Parallels.–The same story occurs in Lowland Scotch as “Jock and his Mother,” Chambers, l.c., 101; in Ireland, as “I’ll be wiser next time,” Kennedy, l.c., 39-42. Abroad it is Grimm’s Hans im Glück (No. 83). The “cure by laughing” incident is "common form” in folk-tales ( cf. Köhler on Gonzenbach, Sizil. Märchen, ii. 210, 224; Jones and Kropf, Magyar Tales, 312).
XXVIII. JOHNNY-CAKE.
Source.– American Journal of Folk-Lore, ii. 60.
Parallels.–Another variant is given in the same Journal, p. 277, where reference is also made to a version “The Gingerbread Boy,” in St. Nicholas, May 1875. Chambers gives two versions of the same story, under the title “The Wee Bunnock,” the first of which is one of the most dramatic and humorous of folk-tales. Unfortunately, the Scotticisms are so frequent as to render the droll practically untranslatable. “The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow” in Uncle Remus is similar to that of Johnny-Cake.
XXIX. EARL MAR’S DAUGHTER.
Source.–From the ballad of the same name as given in Mr. Allingham’s Ballad Book: it is clearly a fairy tale and not a ballad proper.
Parallels.–The lover visiting his spouse in guise of a bird, is a frequent motif in folk-tales.
XXX. MR. MIACCA.
Source.–From memory of Mrs. B. Abrahams, who heard it from her mother some x years ago (more than 40). I have transposed the two incidents, as in her version Tommy Grimes was a clever carver and carried about with him a carven leg. This seemed to me to exceed the limits of vraisemblance even for a folk-tale.
Parallels.–Getting out of an ogre’s clutches by playing on the simplicity of his wife, occurs in “Molly Whuppie” (No. xxii.), and its similars. In the Grimms’ “Hansel and Grethel,” Hansel pokes out a stick instead of his finger that the witch may not think him fat enough for the table.