Bha Calum MacLeòid na iasgair. Bha e a’ fuireach ann am baile beag ri taobh na mara. Bha bàta aig Calum, an “Iolaire”. Cha robh am bàta mòr, ach bha e làidir. Gach latha, rachadh e a-mach tràth sa mhadainn.

Nuair a thilleadh Calum feasgar, cha bhiodh aige ach aon iasg. Ach, b’ e iasg fìor mhath a bh’ ann an-còmhnaidh. Bradan mòr, no breac brèagha. Bha na daoine eile sa bhaile a’ faighneachd, "Ciamar a nì thu sin, a Chaluim?"

Cha chanadh Calum mòran. “Tha mi dìreach fortanach,” chanadh e le gàire.

Bha fear òg sa bhaile, Eòghainn. Bha Eòghainn ag iarraidh a bhith na iasgair math cuideachd. Aon latha, thuirt e ri Calum, "An urrainn dhomh a thighinn còmhla riut? Tha mi airson an dìomhaireachd agad ionnsachadh."

Chrath Calum a cheann. "Chan eil dìomhaireachd ann, a bhalaich. Dìreach foighidinn."

Cha robh Eòghainn ga chreidsinn. An ath mhadainn, chaidh Eòghainn am falach faisg air a’ chala. Chunnaic e Calum a’ fàgail, ach cha deach Calum a dh’ionnsaigh na mara. Ghabh e slighe eile, a-steach do na cnuic.

Lean Eòghainn e gu sàmhach. Choisich iad airson còrr is uair a thìde. Mu dheireadh, ràinig iad loch beag, falaichte eadar na beanntan. Cha robh duine eile mun cuairt.

Shuidh Calum ri taobh an locha. Thilg e a loidhne a-steach don uisge. Agus dh’fhuirich e. Cha do rinn e fuaim.

Dh’fhuirich Eòghainn am falach. Bha e a’ coimhead. Uair a thìde, dà uair a thìde. Cha do thachair dad.

Bha Eòghainn a’ fàs sgìth. Dìreach an uair sin, ghluais an t-slat aig Calum. Tharraing Calum iasg mòr a-mach às an uisge. B’ e bradan brèagha a bh’ ann.

Rinn Calum gàire. Phaisg e an t-iasg gu faiceallach. An uair sin, chuir e an t-slat air falbh.

Thàinig Eòghainn a-mach às an àite-falaich aige. "Loch draoidheil a th’ ann!" arsa esan.

Rinn Calum gàire a-rithist. "Chan e loch draoidheil a th’ ann, Eòghainn."

"Ach ciamar?" dh’fhaighnich Eòghainn. "Tha an t-iasg an-còmhnaidh cho mòr."

“Bidh mi a’ tighinn an seo a h-uile latha,” mhìnich Calum. "Agus bidh mi a’ toirt dìreach aon iasg. Sin a h-uile càil."

Cha do thuig Eòghainn.

“Ma bheir mi barrachd, cha bhi iasg mòr air fhàgail san loch,” thuirt Calum. "An dìomhaireachd, a bhalaich, is e spèis a th’ ann. Spèis don loch."

Sheall Eòghainn air an uisge sàmhach. Thòisich e a’ tuigsinn. Cha b’ e draoidheachd a bh’ ann. B’ e gliocas a bh’ ann.

Faclair (Vocabulary)

iasgair: fisherman

ri taobh na mara: by the side of the sea

bàta: boat

làidir: strong

feasgar: evening

an-còmhnaidh: always

bradan: salmon

breac: trout

brèagha: beautiful

gàire: smile, laugh

dìomhaireachd: secret

ionnsachadh: to learn

foighidinn: patience

cala: harbour

cnuic: hills

sàmhach: quiet, silent

uair a thìde: an hour

loch: lake

falaichte: hidden

slat: (fishing) rod

loidhne: fishing line

sgìth: tired

draoidheil: magical

mhìnich: explained

barrachd: more

a’ tuigsinn: understanding

spèis: respect

gliocas: wisdom

Ceistean Tuigse (Comprehension Questions)

Answer the questions based on the story.

1- Dè an t-ainm a bh’ air bàta Chalum?

2- Carson a lean Eòghainn Calum a-steach do na cnuic?

3- Dè an fhìor dhìomhaireachd a bh’ aig Calum airson iasg mòr a ghlacadh?

Lìon na Beàrnan (Fill in the blanks)

Fill in the blanks based on the story.

1- Cha deach Calum a dh’ionnsaigh na mara, ach ghabh e slighe a-steach do na ________.

2- Ràinig iad loch beag a bha ________ eadar na beanntan.

3- Cha do ghabh Calum ach ________ iasg gach latha bhon loch.

4- Bha Eòghainn a’ smaoineachadh an toiseach gur e loch ________ a bh’ ann.

5- Dh’ionnsaich Eòghainn gur e ________ an fhìor dhìomhaireachd, chan e draoidheachd.

Fìor no Meallta (True/False)

Read the statements and decide if they are True (Fìor) or False (Meallta).

1- Bha Calum ag iasgach anns a’ mhuir a h-uile latha.

2- Bha Calum a’ glacadh mòran èisg gach turas.

3- Lean Eòghainn Calum a chionn 's gu robh e airson an dìomhaireachd aige ionnsachadh.

4- Bha Calum a’ creidsinn ann a bhith a’ toirt spèis don loch.

5- Aig a’ cheann thall, cha do thuig Eòghainn dìomhaireachd Chalum.

English Translation

Calum's Fish

Calum MacLeod was a fisherman. He lived in a small village by the sea. He had a boat, the "Iolaire". The boat wasn't big, but it was strong. Every day, he would go out early in the morning.

When Calum returned in the evening, he would have only one fish. But it was always a very good fish. A big salmon, or a beautiful trout. The other people in the village would ask, "How do you do that, Calum?"

Calum wouldn't say much. "I'm just lucky," he would say with a smile.

There was a young man in the village, Eòghainn. Eòghainn wanted to be a good fisherman too. One day, he said to Calum, "Can I come with you? I want to learn your secret."

Calum shook his head. "There is no secret, lad. Just patience."

Eòghainn didn't believe him. The next morning, Eòghainn hid near the harbour. He saw Calum leaving, but Calum didn't go towards the sea. He took another path, into the hills.

Eòghainn followed him quietly. They walked for over an hour. Finally, they reached a small loch, hidden between the mountains. There was no one else around.

Calum sat by the side of the loch. He cast his line into the water. And he waited. He didn't make a sound.

Eòghainn stayed hidden. He was watching. One hour, two hours. Nothing happened.

Eòghainn was getting tired. Just then, Calum's rod moved. Calum pulled a large fish out of the water. It was a beautiful salmon.

Calum smiled. He wrapped the fish carefully. Then, he put the rod away.

Eòghainn came out from his hiding place. "It's a magical loch!" he said.

Calum smiled again. "It's not a magical loch, Eòghainn."

"But how?" asked Eòghainn. "The fish are always so big."

"I come here every day," explained Calum. "And I take just one fish. That's all."

Eòghainn didn't understand.

"If I take more, there will be no big fish left in the loch," said Calum. "The secret, lad, is respect. Respect for the loch."

Eòghainn looked at the quiet water. He began to understand. It wasn't magic. It was wisdom.

Answer Key

Comprehension Questions:

1- B’ e “Iolaire” an t-ainm a bh’ air a’ bhàta.

2- Lean e Calum a chionn 's gu robh e airson dìomhaireachd iasgaich Chalum ionnsachadh.

3- B’ e an fhìor dhìomhaireachd spèis a thoirt don loch agus gun a bhith a’ gabhail cus èisg.

Gap Fill Exercise:

1- cnuic

2- falaichte

3- aon

4- draoidheil

5- spèis

True/False:

1- Meallta

2- Meallta

3- Fìor

4- Fìor

5- Meallta