever gives place to wrath before discovering the truth will be overtaken by bitter grief.”

Adapted from D.E. Jenkins’ Bedd Gelert: Its Facts, Fairies, and Folk-lore.

Sheila K. Webster, a folklorist and professional writer, lives in Bloomington, Indiana