Nearly two hundred years ago a woman named Ala lived in a tiny broken down cottage a mile or so from Llanrug, on the Snowdon side between Caernarfon and Llanberis. No one knew why she was called Ala, it is not a Celtic name, but may have been a shortened form of a Romany name. Many said she was a witch, though not a black one- no one had ever accused her of trafficking with the Devil. She managed to live by selling potions, herbal remedies and telling fortunes; she never begged from anyone. Word of mouth spoke of her as being called Alabina, a true Romany name, a member of the old Romany family of Abraham Wood. There was a saying in those parts, "as many children as Teulu (family) Abraham Wood." But Ala was never seen in the company of any Romany. Most days in spring, summer and early autumn, Ala would be seen siting at the roadside smoking a broken clay pipe. Her headgear was a tall, once black hat, turned green with age. This hat was not pointed, but the sort of hat worn by both men and women on Sundays. No one ever found out whether Ala would curse anyone if paid to do so, nor was there any evidence to suggest that she had ever cursed anyone who might have offended her. But just in case, everyone was very careful not to anger her in any way. One boy did cause her extreme annoyance and something strange and distressing happened to him. Broken down her home may have been, but it was dearly loved by Ala, including in her garden, and apple tree. She used to chase away any child who came too close to her precious tree when there were apples on it. One afternoon in early September when her tree was bowed down with lovely red apples, an apple thief struck. He was a boy from Llanrug named Meirion, a daring young man quite unafraid of the supposed witch. Meirion was not quite so sure of himself as to steal the apples while Ala was at home, so while he was sure that she was out gathering herbs and plants he filled his pockets with her lovely fruit. So engrossed in his task was he that he did not see Ala return until she screamed at him. Off the tree he jumped and with pockets full he ran all the way home. When his mother saw him all red faced and out of breath she asked hi where he had been. "Just taking some apples from old Ala, aren't they pretty mam?" he answered. "Take them back immediately if you stole them. Ala might put a curse on you boy bach." Meirion laughed "What that old crone curse me; she couldn't curse a fly. Anyway I'm tired, I am going to bed early." His mother toyed with the idea of taking the apples back, but she was also tired after a day's washing, so decided not to. When she got to bed she felt very uneasy and didn't sleep at all well. Two days after the theft of the apples Meirion came home from school feeling unwell. Next day his mother called and called up to him telling him that he would be late for school. He was always difficult to get out of bed in the mornings, but that morning there was no sound at all from his room. Up the ladder went his mother, and there lay Meirion in a coma. She called his relatives and friends and one said that he was in a living death. The terrified mother remembered her son's theft of Ala's apples. She screamed "My son, my son, the witch has cursed you." No one else knew what she was talking about but finally she was able to explain to them what Meirion had done. "I must go to the witch now, will you look after Meirion?" she asked her sister. "Yes you run along bach, may God go with you." Answered her sister. She ran all the way to the cottage, and fortunately the so-called witch was at home. Indeed she seemed to have been expecting her for her unseen voice called. "Come in, you have tarried long in coming to beg my pardon, mother of the apple thief." Trembling, the woman stumbled into the Ala's home, and there was Ala sitting in the far corner of the room. The boy's mother feel to her knees in front of Ala. "Oh wise woman, please forgive my foolish son, it was only a boyish prank your punishment is too great. He is my only son and I am a widow." "Who says I did anything to him? Rise and go home woman, your son is fully recovered." At that the mother thanked Ala and sped off for home. When she got to the house, there was Meirion sitting at the table eating a bowl of cawl cennin (Leak broth). The sister said that about a quarter of an hour ago Meirion had come down from his bedroom and said "That cawl smells lovely modryb annwyl (dear Aunt), may I have some?" Many of the people in the village after learning of Meirion and the apples were now convinced that Ala was a witch, and a black one at that. This caused Ala to lose great many customers fearing the contact with a black witch would bring them bad luck.
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