Wessex Tales: "The Dorset Ooser Dines" (Story 26)

By Robert Fripp

In the village of Child Okeford a ‘Bull’ or 'Ooser' used to show up uninvited at Christmas festivities, causing mayhem. One guest at his manor's annual ball sees an opportunity to make a good match for his daughter. He pays the Ooser to carry her off. Rescued by her otherwise timid suitor, the girl's future is assured. *The Plain Text version cannot display the photo of the Ooser in this tale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Fripp
• Release date: Feb 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9780991857555

Robert Fripp

Nature, wildlife and public affairs television, earth sciences, gothic vaults and liturgy: Robert Fripp’s fiction and non-fiction share many slices of life. § Here, Fripp introduces his 38 “Wessex Tales” stories. Thomas Hardy used that title over a century ago. Fripp moves it forward with a new collection of “Wessex Tales” covering “Eight thousand years in the life of an English village.” § First come Stone Age hunters. Then villagers discover a new “stone,” bronze. Locals build Stonehenge. A Roman mosaic depicts Jesus. We advance: from Viking raiders to potions for maidens, a medieval wedding, civil war, smugglers, and the second battle of the Somme. § Smashwords releases several stories, here. Read them—free, for a time—choosing a format for your Kindle, Nook, iPad, Mac, PC, iPhone (via Stanza), Sony, Kobo and Androids. All 38 “Wessex Tales” stories will come alive in paperback within two years.

Book preview

~ WESSEX TALES ~

Eight thousand years in the life of an English village

‘The Dorset Ooser Dines’

Story 27 of 38

Robert Fripp

Copyright Robert Fripp 2013

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading ‘The Dorset Ooser Dines’. It will be free to readers for several months. However, it remains the copyrighted property of its author, Robert Fripp, who reserves all rights. This e-story may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoy it, please ask your friends to download a copy from Smashwords.com, where they will find more stories from my Wessex Tales collection.

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use this search term: Wessex Tales:Fripp

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Find books by Robert Fripp (Robert S.P. Fripp),

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Cover

A young Victorian couple.

Source: 25.media.tumblr.com

Cover design: The Design Unit, Wimborne

theDesignUnit.com

Table of Contents

The Dorset Ooser Dines

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Endnote on the Dorset Ooser

The Author’s Note

Books by Robert Fripp

Reach me Online

A List of my Stories

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~ WESSEX TALES ~

‘ The Dorset Ooser Dines ’

circa 1880

The last known photo* of the Dorset Ooser’s head, 1891.

Photo, J.W. Chaffins and Sons, Yeovil

*The Plain Text e-version cannot reproduce photographs.

"There is really no reason why the Bull should no longer break in upon our Christmas festivities as he did forty years ago… There was a time [in Child Okeford] when the Bull, [usually called the Dorset Ooser] came to the feast uninvited. … At the period I speak of the tenants danced unsuspectingly until the fatal moment when the Bull rushed in. He was entirely covered with a bull’s shaggy hide. His horns were long and sharp, and his eyes were of grey-blue glass, very unearthly and fearsome. A sort of valance hid his legs. The cross-stick that carried his head could be turned from side to side in realistic fashion. As he was blind a keeper led him from one to another of the shrieking damsels, and when he had one of them pinned into a corner it was small wonder that she went into hysterics. … He became so lively after supper that his keeper had all his