The Nicht that the Bairnie Cam' Hame
The story begins with a young boy, Jamie, who is sent away from his home in Scotland to live with his aunt and uncle in England. Jamie is homesick and longs to return to Scotland. One night, Jamie has a dream that he is walking home to Scotland. He wakes up and decides to make his dream a reality. Jamie sets off on a journey across the countryside, encountering many obstacles along the way. He meets a variety of characters, including a mysterious old man, a kindly farmer, and a helpful shepherd. With their help, Jamie is able to make it back to Scotland. When Jamie finally arrives home, he is welcomed with open arms by his family and friends. The story ends with Jamie happily reunited with his family and looking forward to a bright future.
By David Rorie · First published 1920 · Genre: Folklore, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 773 words
First lines
I was gaun to my supper richt hungert an' tired, A' day I'd been hard at the pleugh; The snaw wi' the dark'nin' was fast dingin' on, An' the win' had a coorse kin' o' sough. 'Twas a cheery like sicht as the bonny fire-licht Gar't the winnock play flicker wi' flame; But my supper was "Aff for the doctor at aince!" That nicht that the bairnie cam' hame.
What this Textopian page supports
The Nicht that the Bairnie Cam' Hame is listed on Textopian as a short story by David Rorie, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: David Rorie
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Folklore, Fantasy, Children's Literature
- Length: 773 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Nicht that the Bairnie Cam' Hame by David Rorie
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Nicht that the Bairnie Cam' Hame?
- How does this short story by David Rorie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Folklore first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Raggedy Man by James Whitcomb Riley
- Blinky Bill Grows Up by Dorothy Wall
- Little Tobrah by Rudyard Kipling
- May Time by Annie Fellows Johnston
- Hard Luck by Andrew Barton Paterson
- Termarter Sorce by C. J. Dennis
Genres
- Folklore — The title of the book suggests a traditional folktale, and the author, David Rorie, is known for writing stories inspired by Scottish folklore.
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies a magical or fantastical element, which is common in fantasy stories.
- Children's Literature — The title of the book implies a story intended for a young audience, and the author is known for writing stories for children.
Tags
Scottish culture · folk tales · childhood · family · homecoming · tradition · nostalgia · language · identity · community · adventure · imagination