Hamish and the Pedlars Pipe

Yellow

Hamish and Mirren live in a little farmhouse beside a beautiful loch.

1. The path they took wound up for the village round the heather-covered shoulder of the Ben of Balvie*. The Ben was so high that thee was days even in the summer when the top was hidden in thick white clouds. But now the sun was shining and the Ben stood crisp against the pure blue of a cloudless sky.

2. Mirren ran through the long grass by the path. Suddenly she stopped and stood quite still

3. “What is it?” called Hamish from the path behind her.

4. “Shhhh,” said Mirren. “Can you not hear it?”

5. They stood together on the quiet sunlit path. At first Hamish heard nothing but then Mirren smiled

6. “Listen” she whispered. From far off away beyond the happy chirping of the birds came a strange little tune silvery and clear

7. The music was slow and gentle and although it was far off at the same time it seemed to be all around them. It whispered dancing like the butterflies through the tree and the thick green grass. It was hard to tell whether the tune was sad or happy-or both. Mirren stood spellbound

8. “My, it’s that bonny” she whispered.

9. “It’s the Wee Folk,” said Hamish and he held tight to his new iron pot. Everyone knows that if you have something made of iron with you then the wee folk are unable to weave their spells.

10. “No,” laughed Mirren. “It’s just a travelling pedlar. Look!”

11. Sure enough round the corner of the path down from the Ben came a strange figure 12. He seemed tall at first but then Hamish noticed he was not much bigger than Mirren. He wore a long brown swirling cloak that seemed almost to float behind him. A high shady brown hat with a curling feather hid most of his face.

13. Under the brim of the hat they could see that his hair was thick and dark and that his bright brown eyes seemed to dance and twinkle in time to the music.

14. The stranger was playing the strange music on a thin silver pipe.

15. “Fine evening,” called Hamish. “You fair startled us. That’s a rare* tune you’re playing.”

16. “Ah, it’s the fine flute, sir, that does it,” said the pedlar. He stopped on the path in front of them and smiled with his head titled to one side.”I could sell you this for just one of those six gold coins you earned today.”

17 “How did you know about the gold?” said Hamish but the pedlar ignored him turned smiling to Mirren.

18 “It will make music to have your old slippers dancing on the hearth rug,” he said. “And the birds themselves will stop singing to listen.” He put the flute to his lips again played a tune like a blackbird’s. Fine clear notes that tumbled over each other in sheer happiness.

19 “My, but that is bonny” whispered Mirren.

20 “Here,” said the pedlar. “ Take it and welcome.”

21 Before Hamish knew what had happened he was standing with the pipe in his hand and the pedlar was off down the path with one of his gold coins

22 “Just a minute,” Hamish shouted after him. “ I can’t play this. Tell me - how do I make music with it?”

From Hamish and the Wee Witch by Moira Miller (Canongate)

*Ben = hill

*Bonny = beautiful

*Rare = good

[SEE NEXT PAGE FOR QUESTIONS] Section A

In this section you are asked to show your understanding of the story. 12th July Choose words from the box below to complete Mirren’s letter

You will notDear need Mrs to use McDonald all the words.

Hamish and I were coming back from the village by the Village meadow Wee Folk birds chirping flute way of [ ] (1) when suddenly I heard some music hat Ben pedlar one play strange [ ] (2). Hamish thought it was the stop [ ] (3) but I thought it just a [ ] (4).

He wanted Hamish to buy his [ ] (5) with one of

his gold coins. Hamish told him that he didn’t know

how to [ ] (6) it!

See you soon

love from

Mirren. Section B

In this section you are asked to show your understanding of a character

Choose words from the passage to complete the labels on this picture of the pedlar.

One has been done for you **

1. [ ] feather.

2. [ ], 6. [bright], [brown] eyes ** [ ],

[ ] hat

5. [ ],

[ ] pipe.

3. [ ],

[ ] hair. 4. [ ]

[ ] cloak

Section C

In this section you are asked to show your understanding of the passage.

Tick the box which shows the correct ending of each sentence.

One has been done for you

When Hamish and Mirren met the pedlar the weather was dull

grass whispering

1. The music Mirren first heard was like butterflies dancing

birds chirping

play another tune

2. Hamish held his iron pot tightly so the Wee Folk couldn’t steal it make magic.

much taller than Mirren

3. The pedlar was a little shorter than Mirren

a little taller than Mirren

4. When Hamish asked how he knew about the gold, the pedlar answered him

did not answer him

stared at him

lively music

5. In paragraph 18 the pedlar told Mirren that the pipe played peaceful music

sad music.

SECTION D

In this section you are asked to show your understanding of the main characters

Look at the statements below. Underline the word which best describes how the characters react at certain parts of the story. One has been done for you** ** Mirren stood spellbound (paragraph 7)

This tells me that Mirren was puzzled fascinated happy bored

1. “Hamish held tight to his new iron pot. Everyone knows that if you have something made of iron with you when the Wee Folk are unable to weave their spells” (Paragraph 9).

This tells us that Hamish was being careless

cautious

thoughtless

adventurous

2 “How did you know about the gold?” asked Hamish (Paragraph 17)

This tells me that Hamish was being happy

disappointed

puzzled

3 “My, but that is bonny,” whispered Mirren. (Paragraph19)

This tells me Mirren was angry

impressed

puzzled

4 “Just a minute,” Hamish shouted after him. “ I can’t play this. Tell me - how do I make music with it?” (Paragraph 22)

This tells me that Hamish was confused

relieved pleased

exhausted

SECTION E

In this section you are to show knowledge about language and genre

Tick the box with the correct answer

1. Which country is the story most likely to have come from

Scotland

England

Ireland

2. What kind of book is this passage taken from

Poetry

Nonfiction

Fiction

3. “It’s the Wee Folk,” said Hamish.

“ No,” laughed Mirren “It’s just the travelling pedlar. Look!”

Hamish is right the pedlar is one of the Wee Folk.

Give one thing about the pedlar which tells us this. [END OF QUESTIONS]