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diff --git a/old/54724-8.txt b/old/54724-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1310a1f..0000000 --- a/old/54724-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3593 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Folk Tales of Breffny, by B. Hunt - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Folk Tales of Breffny - -Author: B. Hunt - -Release Date: May 14, 2017 [EBook #54724] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK TALES OF BREFFNY *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - FOLK TALES OF BREFFNY - - - BY - - B. HUNT - - - MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED - ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON - 1912 - - - - - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Many of the stories in this volume were told by an old man who said -he had more and better learning nor the scholars. "The like of them," -he declared, "do be filled with conceit out of books, and the most of -it only nonsense; 'tis myself has the real old knowledge was handed -down from the ancient times." The spread of education and cheap -literature robbed him of audience: the boys read of adventure by land -and sea, the girls interested themselves in the fate of heroes with -marble-white complexion and coal-black moustache. But it happened -that the old man took a contract to break stones for lime, and a -child with an insatiable desire for information came to watch him at -work. "I promise you will walk the world, like a Queen of ancient days, -renowned for learning and wit," he assured her, delighted to find a -listener at last. The child was only seven years old, and could not -remember all she heard, so most of his lore died with him. - -"The King's Daughter of France," "The Dark Oath," and "Nallagh's Child" -were told by other friends. - -The Folk Tale is essentially dramatic and loses much when it is -written down; moreover it is often put into a form unsuited to the -spirit of naïve philosophy from whence it springs. The peasant of -ancient race is more akin to the aristocratic type than the bourgeois -can ever be--and the story told from generation to generation bears -greater resemblance to the work of a poet than to that of the popular -novelist, who is the bourgeois of literature. Superstition in a race -is merely the proof of imagination, the people lacking fairy lore -must also lack intelligence and wit. - - -B. HUNT. - - - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - I. The King's Daughter of France 1 - II. The Cow of a Widow of Breffny 13 - III. Kate Ellen's Wake 21 - IV. The Dark Oath 29 - V. Fairy Gold 37 - VI. M'Carthy of Connacht 45 - VII. Nallagh's Child 65 - VIII. The Enchanted Hare 73 - IX. The Bridge of the Kist 81 - X. The Child and the Fiddle 89 - XI. The Cutting of the Tree 97 - XII. The Little Settlement 105 - XIII. The Tillage in the Fort 115 - XIV. The New Deck of Cards 121 - XV. The Lifting of a Child 127 - XVI. The Voice at the Door 135 - XVII. The Earl's Son of the Sea 143 - XVIII. The Girl and the Fairies 153 - XIX. Good-night, my Brave Michael 159 - XX. The Lad and the Old Lassie's Song 165 - XXI. The Basket of Eggs 169 - XXII. The Broken Branch 175 - XXIII. Digging for Gold 179 - XXIV. Story of a Churn 183 - XXV. The Gankeynogue in the Oak Chest 187 - XXVI. The Maker of Brogues 193 - - Glossary 197 - - - - - - - - -I - -THE KING'S DAUGHTER OF FRANCE - - -There was once an old man of Ireland who was terrible poor, and he -lived by his lone in a small wee house by the roadside. At the morning -of the day he would go for to gather sticks in a wood was convenient -to that place, the way he'd have a clear fire to be sitting at of -an evening. - -It fell out one time, of a cold night, that Paddy heard a knock at -the door. He went over, and when he opened it he seen a little boy -in a red cap standing without. - -"Let you come in and take an air to the fire," says he, for he always -had a good reception for every person. - -The boy with the red cap walked in, and he stopped for a good while -conversing. He was the best of company, and the old man didn't find -the time passing until he rose for to go. - -"Let you come in and rest yourself here any evening you are out in -these parts," says he. - -The very next night the little fellow was in it again, and the night -after that, warming himself at the clear fire and talking away. - -"Paddy," says he, the evening he was in it for the third time, -"Paddy, I do be thinking it is bitter poor you are!" - -"I am, surely," says the old man. - -"Well, let you pay attention to me, it is the truth I'm speaking, -you'll have more gold than ever you'll contrive for to spend." - -"I could go through a fair share of gold," says Paddy. - -"I am determined for to make a rich man of you," the little boy goes -on. "There is a lady at the point of death, and she is the King's -daughter of France. I have a bottle here in my pocket, and that is -the cure for the disease is on her. I'll be giving it to you, and let -you set out for France at the morning of the day. When you come to -the King's palace the servants will bid you be gone for an ignorant -beggar, but let you not be heeding them at all. Don't quit asking -to see the King, and in the latter end they'll give in to you. It is -with himself the most difficulty will be, for that man will think it -hard to believe the likes of a poor old Irishman could have a better -cure nor all the doctors in the world. A power of them allowed they'd -have her right well in no time, and it is worse they left her. The -King is after giving out that the next person coming with a false -cure be to lose their life. Let you not be scared at that decree, -for you are the man shall succeed. You may promise to have the lady -fit to ride out hunting in nine days. Three drops from the bottle is -all you have to give her, and that for three mornings after other." - -Paddy paid great heed to all the boy in the red cap was telling -him. He took the wee bottle that was to make him a rich man, and he -made ready for to set out at the morning of the day. - -He was a long time travelling the world before he came to the -palace where the King's daughter of France was lying at the point -of death. The servants made a great mock of the poor old Irishman, -but he paid no attention to their words at all. In the latter end he -got seeing the King, and that gentleman allowed the likes of Paddy -could never succeed when the doctors of the world were after failing. - -"I'd only be having the head cut off you, my poor old man!" says he. - -"I'm not the least bit in dread, your honour," says Paddy. "The lady -is bound to be ready to ride out hunting in nine days, if she uses -my medicine." - -His perseverance and courage won over the King of France, and -permission was given for a trial of the cure. - -The first morning, after taking the three drops from the bottle, -the lady turned in her bed. The second morning, after the treatment, -she sat up and ate her food. - -The third morning, when she had taken the three drops, the King's -daughter of France rose from her bed. And in nine days she was ready -to ride out hunting. - -They could not do enough for Paddy, there was great gratitude in -them. Well, the reward he accepted was a big sack of gold, and that -was the load he brought home to his cabin in Ireland. - -The first evening he was sitting by his clear fire, the little boy -came in at the door. - -"Didn't I do well for you, Paddy?" says he. - -"You did surely. I have more gold in that sack than ever I'll contrive -for to spend." - -"Ah, not at all! It is twice as much I'll be getting for you." - -"Is it another King's daughter has need of a cure?" asks Paddy. - -"No, but a different business entirely. There is a great bully to be -fought in the City of Dublin, and yourself is the man shall win it." - -"Do you tell me so!" says Paddy. - -"In troth I do. The man you have to fight is a big, fierce fellow no -one can get the better of. He has the youth of the world battered to -pieces, the way no person comes forward against him any more. There is -a fine purse of money put up for to entice a champion to face him; and -there will be great laughter when yourself puts in an appearance. They -will ask if you are wishful to fight with gloves on your hands, but -it is your bare fists are the best. Let you say you'll toss for which -it is to be, but toss with the half-crown I give you, and you are -certain to win. Myself is coming to that place for to second you, and -it's bound to be the grandest bully was seen in the City of Dublin." - -With that the little fellow went away out of the house. And at the -morning of the day my brave old Paddy started for Dublin. He wasn't -too long on the road, for he got a lift from a man was driving there -to see the bully. Well, there was odious laughing and cheering when -the crowd saw the champion was come to accept the challenge. The -big man was after battering the youth of the world, allowed he had -no notion of striving against the likes of Paddy. But when no person -else came forward they were bound for to accept him, and they asked -would he wear gloves on his fists. - -"We'll be tossing for that," says he, bringing out the half-crown he -had from the little boy in the red cap. - -He won the toss, sure enough, and he allowed it was bare-handed he'd -strive. All the time he was looking round, anxious like, but he could -see no sign of the one that was to second him. He went into the ring -in odious dread; but then the little fellow came and stood beside -him. My brave Paddy let out and he struck the champion one blow, -and didn't he lay him dead at his feet. - -It was then there was roaring and cheering for the old man. And in -all the confusion the little lad got away; Paddy never seen where he -went. The whole crowd took up a terrible great collection of money -for the champion was after destroying the man with a single blow. That -lot of gold, along with the purse was promised for the fight, filled -a sack as full as it could hold. So Paddy went home well rewarded, -and not a bit the worse of his jaunt to the City of Dublin. - -The first evening he was sitting by his own fireside, the little boy -in the red cap came in at the door. - -"Didn't I do well for you, Paddy?" says he. - -"You did, surely. It is rich for life I am owing to your contrivances." - -"Then will you be doing me a service in return for all?" asks the -little fellow. - -"Indeed then, I will," says Paddy. - -"We have all arranged for to cross over to France this night. We -intend for to bring away the lady you cured, the King's daughter of -that country," says the boy. "But we cannot contrive for to accomplish -the like unless we have flesh and blood along with us. Will you come?" - -"Aye, surely!" says Paddy. - -With that the two went out at the door and across the road into -a field. It was thronged with regiments of the Good People, past -belief or counting. They were running every way through the field, -calling out: - -"Get me a horse, get me a horse!" - -And what were they doing only cutting down the bohlans and riding -away on them. - -"Get me a horse, get me a horse!" says old Paddy, calling out along -with them. - -But the fellow in the red cap came over to him looking terrible vexed. - -"Don't let another word out of you," says he, "except one of ourselves -speaks first. Mind what I'm telling you or it will be a cause of -misfortune." - -"I'll say no more except in answer to a question," says Paddy. - -With that they brought him a white yearling calf, and put him up -for to ride upon it. He thought it was a queer sort of a horse, but -he passed no remarks. And away they rode at a great pace, the Good -People on the bohlans and Paddy on the yearling calf. - -They made grand going, and it wasn't long before they came to a big -lake had an island in the middle of it. With one spring the whole party -landed on the island and with another they were safe on the far shore. - -"Dam, but that was a great lep for a yearling calf," says Paddy. - -With that one of the Good People struck him a blow on the head, -the way the sense was knocked out of him and he fell on the field. - -At daylight the old man came to himself, and he lying on the field -by the big lake. He was a long journey from home, and he was weary -travelling round the water and over the hills to his own place. But the -worst of all was the sacks of gold: didn't every bit of the fortune -melt away and leave him poor, the way he was before he came in with -the Good People. - - - - - - - - -II - -THE COW OF A WIDOW OF BREFFNY - - -In the ancient times a man the name of M'Gauran ruled in these -parts. He was a cruel tyrant surely and prouder than the High King of -Ireland or O'Rourke was a Prince in Breffny. He conceited for to build -a house would stand to the end of time, a stronghold past the art of -man to overthrow or the fury of the wind to batter down. He gave out -that all the bullocks in his dominions were to be slaughtered and -mortar wet with the blood of them. Evenly the cows were not spared -at the latter end, the way a powerful lamentation went up from the -poor of the world were looking on the lonesome fields. - -You that are young will be thinking the blackness of his spirit and -the cruelty of his heart brought a curse on him to rot the flesh off -his living bones. You will be expectant of the story of a king, and -he walking the provinces of Ireland a skeleton and a warning to the -eyes of man. But the aged and wise have understanding to know of the -tribulation laid out for the good and the just, they putting their -sorrows over them in this world where the evil have prosperity. The -like will be enduring for a short space only, and a queer fate waits -the wicked in the age-long hours of eternity. Proud is the tyrant -and wealthy till they set him in the clay: humbled with fear is his -spirit at the journey's end. - -There was a widow woman had her little dwelling convenient to where -M'Gauran was building his castle. Gold she had none, nor evenly a -coin was of silver, one cow only was her riches on the earth. (And -surely them that had heart to molest her like would be robbing the -dead of the raiment is with them in the grave.) Herself was more nor -horrid lonesome the day she seen the creature driven from her by a -man of the chiefs, he having a lengthy knife in his hand. - -At the fall of night a traveller came to the poor woman's cabin -door. He was a bent, aged man with a sorrowful countenance on him, -and the garments did cover him were rags. She invited him within, -giving him the kindly welcome, and she set out what food was in the -place for his refreshment. - -"It is destroyed I am with a parching drouth is splitting my gullet," -says he, "and I walking the mountainy ways since the screech of -dawn. The sun was splitting the bushes at the noon of day, and the -fury of it was eating into my skin. But no person took compassion on -me at all." - -With that the widow set a mug of milk before him, and it the last -drop was in the countryside. He drank it down, middling speedy, -and he held out the cup to be filled again. - -"'Tis a heart scald surely," says herself, "that I be to refuse the -request of a man is weary walking the territory of Ireland, since the -rising sun brought light on his path. There is a king in these parts, -stranger, and he has the cattle destroyed on the poor of the world, -the way he will have a lasting mortar to his house." - -"Isn't yourself after giving me the loveliest mug of sweet milk?" says -he, like one was doubtful of the honesty of her words. - -"The last drop was in this townland, stranger, and it is heart glad -I am that it refreshed you. I had but the one cow only, the grandest -milker in the land, and she was driven from me this day--up yonder -to the masons are working with their shovels dripping red." - -"I am thinking it is four strong walls in the pit of Hell are -building for that chieftain's soul. Maybe it's red hot they'll be, -and he imprisoned within them for a thousand years and more," says -the traveller. - -"Let there be what masonry there will in the next world, the wealth -of the people cements his castle there beyond. For the cow and the -milk and the butter are the gold of the dwellers on the land," says -the widow. "But let you be resting a while in this place: what haste -is on you to depart?" For she seen he was rising to be gone. - -He raised his hand in benediction, and the voice of him speaking was -that sweet it charmed the birds off the bushes, the way they flew -round him in the darkening night. "May the blessing of the King of -Heaven be upon you. May He send you a cow will never run dry, and you -milking her at all seasons of the year to the day of your departure -from the world." - -With that the place was bare of his presence. He was gone the like -of a spirit has power to travel the land unseen. - -At the morning of the day following the poor woman stood at her -cottage door, facing out to the mountains are a long journey from -that place. Didn't she see a great wonder:--A piece fell clean from -the hillside and from it came a cow, white as the driven snow, she -travelling faster nor the wind. The widow seen all as clear as we -do be regarding the rising of the sun in the Eastern sky. Whatever -power was laid on her eyes the distance was no obstruction to her -vision that day. But it was not until the creature came and stood by -herself that she bethought her of the benediction of the traveller, -and the cow would never run dry. - -That was the beast had the great renown on her: people came from every -art and part to be looking on her. The milk she gave was richer nor -the best of cream, and the butter off it was the best in Ireland. - -The day the widow died, a young child seen the white cow travelling -away to the mountains. And no man beheld her more, nor evenly heard -tell of the like. But the Gap of Glan confronts us to this day, -and that is where the creature rose to the light of the world. - - - - - - - - -III - -KATE ELLEN'S WAKE - - -Kate Ellen lived by her lone for her husband was employed overseas. She -was a strange sort of a creature, pale and scared looking, with one -blue eye in her head and the other one grey. She had some kind of -disease that came at her with a fluttering in her heart. Sometimes -she would die of it for a couple of hours, and all the while she was -dead she'd be dreaming she was drowning. - -There was a fort not a many perches distant from my poor Kate Ellen's -house, and that was a noted place for the Good People to be out -diverting themselves. Moreover it was well known to the neighbours -that herself used to be away with them, but she allowed there was no -truth in the report. Now it happened of a May eve that a young child -seen her, and she milking the cushogues along with a score of the -fairies. Another night a man on his way from a distant fair found -her on the road before him riding with the little horseman. - -One day Kate Ellen came into the kitchen of a friend's house, and -she stopped there chatting for an hour's time. She allowed that she'd -surely die in a short space for the disease was making great ravages -and the doctors could take no hold of it at all. - -"No person can give me the least relief in the world," says she. "And -I'll be making but the one request of my friends and neighbours, -let there be no whiskey at the wake." - -"Sure the like was never heard tell of before," says the woman of -the house. "What use would there be in a dry wake?" - -"Maybe no use at all, as you are after saying," answers Kate -Ellen. "But let you pay heed to my words or there's like to be a -queer story told at the end of time." - -"'Tis the raving of death is on you, my poor creature," says the -woman of the house. "Sure you'll be the beautiful corpse and every -one of us paying our best respects to the same." - -Not a long after Kate Ellen was found in her own house and she lying -dead on the floor. All the friends and neighbours gathered in for -the wake, and what had they along with them only a beautiful jar of -the best whiskey. They could not think to give in to the arrangement -herself set out, that they'd remain in the place with a parching -drouth for company. - -The whole party were sitting round, and the jar of itself was in the -middle of the floor. There came a noise and shouting on the street, -like as if there was a powerful assembly of people without; and -then a great battering on the windows. The door opened wide and the -disturbance came into the kitchen, yet no person sitting there seen -a heth that was not in it from the start. It was a queer gathering -surely, for the friends and neighbours of the dead were silent and -still, and the crying went round them on the air. - -After a while didn't the jar of whiskey let a lep out of it and -begin for to roll on the floor. It was turned again and every drop -teemed from it before the watching eyes. Yet no person seen the Good -People were handling the drink and roving through the house. Then -the disturbance passed from the kitchen, and away down the field, -whatever was last for to go closed the door behind all. - -A man stood up and he says: "This is no right gathering surely, -and we would do well to be gone." - -With that another opens the door, and all made ready to depart. But -when they looked out and seen the fort all thronged with lights they -grew fearful to quit the house. - -There was the powerfullest laughter and cheering down among the -thorn trees of the circle, and there came a blast of the loveliest -music--fiddles and pipes and voices singing. - -"It is the Good People are having the whole beautiful wake down there -beyond," says a man. "Sure it is well known Kate Ellen was in league -with themselves." - -"By the powers, it is more like a wedding they are conducting this -hour," says another. - -"Come on away home," says a third, "what enticement is on us stop -when the drink is gone from us to the fairies are fiddling with joy!" - -But they bid him depart by his lone, for the rest were in dread of -passing the fort before day. He was a bold, daring sort of a man, -and it's likely he'd have gone only for his brother taking a hold of -his coat. - -"You'll be taken by the Good People," says he, "and they in great -humour after whipping off with the whiskey before our eyes." - -Sure it was more nor horrid wonderful that Kate Ellen had understanding -for to know what might be taking place on the night of her departure -from home. Maybe it's in agreement she was to be going for good with -the fairies and not to her grave at all. - - - - - - - - -IV - -THE DARK OATH - - -In the ancient times there was a young lad, and he gifted with a -temper was a fright to the world of man. He never controlled his -speech but took delight in letting great oaths and curses out of him, -they rising continually in his heart like water in a spring well. - -There were few of the neighbours had a mind to make free with himself, -sure it was an odious dread came upon them and they regarding -the villainy of his heart lepping out at his mouth with the words -speaking. All the time he was middling great with another gosoon of -the one age who would not be warned from his company. - -The two would be travelling the roads and roaming the fields of -Connacht from the screech of dawn to dark. But for all their diversions -together they fell out on a summer's day, and it was blows they gave -one another until a strong perspiration ran down from them and the -air moved before their eyes like the stars of heaven on a frosty -night. Neither could gain the mastery, and at long last they be to -quit striving for they were bone weary and feeble as an infant child. - -The one was hasty in his speech let a dark oath that he would be the -death of his companion, evenly if the power of the lonesome grave -itself was set between them to hold him from the fulfilment of his vow. - -In three days from the time the words were spoken he died of a strange, -sudden sickness. - -The other had a great satisfaction on him, he having no dread of a -man was rotting in the clay, where rich and poor are alike and the -strong have no mastery above the weak. But in a short while a warning -came to the lad in a dream, the way he walked the world in fear from -that out:-- - -He seen a field where he was standing by his lone to confront a -black bull was charging down. The eyes of the beast were glowing red -as burning fire, and it was no right thing surely. There was such a -fluttering of dread on the boy that he could not endeavour for to run, -but he stood like a growing rush does be waving with the breeze. Three -times the likeness of the great black bull came down against him, -wounding him with the curved and lengthy horns were upon it; with -that he awoke. - -"The devil will be gifting the spirit of the dead with the form of -a living beast, the way he'll get bringing me the dark destruction -he promised, and I looking fearful at the flames are burning in his -eyes," thinks the lad. - -Sure enough, in a month's time, he was in a field, and the appearance -of the black bull came against him. Three times it struck him, the -way he was tormented with the agony of the goring horns. With that -the likeness of the living beast faded from the place leaving the -young lad sore and sorry but alive. - -He had peace for a short space only to be thinking on his -escape. Didn't a second warning come in the night to restore the cold -fear to his heart:-- - -He seen a black goat come at him in standing leps, and the eyes of -it were glowing like a turf in the heart of a strong fire. - -"It is less power the devil be's giving him this time," thinks the -lad. "All the while 'tis an ill hour stands before me: the like of -yon beast will be middling weighty and it striking me in a standing -lep with no one of its four feet upon the ground." - -All came about as it was put on his eyes in the vision. Not a many -days went by before the likeness of the great black goat threw its -strength against him in the field. Three sore batterings he be to -endure, the way he was left lying on the grass with every bone of -him tormented in pain and a cold fear at his soul. - -When the wounds were healed on his body and the passing of time -restored his mind to a better peace, didn't he behold a third dream -of the night:-- - -He stood in the lane between his house and the field, and the -appearance of a great turkey cock flew down upon him from the sky. - -At that he let a hearty laugh, and he roused up in his bed. - -"Sure the devil has little wit to be thinking I'll take my death -from the like," says he. "And how would it be possible a fine, -stout-hearted lad could be scared by the fowls of the sky!" - -He laughed that night, and he laughed at the noon of day when the -bird flew against him in the lane. But the appearance of the turkey -cock opened the joining of his skull with one blow of the beak like a -sharpened knife was upon it. The second stroke and the third dashed -the brains from his head and scattered them grey on the brown and -dusty path. - -And that is the how he came to a bad death as his companion promised -him, and the dark oath was accomplished no spite of the power of -the grave. - -We that are yet in this world know well where we are, but ignorance is -on us of where we be to repair. Sure the passing of the spirit is the -strangest and awfullest thing was ever devised or heard tell of. It -was said in the ancient times and is well known to this present that -the soul quits the body by the joining of the skull. The eyes have -seen evil, the ears have heard it, and the mouth has made laughter -and speech of the same: how then would they be a right and a fitting -doorway for the feet of the spirit to pass! Moreover, I have heard -tell that the skull of man and the skull of woman are different one -from another--and it is the soul of herself has the sorest departure -from the flesh. - - - - - - - - -V - -FAIRY GOLD - - -It happened one time that a poor man dreamt three nights after other -of a sack of fairy gold was buried in under the roots of a lone bush -and it growing in a field convenient to his house. - -"It may be there is nothing in it," says he to himself. "But I will -be digging in that place and if I find a treasure it will be a big -reward for the labour." - -He never let on a word of his intentions to any person, nor did -he evenly pass any remark on the strange dreams were after coming -to him. At the fall of the day he took a loy in his hand and set -out for the lone bush. He was not a great while at work before the -steel blade struck against a substance that had no feel of clay, -and the man was full sure it was not a stone he was after striking -against. He wraught hard to bring whatever was in it to light--and -what had he only a powerful fine sack of pure gold and splendid jewels. - -He raised it up on his shoulders and set out for home, staggering -under the load. It was maybe a hundredweight of treasure he had with -him, and he went along planning out the uses of that wealth. Sure the -burden was a rejoicement to him and no hardship at all evenly if it -had him bent double like an aged and crippled man. - -When he came to his own place he went to the byre, and it was there -he put down the sack in front of three cows were standing in the -bails. For he was not wishful to be making a display of that splendour -before the neighbours all, and it was likely he would find some person -within making their cailee. Sure enough when he went in on the door -of the house he seen two men sitting by the fire and they in no haste -to depart. Now the strangers had the English only, and the people of -the house spoke Irish with one another. - -Says himself, using the Gaelic, "I have a beautiful treasure -without--bars of fine gold are in it, and jewels would be the delight -of a queen of the world." - -"Oh, bring it into the house," says she. "Sure it will rise my heart -to be looking on the like; the hunger of it is put on my eyes by your -words speaking." - -"I have better wit than to make display of my fortune to every person -is living in the land," says he. "Let you content yourself until the -two men have departed, and then we'll fetch the sack in from the byre -where I left it in front of the cows." - -When the man and woman of the house were shut of the company they -went out to the yard, and they fair wild with delight. Himself told -the story of the three dreams and the finding of the gold in under -the roots of the lone bush. - -"Did you spit on it?" she inquires. - -"I did not," says he. - -With that she allowed he was after making a big mistake. - -"How would that be?" he asks. - -"My father had great knowledge of the like," says herself. "I often -heard him tell of how those treasures do be enchanted, and power is -on them for to melt away. But if a man was to spit on fairy gold he'd -get keeping it surely." - -"Amn't I after bringing it this far," says he, "and the weight of it -destroying my shoulders with bruises and pains. Not the least sign of -melting was on yon article and it a warrant to bring down the scales -at a hundred and more." - -With that they went into the byre, and they seen the three cows were -striving to break out of the bails. - -"They are in dread of what's lying there in front," says herself. "The -cattle of the world have good wisdom surely, and they do be looking -on more nor the eye of man gets leave to behold." - -"Quit raving about the cows," says he. "Look at my lovely sack and -it bulging full." - -When the two went up to the head of the bails the woman let a great -cry out of her. - -"What are you after bringing to this place from among the roots of -the lone bush? It has the movement of life in it--and how could the -like be treasure at all!" - -"Hold your whisht, woman," says the husband, and he middling vexed -at her words. - -"Will you look at the bag is turning over on the ground?" says she. - -He seen there was truth in her words, but all the while he would not -give in to be scared. - -"It is likely a rat is after creeping in," he allows, "and he is -having his own times striving to win out." - -"Let you open the sack, and I will be praying aloud for protection -on us--for it is no right thing is in it at all," says herself. - -With that he went over and he turned the hundredweight of treasure -until he had it propped up against the bails. When he began for -to open the bag the cows went fair wild, striving and roaring and -stamping to get away from the place entirely. - -The head of a great eel looked out from under the man's hand where -he was groping for the treasure. The eyes of it were the colour of -flame and as blinding to the sight as the naked sun at noon of a -summer's day. - -The man gave one lep that carried him to the door and there the -paralysis of dread held him down. Herself let a scream could be -heard in the next townland, but she never asked to stir from where -she was standing. - -The appearance of the eel twisted itself out of the sack and travelled -along the ground, putting the six feet of its length into the awfullest -loops and knots were ever seen. Then it reared up its head and neck to -stand swaying for a while, a full half of it in the air. The man and -woman were convenient to the door but the both were too scared to go -out on it; they watched the eel and they seen it twist up round a bail -until the head of it was touching the roof. Didn't it break away out -through the thatch, and whether it melted off the face of the earth or -travelled to other parts was never heard tell. But the likeness of that -beast was the whole and only treasure came out of the sack the poor man -dug from under the roots of the lone bush where the fairy gold was hid. - - - - - - - - -VI - -M'CARTHY OF CONNACHT - - -I - -There was a fine young gentleman the name of M'Carthy, he had a most -beautiful countenance and for strength and prowess there was none to -equal him in the baronies of Connacht. But he began to dwine away, and -no person knew what ailed him. He used no food at all and he became -greatly reduced, the way he was not able to rise from his bed and he -letting horrid groans and lamentations out of him. His father sent -for three skilled doctors to come and find out what sort of disease -it might be, and a big reward was promised for the cure. - -Three noted doctors came on the one day and they searched every vein -in young M'Carthy's body, but they could put no name on the sickness -nor think of a remedy to relieve it. They came down from the room -and reported that the disease had them baffled entirely. - -"Am I to be at the loss of a son is the finest boy in all -Ireland?" says the father. - -Now one of the doctors had a man with him was a very soft-spoken -person, and he up and says: - -"Maybe your honours would be giving me permission to visit the young -gentleman. I have a tongue on me is that sweet I do be drawing the -secrets of the world out of men and women and little children." - -Well they brought him up to the room and they left him alone with -M'Carthy. He sat down by the side of the bed and began for to flatter -him, the like of such conversation was never heard before. - -At long last he says, "Let your Lordship's honour be telling me--What -is it ails you at all?" - -"You will never let on to a living soul?" asks M'Carthy. - -"Is it that I'd be lodging an information against a noble person like -yourself?" says the man. - -With that the young gentleman began telling the secrets of his heart. - -"It is no disease is on me," says he, "but a terrible misfortune." - -"'Tis heart scalded I am that you have either a sorrow or a sickness, -and you grand to look on and better to listen to," says the other. - -"It is in love I am," says M'Carthy. - -"And how would that be a misfortune to a fine lad like yourself?" asks -the man. - -"Let you never let on!" says M'Carthy. "The way of it is this: I am -lamenting for no lady is walking the world, nor for one is dead that -I could be following to the grave. I have a little statue has the -most beautiful countenance on it was ever seen, and it is destroyed -with grief I am that it will never be speaking to me at all." - -With that he brought the image out from under his pillow, and the -loveliness of it made the man lep off the chair. - -"I'd be stealing the wee statue from your honour if I stopped in this -place," says he. "But let you take valour into your heart, for that -is the likeness of a lady is living in the world, you will be finding -her surely." - -With that he went down to the three doctors and the old man were -waiting below. For all his promises to young M'Carthy he told the -lot of them all he was after hearing. The doctors allowed that if -the gentleman's life was to be saved he must be got out of his bed -and sent away on his travels. - -"For a time he will be hopeful of finding her," says the oldest -doctor. "Then the whole notion will pass off him, and he seeing -strange lands and great wonders to divert him." - -The father was that anxious for the son's recovery that he agreed to -sell the place and give him a big handful of money for the journey. - -"It is little I'll be needing for myself from this out, and I am old -man near ripe for the grave," says he. - -So they all went up to the room and told young M'Carthy to rise -from his bed and eat a good dinner, for the grandest arrangements -out were made for his future and he'd surely meet the lady. When he -seen that no person was mocking him he got into the best of humour, -and he came down and feasted with them. - -Not a long afterwards he took the big handful of money and set out on -his travels, bringing the statue with him. He went over the provinces -of Ireland, then he took sea to England and wandered it entirely, -away to France with him next and from that to every art and part of -the world. He had the strangest adventures, and he seen more wonders -than could ever be told or remembered. At the latter end he came back -to the old country again, with no more nor a coin or two left of the -whole great fortune of money. The whole time he never seen a lady was -the least like the wee statue; and the words of the old doctor were -only a deceit for he didn't quit thinking of her at all. M'Carthy -was a handsome young gentleman, and if it was small heed he had for -any person he met it was great notice was taken of him. Sure it was a -Queen, no less, and five or six princesses were thinking long thoughts -on himself. - -The hope was near dead in his heart and the sickness of grief was on -him again when he came home to Ireland. Soon after he landed from -the ship he chanced to come on a gentleman's place, and it a fine -big house he never had seen before. He went up and inquired of the -servants if he would get leave to rest there. He was given a most -honourable reception, and the master of the house was well pleased to -be entertaining such an agreeable guest. Now himself happened to be a -Jew, and that is the why he did not ask M'Carthy to eat at his table, -but had his dinner set out for him in a separate room. The servants -remarked on the small share of food he was using, it was scarcely what -would keep the life in a young child; but he asked them not to make -any observation of the sort. At first they obeyed him, yet when he used -no meat at all on the third day, didn't they speak with their master. - -"What is the cause of it at all?" he says to M'Carthy. "Is the food -in this place not to your liking? Let you name any dish you have a -craving for, and the cook will prepare it." - -"There was never better refreshment set before an emperor," says -M'Carthy. - -"It is civility makes you that flattering," answers the Jew. "How -would you be satisfied with the meat is set before you when you are -not able to use any portion of it at all?" - -"I doubt I have a sickness on me will be the means of my death," says -M'Carthy. "I had best be moving on from this place, the way I'll not -be rewarding your kindness with the botheration of a corpse." - -With that the master of the house began for to speak in praise of a -doctor was in those parts. - -"I see I must be telling you what is in it," says M'Carthy. "Doctors -have no relief for the sort of tribulation is destroying me." - -He brought out the statue, and he went over the whole story from start -to finish. How he set off on his travels and was hopeful for awhile; -and how despair got hold of him again. - -"Let you be rejoicing now," says the Jew, "for it is near that lady -you are this day. She comes down to a stream is convenient to this -place, and six waiting maids along with her, bringing a rod and line -for to fish. And it is always at the one hour she is in it." - -Well, M'Carthy was lepping wild with delight to hear tell of the lady. - -"Let you do all I'm saying," the Jew advises him. "I'll provide you -with the best of fishing tackle, and do you go down to the stream -for to fish in it too. Whatever comes to your line let you give to -the lady. But say nothing might scare her at all and don't follow -after her if she turns to go home." - -The next day M'Carthy went out for to fish, not a long was he at the -stream before the lady came down and the six waiting maids along with -her. Sure enough she was the picture of the statue, and she had the -loveliest golden hair was ever seen. - -M'Carthy had the luck to catch a noble trout, and he took it off -the hook, rolled it in leaves and brought it to the lady, according -to the advice of the Jew. She was pleased to accept the gift of it, -but didn't she turn home at once and the six waiting maids along with -her. When she went into her own house she took the fish to her father. - -"There was a noble person at the stream this day," she says, "and he -made me a present of the trout." - -Next morning M'Carthy went to fish again, and he seen the lady coming -and her six waiting maids walking behind her. He caught a splendid fine -trout and brought it over to her; with that she turned home at once. - -"Father," says she, when she went in, "the gentleman is after giving -me a fish is bigger and better nor the one I brought back yesterday. If -the like happens at the next time I go to the stream I will be inviting -the noble person to partake of refreshment in this place." - -"Let you do as best pleases yourself," says her father. - -Well, sure enough, M'Carthy got the biggest trout of all the third -time. The lady was in the height of humour, and she asked would -he go up to the house with her that day. She walked with M'Carthy -beside her, and the six waiting maids behind them. They conversed -very pleasantly together, and at last he found courage for to tell -her of how he travelled the world to seek no person less than herself. - -"I'm fearing you'll need to set out on a second journey, the way you -will be coming in with some other one," says she. "I have an old father -is after refusing two score of suitors were asking me off him. I do be -thinking I'll not get joining the world at all, unless a king would -be persuading himself of the advancement is in having a son-in-law -wearing a golden crown upon his head. The whole time it is great -freedom I have, and I walking where it pleases me with six waiting -maids along with me. The old man has a notion they'd inform him if -I was up to any diversion, but that is not the way of it at all." - -"It is funning you are, surely," says M'Carthy. "If himself is that -uneasy about you how would it be possible you'd bring me to the house -to be speaking with him?" - -"He is a kindly man and reasonable," says she, "and it is a good -reception you'll be getting. Only let you not be speaking of marriage -with me, for he cannot endure to hear tell of the like." - -Well, the old man made M'Carthy welcome, and he had no suspicion the -two were in notion of other. But didn't they arrange all unbeknownst -to him, and plan out an elopement. - -M'Carthy went back to the Jew, and he told him all. "But," says he, -"I am after spending my whole great fortune of money travelling the -territory of the world. I must be finding a good situation the way -I'll make suitable provision for herself." - -"Don't be in the least distress," says the Jew. "I did not befriend -you this far to be leaving you in a bad case at the latter end. I'll -oblige you with the loan of what money will start you in a fine -place. You will be making repayment at the end of three years when -you have made your profit on the business." - -The young gentleman accepted the offer, and he fair wild with -delight. Moreover, the Jew gave himself and the lady grand assistance -at the elopement, the way they got safe out of it and escaped from -her father was raging in pursuit. - -M'Carthy was rejoicing surely, and he married to a wife was the -picture of the statue. Herself was in the best of humour too, for -it was small delight she had in her own place, roaming the fields -or stopping within and six waiting maids along with her. A fine, -handsome husband was the right company for her like. They bought a -lovely house and farm of land with the money was lent by the Jew; -and they fixed all the grandest ever was seen. After a while M'Carthy -got a good commission to be an officer, the way nothing more in the -world was needful to their happiness. - - - - -II - -M'Carthy and his lady had a fine life of it, they lacking for no -comfort or splendour at all. The officer's commission he had, brought -himself over to England from time to time, and the lady M'Carthy would -mind all until he was home. He saved up what money was superfluous, and -all was gathered to repay the loan to the Jew only for a few pounds. - -Well it happened that M'Carthy went to England, and there he fell -in with a droll sort of a man was the best of company. They played -cards together and they drank a great power of wine. In the latter -end a dispute came about between them, for the both claimed to have -the best woman. - -"I have a lady beyond in Ireland," says M'Carthy, "and she is an -ornament to the roads when she is passing along. But no person gets -seeing her these times and that is a big misfortune to the world." - -"What's the cause?" asks the Englishman. - -"I'd have a grief on me to think another man might be looking on -her and I not standing by," says M'Carthy. "So she gives me that -satisfaction on her promised word: all the time I do be away she -never quits the house, and no man body is allowed within." - -The Englishman let a great laugh out of him at the words. - -"You are simple enough!" says he. "Don't you know rightly when you -are not in it herself will be feasting and entertaining and going on -with every diversion?" - -M'Carthy was raging at the impertinence of him, and he offered for -to fight. - -"What would that be proving?" says the Englishman. "Let you make a -powerful big bet with myself that I will not be able for to bring -you a token from your lady and a full description of her appearance." - -"I'll be winning the money off you, surely!" says M'Carthy. - -"Not at all," says the Englishman. "I'm not in the least uneasy about -it, for I'm full sure it's the truth I'm after speaking of how she -does be playing herself in your absence." - -"You'll find me in this place and you coming back," says M'Carthy. "Let -you be prepared with the money to have along with you." - -The Englishman took ship to Ireland, and he came to the house of the -lady M'Carthy. Herself was in the kitchen making a cake, and she seen -the man walking up to the door. Away she run to the parlour, and in -the hurry she forgot the lovely pearl ring she took off her finger -when she began at the cooking. Well, he found the door standing open, -and he seen the ring on the kitchen table. It was easy knowing it -was no common article would be in the possession of any one but the -mistress of the house. What did the lad do, only slip in and put it -in his pocket. With that the waiting maid came and asked his business, -the lady M'Carthy was after sending her down. - -"Oh, no business at all," says he. "But I am weary travelling and I -thought I might rest in this place." - -He began for to flatter the girl and to offer her bribes, and in the -latter end he got her to speak. She told him all what the mistress -of the house was like; how she had a mole under her right arm and -one on her left knee. Moreover she gave him a few long golden hairs -she got out of the lady's comb. - -The Englishman went back to M'Carthy, brought him the tokens, -and demanded the payment of the bet. And that is the way the poor -gentleman spent the money he had saved up for the Jew. - -M'Carthy sent word to his wife that he was coming home, and for her to -meet him on the ship. She put her grandest raiment upon her and started -away at once. She went out to the ship and got up on the deck where -she seen her husband standing. When she went over to him he never said -a word at all, but he swept her aside with his arm the way she fell -into the water. Then he went on shore full sure he had her drowned. - -But there was another ship coming in, and a miller that was on her -seen the lady struggling in the sea. He was an aged man, yet he -ventured in after her and he saved the poor creature's life. - -Well, the miller was a good sort of a man and he had great compassion -for herself when she told him her story. She had no knowledge of the -cause of her husband being vexed with her, and she thought it hard -to believe the evidence of her senses that he was after striving to -make away with her. The miller advised the lady M'Carthy to go on -with the ship was sailing to another port, for may be if she went -home after the man he would be destroying her. - -When the ship came into harbour the news was going of a great -lawsuit. The miller heard all, and he brought word to the lady that -M'Carthy was in danger of death. - -"There are three charges against him," says the miller. "Your father -has him impeached for stealing you away and you not wishful to be -with him: that is the first crime." - -"That is a false charge," says she, "for I helped for to plan the -whole elopement. My father is surely saying all in good faith, but -it is a lie the whole time." - -"A Jew has him accused for a sum of money was borrowed, and it due -for repayment: that is the second crime," says the miller. - -"The money was all gathered up for to pay the debt," says the -lady. "Where can it be if M'Carthy will not produce it?" - -"The law has him committed for the murder of yourself: and that is -the third crime," says the miller. - -"And a false charge too, seeing you saved me in that ill hour. I am -thinking I'd do well to be giving evidence in court of law, for it's -maybe an inglorious death they'll be giving him," says she. - -"Isn't that what he laid out for yourself?" asks the miller. - -"It is surely, whatever madness came to him. But I have a good wish -for him the whole time." - -"If that is the way of it we had best be setting out," says he. - -The lady and the miller travelled overland, it being a shorter journey -nor the one they were after coming by sea. When they got to the court -of law wasn't the judge after condemning M'Carthy; and it was little -the poor gentleman cared for the sentence of death was passed on him. - -"My life is bitter and poisoned on me," says he, "maybe the grave is -the best place." - -With that the lady M'Carthy stood up in the court and gave out that she -had not been destroyed at all, for the miller saved her from the sea. - -They began the whole trial over again, and herself told how she -planned the elopement, and her father had no case at all. She could not -tell why M'Carthy was wishful to destroy her, and he had kept all to -himself at the first trial. But by degrees all was brought to light: -the villainy of the Englishman and the deceit was practised on them -by him and the servant girl. - -It was decreed that the money was to be restored by that villain, -and the Jew was to get his payment out of it. - -The lady M'Carthy's father was in such rejoicement to see his -daughter and she alive, that he forgave herself and the husband for -the elopement. Didn't the three of them go away home together and -they the happiest people were ever heard tell of in the world. - - - - - - - - -VII - -NALLAGH'S CHILD - - -In the ancient days there were a power of the Good People travelling -the land of Breffny. It was easy knowing they were middling proud -and conceity in themselves, for they rode upon what appeared to be -horses and had music with them, no less! Children were changed by the -fairies too, and no matter what way they were reared the like never -grew to be right things. - -There was once a man the name of Nallagh, lived in a tidy little -place beyond the river. The wife and himself had one child, a gosoon, -that could never be learned to speak, nor walk, nor stand upright, -nor evenly to crawl upon the floor. The whole time the creature had -all his makes and shapes natural and good only for a powerful great -head was on him. - -The mother had her own times minding the youngster. Evenly when he -was right big she'd be lifting him out of the bed, at the morning of -the day, and fixing him up in a chair. There he'd sit, watching the -fire until the fall of night, seemingly contented and in the best of -humour. He had great observation for all that would be doing in the -place, and if the least thing went astray he'd have an odious cor on -him. The fire was his whole delight, when a turf fell and the sparks -flew he'd open his mouth until you'd swear he was going to let a crow -out of him. But never a sound came at all. - -It happened one time that Nallagh and the wife went to market, -leaving the servant boy and servant girl to mind the place. - -"Let you keep up a good fire for the youngster, the way he will not be -lonesome, and he looking on the glowing turf is his whole delight. Let -you attend to your business the same as if myself was standing by -to bid you do all things particular and tasty," says the mistress, -and she going out at the door. - -Not a long were the two by their lone before they quit working and -began for to play themselves through the kitchen. - -Says the servant boy: "We'd do well to be making a little feast, -considering herself is not in it, and the wee coley but a silent -creature will not be clashing on us at all." - -With that they brought the best of butter, cream and the like from -the dairy, and the girl mixed all in a meskin for to make a butter -cake. They built the fire with turf enough to roast the dinner of -a giant, set the pot-hooks in the ears of the pan and let down the -crook for to hang it on. "With the help of the Living Powers, that'll -be the luscious bit," says the servant girl, putting down the batter -for to bake. - -The whole time they were at their diversions Nallagh's child never -quit watching the pair. Maybe it's in expectation he was of getting -his taste of the feast. - -The butter cake was doing nicely, turning a grand colour and a lovely -smell rising off it. The two heroes were in the best of humour, -chatting other and funning, when all of a sudden the servant boy -chanced to look out over the half door. "I declare to man, we're -destroyed entirely," says he. "Himself and the mistress are without!" - -Sure enough it was Nallagh and the wife were after delaying in -the market but a short space only. The girl, hearing tell of them -coming in on her sooner nor they were expected, had the wit to whip -the butter cake off the fire, and she slipped it in under the chair -where the child was all times sitting. - -"It's the queer old cor he's putting on his countenance," says -she. "But what about it, considering he is unable for to clash on us!" - -With that the father and mother came into the kitchen. And the four -near fell dead with wonderment and fear, for when he seen the parents -the wee lad cried out: - -"Hot, hot under my chair!" - -The servants were in odious dread, full sure they'd be found out and -hunted from the place. For the butter cake was steaming mad from the -fire, and the child never quit shouting: - -"Hot, hot under my chair!" - -He didn't let another word out of him but only the one thing, saying -it maybe a hundred times after other: - -"Hot, hot under my chair." - -Well, if he was to say it a hundred times, or a thousand itself, -Nallagh and the wife could not know what in under the shining Heaven -he was striving for to tell. They were all of a tremblement with the -wonder of the speech coming to him, and they never thought to consider -was there sense in the words at all. It was a great miracle, surely, to -hear the creature that never made a sound before, and he roaring out: - -"Hot, hot under my chair!" - -The old people were that put about they never thought to look round -the place to see was anything astray; and I promise you the two heroes -didn't ask to clash on themselves. - -The whole house was left through other until the fall of night, and -every person in it was weary to the world with the dread and surprise -was on them. After dark the mother puts the son to bed, fixing him -up right comfortable. But it was not a sweet rest was laid out for -the people of that house. - -In the darkness of the black midnight, a powerful great storm shook -the place. It was like as if the four winds of Heaven were striving -together, and they horrid vexed with one another. There were strange -noises in it too, music and shouting, the way it was easy knowing the -Good People were out playing themselves, or maybe disputing in a war. - -Thinking the child might be scared at the commotion, herself took a -light in her hand and went over to his bed. - -"Is all well with you, sonny?" says she, for she had a fashion of -speaking with him, evenly if it was no answers he'd give. - -But the little fellow was not in it at all, he was away travelling -the world with the Fairy horsemen were after coming for him. - -The whole disturbance died out as speedy and sudden as it came. The -music dwined in the far distance and the wind was still as the dawn -of a summer's day. Sure it was no right tempest at all but an old -furl blast the Good People had out for their diversion. - -The child was never restored to Nallagh and the wife. The fairies -left them in peace from that out; they never heard the music on the -distant hills, nor the regiments of horsemen passing by. The whole -time it was lonesome they'd be, and they looking on the empty chair -where the strange child delighted to sit silent, watching the turf -was glowing red. - - - - - - - - -VIII - -THE ENCHANTED HARE - - -There was a strong farmer one time and he had nine beautiful cows -grazing on the best of land. Surely that was a great prosperity, -and you'd be thinking him the richest man in all the countryside. But -it was little milk he was getting from his nine lovely cows, and no -butter from the milk. They'd be churning in that house for three hours -or maybe for five hours of a morning, and at the end of all a few wee -grains of butter, the dead spit of spiders' eggs, would be floating -on the top of the milk. Evenly that much did not remain to it, for -when herself ran the strainer in under them they melted from the churn. - -There were great confabulations held about the loss of the yield, -but the strength of the spoken word was powerless to restore what -was gone. Herself allowed that her man be to have the evil eye, and -it was overlooking his own cattle he was by walking through them and -he fasting at the dawn of day. The notion didn't please him too well, -indeed he was horrid vexed at her for saying the like, but he went no -more among the cows until after his breakfast time. Sure that done no -good at all--it was less and less milk came in each day. And butter -going a lovely price in the market, to leave it a worse annoyance to -have none for to sell. - -The man of the house kept a tongue hound that was odious wise. The -two walked the cattle together, and it happened one day that they -came on a hare was running with the nine cows through the field. The -hound gave tongue and away with him after the hare, she making a -great offer to escape. - -"Maybe there is something in it," says the man to himself. "I have -heard my old grandfather tell that hares be's enchanted people; -let it be true or no, I doubt they're not right things in any case." - -With that he set out for to follow his tongue hound, and the hunt went -over the ditches and through the quick hedges and down by the lake. - -"Begob it's odious weighty I am to be diverting myself like a little -gosoon," says the man. And indeed he was a big, hearty farmer was -leaving powerful gaps behind him where he burst through the hedges. - -There was a small, wee house up an old laneway, and that was where -the hunt headed for. The hare came in on the street not a yard in -front of the tongue hound, and she made a lep for to get into the -cabin by a hole on the wall convenient to the door. The hound got a -grip of her and she rising from the ground. But the farmer was coming -up close behind them and didn't he let a great crow out of him. - -"Hold your hold, my bully boy! Hold your hold!" The tongue hound -turned at the voice of the master calling, and the hare contrived -for to slip from between his teeth. One spring brought her in on -the hole in the wall, but she splashed it with blood as she passed, -and there was blood on the mouth of the hound. - -The man came up, cursing himself for spoiling the diversion, but -he was well determined to follow on. He took the coat off his back -and he stuffed it into the opening the way the hare had no chance to -get out where she was after entering, then he walked round the house -for to see was there any means of escape for what was within. There -wasn't evenly a space where a fly might contrive to slip through, -and himself was satisfied the hunt was shaping well. - -He went to the door, and it was there the tongue hound went wild to -be making an entry, but a lock and a chain were upon it. The farmer -took up a stone and he broke all before him to get in after the hare -they followed so far. - -"The old house is empty this long time," says he, "and evenly if I be -to repair the destruction I make--sure what is the price of a chain -and a lock to a fine, warm man like myself!" - -With that he pushed into the kitchen, and there was neither sight -nor sign of a hare to be found, but an old woman lay in a corner and -she bleeding. - -The tongue hound gave the mournfullest whine and he juked to his -master's feet, it was easy knowing the beast was in odious dread. The -farmer gave a sort of a groan and he turned for to go away home. - -"It's a queer old diversion I'm after enjoying," says he. "Surely -there's not a many in the world do be hunting hares through the fields -and catching old women are bleeding to death." - -When he came to his own place the wife ran out of the house. - -"Will you look at the gallons of beautiful milk the cows are after -giving this day," says she, pulling him in on the door. - -Sure enough from that out there was a great plenty of milk and a -right yield of butter on the churn. - - - - - - - - -IX - -THE BRIDGE OF THE KIST - - -There was once a man the name of Michael Hugh, and he was tormented -with dreams of a kist was buried in under a bridge in England. For -awhile he took no heed to the visions were with him in the stillness -of the night, but at long last the notion grew in his mind that he -be to visit that place and find out was there anything in it. - -"I could make right use of a treasure," thinks he to himself. "For 'tis -heart scalded I am with dwelling in poverty, and a great weariness -is on me from toiling for a miserable wage." Then he bethought of -the foolishness of making the journey if all turned out a deceit. - -"Sure I'll be rid of belief in the dreams are driving me daft with -their grandeur and perseverance," says he. "Evenly failure will bring -a sort of satisfaction for I'll get fooling whatever spirit does be -bringing the vision upon me." - -So my brave Michael Hugh took an ash plant in his hand, and away with -him oversea to England to discover the bridge of the kist. - -He was a twelvemonth travelling and rambling with no success to rise -his heart, and he began for to consider he had better return to his -own place. But just as he was making ready to turn didn't he chance -on a strong flowing river, and the sight near left his eyes when he -found it was spanned by the bridge he was after dreaming of. - -Well Michael Hugh went over and he looked down on the black depth of -water was flowing in under the arch. - -"It'll be a hard thing surely to be digging for a kist in that place," -says he. "I'm thinking a man would find a sore death and no treasure -at all if he lepped into the flood. But maybe it's laid out for -me to gather my fortune here, and some person may come for to give -me instruction." - -With that he walked up and down over the bridge, hoping for further -advice since he could not contrive a wisdom for his use. There was -a house convenient to the river, and after awhile a man came from it. - -"Are you waiting on any person in this place?" says he to Michael -Hugh. "It's bitter weather to be abroad and you be to be as hardy as -a wild duck to endure the cold blast on the bridge." - -"I'm hardy surely," Michael Hugh makes his answer. "But 'tis no easy -matter to tell if I'm waiting on any person." - -"You're funning me," says the Englishman. "How would you be abroad -without reason, and you having a beautiful wise countenance on you?" - -With that Michael Hugh told him the story of the dreams that brought -him from Ireland, and how he was expectant of a sign to instruct him -to come at the kist. The Englishman let a great laugh. - -"You're a simple fellow," says he. "Let you give up heeding the -like of visions and ghosts, for there is madness in the same and no -pure reason at all. There's few has more nor better knowledge than -myself of how they be striving to entice us from our work, but I'm -a reasonable man and I never gave in to them yet." - -"Might I make so free as to ask," says Michael Hugh, "what sort of -a vision are you after resisting?" - -"I'll tell you and welcome," says the Englishman. "There isn't a night -of my life but I hear a voice calling: 'Away with you to Ireland, and -seek out a man the name of Michael Hugh. There is treasure buried in -under a lone bush in his garden, and that is in Breffny of Connacht.'" - -The poor Irishman was near demented with joy at the words, for he -understood he was brought all that journey to learn of gold was a -stone's throw from his own little cabin door. - -But he was a conny sort of a person, and he never let on to the other -that Michael Hugh was the name of him, nor that he came from Breffny -of Connacht. - -The Englishman invited him into his house for to rest there that night, -and he didn't spare his advice that dreams were a folly and sin. - -"You have me convinced of the meaning of my visions," says Michael -Hugh. "And what's more I'll go home as you bid me." - -Next morning he started out, and he made great haste with the desire -was on him to get digging the gold. - -When he came to his own place in Connacht he made straight for a -loy and then for the lone bush. Not a long was he digging before he -hoked out a precious crock full of treasure, and he carried it into -the house. - -There was a piece of a flag stone lying on top of the gold, and there -was a writing cut into it. What might be the meaning of that Michael -Hugh had no notion, for the words were not Gaelic nor English at all. - -It happened one evening that a poor scholar came in for to make -his cailee. - -"Can you read me that inscription, mister?" asks Michael Hugh, -bringing out the flag. - -"Aye surely," says the poor scholar. "That is a Latin writing, and -I am well learned in the same." - -"What meaning is in it?" asks the other. - -"'The same at the far side,'" says the scholar. "And that is a droll -saying surely when it gives no information beyond." - -"Maybe it will serve my turn, mister!" says Michael Hugh, in the best -of humour. - -After the scholar was gone on his way, didn't himself take the loy -and out to the garden. He began for to dig at the far side of the -lone bush, and sure enough he found a second beautiful kist the dead -spit of the first. - -It was great prosperity he enjoyed from that out. And he bought the -grandest of raiment, the way the neighbours began for to call him -Michael Hughie the Cock. - - - - - - - - -X - -THE CHILD AND THE FIDDLE - - -There was a woman one time, and she had the fretfullest child in all -Ireland. He lay in the cradle and lamented from morning to night and -from dark to the dawn of day. There was no prosperity nor comfort in -that house from he came to it. All things went astray within in the -kitchen and without upon the farm: the cattle fell sick, the potatoes -took a blight, there was not a taste of butter on the churn, and evenly -the cat began for to dwine and dwine away. But of all the misfortunes -that come the woefullest was the continual strife between the man and -woman of the house, and they a couple that were horrid fond aforetime. - -It happened when the child was about eighteen months of age that a -strange man was hired to work on the farm. Surely he'd never have -ventured into the place if he had heard tell of the ill luck was in -it, but he was from distant parts and didn't know a heth. - -One day he chanced to be in from the work a while before the master -of the house, and herself was gone to the spring for water. The hired -man sat down by the kitchen fire, taking no heed of the child was -watching him from the cradle. The little fellow quit his lamenting; -he sat up straight, with a countenance on him like a wise old man. - -"I will be playing you a tune on the fiddle, for I'm thinking 'tis -fond of the music you are," says he. - -The man near fell into the fire with wonderment to hear the -old-fashioned talk. He didn't say one word in answer, but he waited -to see what would be coming next. - -The small weak infant pulled a fiddle out from under the pillow of -the cradle, and he began for to play the loveliest music was ever -heard in this world. He had reels and jigs, songs and sets; merry -tunes would rise the heart of man and mournful tunes would fill the -mind with grief. - -The man sat listening, and he was all put through other, thinking -the child was no right thing. - -After a time the little lad quit playing, he put back the fiddle -where he took it from and began at his old whimpering again. Herself -came in at the door with a bucket of water in her hand. Well the man -walked out and he called her after him. - -"That is a strange child you have, mistress," says he. - -"A strange child, surely, and a sorrowful," she makes answer. "It -is tormented with his roaring you are, no person could be enduring -it continually." - -"Did ever he play on the fiddle in your hearing?" asks the man. - -"Is it raving you are?" says she. - -"I am not, mistress," he answers. "He is after giving me the best of -entertainment with reels and marches and jigs." - -"Let you quit funning me!" says she, getting vexed. - -"I see you are doubting my words," he replies. "Do you stand here -without where he'll not be looking on you at all. I'll go into the -kitchen, and maybe he'll bring out the fiddle again." - -With that he went in, leaving herself posted convenient to the window. - -Says he to the child, "I'm thinking there's not above a score -of fiddlers in all Ireland having better knowledge of music nor -yourself. Sure that is a great wonder and you but an innocent little -thing." - -"Maybe it's not that innocent I am," says the child. "And let me tell -you there isn't one fiddler itself to be my equal in the land." - -"You're boasting, you bold wee coley," says the man. - -The child sat up in a great rage, pulled the fiddle from under -the pillow and began for to play a tune was grander nor the lot he -gave first. - -The man went out to herself. - -"Are you satisfied now?" he asks. - -"My heart beats time to his reels," says she. "Run down to the field -and send the master to this place that he may hear him too." - -The man of the house came up in a terrible temper. - -"If it's lies you are telling me, I'll brain the pair of you with -the loy," says he, when he heard the news of the fiddle. - -"Put your ear to the window it's soft he is playing now," says -his wife. - -But the words weren't out of her mouth before a blast of loud music -was heard. Himself ran in on the door, and he seen the gosoon sitting -up playing tunes. - -"Let you be off out of this," says he, "or I'll throw you at the back -of the fire, for you are no right thing at all." - -With that the little fellow made a powerful great lep out of the -cradle, across the floor and away with him out over the fields. - -But he left his fiddle behind, and the master of the house threw it -down on the burning turf. And that was no true fiddle at all, only -a piece of an old bog stick was rotten with age. - - - - - - - - -XI - -THE CUTTING OF THE TREE - - -There was a wild sort of a lad the name of Francis Pat, and he was -a great warrant to be entertaining the people with his airy talk. He -was the whole go in every spree and join was held in the countryside; -and the neighbours all had a fine welcome when he'd come to make -his cailee. - -He joined the world when he was about thirty years of age, and he got -a fine sensible woman with a nice little handful of money. Herself -didn't care to be rambling at all, and she'd sit with her stitching -or knitting when he went out after dark. - -It chanced one time, not a long from they were married, that Francis -Pat went to a raffle was held in the next townland. When the company -set out for to go away home, in the black darkness of the night, -every person in it was afraid to pass down by the fort. - -"What is on you at all?" says Francis Pat. "I think scorn on the lot -of you are in dread of the Good People." - -"God be with them--and their faces from us, their backs to us, the -way they're good friends," says an old man. "I have great experience -to know that it's a danger to evenly make fun in speech of the like." - -"Away with you by the long hard road," says Francis Pat. "'Tis I will -walk my lone past the fort, and I dare the fairies to molest me." The -neighbours strove to break his intention, but he was persistent -and proud. - -When he came to the fort he seen a light, he heard voices speaking -and the blows of an axe against wood. - -"There is one more daring nor myself abroad this hour," thinks Francis -Pat. "I never heard tell of any person having audacity to interfere -with the trees of the circle." - -Curiosity came on him to know who could it be, and he juked over -to the light. He seen no sign of the men, however he peeped, but he -heard the words and the blows. - -"Where'll we carry the wood?" says a voice. - -"To the house on the hill," says another. "We be to bring out the -wife of Francis Pat, and the tree may stop there in her stead." - -"He'll never know the differ," says the first. "It's a fine thing -surely to make an image from a tree that a man couldn't know from -herself." With that there was great laughter and cheering, but the lad -didn't wait to hear more--he sped away home to the house on the hill. - -Not a heth did he let on to the wife about what he was after -discovering, but he had a strong oath taken in his own mind that the -fairies should not lift her from him. - -He bolted the door of the kitchen, and the two went into the -room. After awhile there came a cry on the street without, and it -dwined away into the byre. The cows began for to stamp and strive to -get free of the bails. - -"Let you go out and see what ails the creatures," says herself. - -"There is nothing on them," says he. "I'll not leave this place till -the sun rises for day." - -Then there came a powerful blast of wind, and the pigs set up the -awfullest lamentation. - -"I'm not that lazy but I'll find out what it is," says herself. - -"You'll stop where you are," says he. "Didn't you hear the blast -going by, and every person knows that pigs see the wind?" - -"Whatever they're beholding this minute is a sore distress to the -creatures," she answers. - -"Aye!" he allows. "The wind is red, and that is the cause of them -crying." There came a crash on the door of the kitchen and it blew in; -the plates were dashed off the dresser, and the saucepans fell from -the nails on the wall. - -Francis Pat had to hold herself by the arm to keep her from running -to gather the delf. Voices came shouting, and there was a stamping -of feet through the house. The woman began for to cry and to roar, -but himself kept a hold on her and nothing enticed him away. - -At dawn the commotion died out. - -"What was it at all?" asks herself. - -"Sure what would it be only a wind was fit to batter the horns off -the cows!" says Francis Pat. - -When they went into the kitchen what did they find only the image -lying on the floor. The wood was cut into the living likeness of the -woman of the house, and the Good People had thrown it there in the -anger of the disappointment was on them. - -So my brave Francis Pat told his wife the whole story of the cutting -of the tree. - - - - - - - - -XII - -THE LITTLE SETTLEMENT - - -There was a strong farmer one time and he was the boastfullest man -in all Ireland. He had a tidy, comfortable place, sure enough, but -to hear him speaking you'd be thinking his house was built of silver -and thatched with the purest gold. - -Herself was a very different sort of a person, kindly and -simple-hearted; she took no pleasure in making out she had more -property and grandeur than another body; and she was neither envious, -uncharitable, nor a clash. - -The two had but one child, a daughter, and she was their whole -delight. Bride was a beautiful white girl with a countenance on her -would charm a king from his golden throne to be walking the bogs -with herself. The boys were flocking after her by the score, and she -had but to raise her hand to draw any one of them to her side. But, -being a seemly, well-reared lass, she took her diversion without any -consideration of marriage at all--well satisfied her father would be -making a fitting settlement for her when the time came. - -The youth of the world will always be playing themselves and chatting -together, all the while them that have right wit and a good upbringing -do leave their settlement in the hands of the parents have the best -understanding for the same. - -"I'm thinking," says himself one evening, "that it's old and stiff -I am growing. It might be a powerful advantage to take a son-in-law -into the place, the way I'd get sitting in peace by the hearth, -and he out in the fields attending to the management of all." - -"Bride is full young to be joining the world," says his wife. "But I -will not be putting any hindrance in the way of it, for maybe it's -better contented she'd be to have a fine man of her own, foreby to -be looking on an old pair like ourselves, and we dozing by the fire -of an evening." - -"I'll be making a little settlement for her, surely," says himself. - -The next day he gave out through the country that Bride was to be -married. What with the little handful of money, the fine farm of land -and the looks of the girl, the suitors were coming in plenty. There -were strong farmers, small farmers, tradesmen and dealers; a cow -doctor, a blacksmith, and evenly a man that travelled in tea. Himself -was disgusted with all; he put out the farmers and dealers very -civil and stiff, but the tea man he stoned down the road for a couple -of miles. - -The next suitor to come was a beautiful young lad the name of Shan -Alec. He was a tasty worker, and he had the best of good money was left -him by his da. Now if you were to seek all Ireland ten times through, -I'll go bail you wouldn't be finding a more suitable match nor Shan -Alec and Bride. The girl and her mother were fair wild with delight, -but they got an odious disappointment for didn't himself run the poor -boy out of the house. - -"I'm surprised at you," says the wife. "Why couldn't you have wit -and give that decent lad an honourable reception?" - -"Is it to give my daughter to yon country coley?" says he. "And I -the warmest man in these parts." - -"A better match for her like isn't walking this earth," says the wife. - -"Hold your whisht, woman," says he. "I'd sooner let the devil have -her than see her join the world with Shan Alec." - -"What is on you at all to be speaking such foolishness?" asks herself. - -"I'd have you to know," says he, "that I'll have a gentleman for my -son-in-law and no common person at all." - -"It is the raving of prosperity is on you," says she. "And that is -the worst madness out." - -"Speak easy," says he, "or maybe I'll correct you with the pot stick." - -With that she allowed he be to be gone daft entirely, or he'd never -have such an unseemly thought as to raise his hand to a woman. - -"Hold your whisht," he answers. "Surely 'tis both hand and foot I'll -be giving you unless you quit tongueing." - -Not a long afterwards a splendid gentleman came to the house, and he -riding on a horse. - -"I have heard tell," says he to the farmer, "that you are seeking a -suitable settlement for your daughter." - -"If your honour wants a wife," says himself. "Let you be stepping in, -for it's maybe in this house you'll find her." - -With that the gentleman got down off his horse, and it was an -honourable reception they made him. Evenly herself was content to -remember the scorn put on poor Shan Alec, when she seen the magnificent -suitor was come. - -The gentleman had a smile on his face when he heard all the boasts -of the farmer. - -"My good man," says he, "I think scorn on your money and land, for -I'd have you to know that I am a King in my own place. But that girl -sitting by the hearth has a lovely white countenance on her, and her -heart I am seeking for love of the same." - -"Oh mother," says Bride in a whisper, "will you send him away?" - -"Is it raving you are?" asks herself. - -"I'd go through fire and water for my poor Shan Alec!" says Bride. - -"Will you hold your whisht," says her mother. "That is no right talk -for a well-reared girl." - -The farmer and the gentleman made their agreement and opened the bottle -of whiskey. There was to be a nice little feast for to celebrate the -settlement, and the cloth was set in the parlour on account of the -grandeur of the suitor and he not used to a kitchen at all. - -When the supper was served didn't the servant girl call the mistress -out to the kitchen. - -"Oh mam," says she. "I couldn't get word with you in private -before. Let you hunt that lad from the place." - -"And why, might I ask?" says herself. - -"Sure how would he be a right gentleman and he having a foot on him -like a horse?" says the girl. - -With that the mistress began to lament and to groan. - -"What'll I do! What'll I do, and I scared useless with dread?" - -"I'll go in and impeach him," says the servant girl. - -In she went to the parlour. - -"Quit off out of this," says she. "We'll have no horse feet in -this place." - -The master got up to run her from the room. - -"Look under the table at your lovely gentleman's foot!" says she. - -The farmer done as she bid, but he was that set in his own conceit -he just answers: - -"What harm is in a reel foot? It's no ornament surely, but that's -all there is to it." - -"Many's the reel foot I've laid eyes on," she says. "But yon is the -hoof of a horse." - -"It's truth you are speaking," says the gentleman. "I am the devil -and no person less." - -"Quit off from here," says the servant. "A decent girl, like us two, -need never be fearing your like. I'd hit you a skelp with the pot -stick as soon as I'd stand on a worm." - -"You can't put me out," says the devil. "For the man of the house -has me promised his daughter." - -"There is no person living," says Bride, "might have power on the -soul of another. If my sins don't deliver me into your hand the word -of my da is no use." - -"Then I'll be taking himself," says the devil, making ready to go. - -"You may wait till he's dead," cries the woman of the house. "He made -you no offer of his bones and his flesh." - -"The tongues of three women would argue the devil to death," says he, -and away with him in a grey puff of smoke. The man and woman of the -house began for to pray. But says Bride to the servant: - -"Let you slip off to Shan Alec and bid him come up--for it's maybe -an honourable reception is waiting him here." - - - - - - - - -XIII - -THE TILLAGE IN THE FORT - - -There was a man in these parts, and he thought it hard to see a square -inch of ground go to loss. He had a small wee farm on the top of a -windy hill, and there was a fort on the sweetest of the fields. He -couldn't pass by but he'd think of how much potatoes might be grown -within in the circle. Well with the dint of consideration didn't he -finally decide for to plant it. - -He never let on to his wife, but away out with the loy, and he made -great work before the fall of night. When he came in he carried a -lengthy thorn root in his hand. - -"What are you holding?" asks herself. - -"An old thorn I hoked out of the ground," says he. "I brought it in -for the fire." - -"Is it making gaps in the quick hedges you are?" she asks. - -"Not at all," says he. "I have the circle beyond rooted up for to -set potatoes in it." - -"Is it the fort!" says she. - -When she heard what he was after doing she began for to roar and -to cry. - -"It is destroyed we are in this ill hour," she lamented. "The Good -People will be following us surely with the black wrath of vengeance -and spite. Never before did I hear of a man setting spuds in a fort." - -"Quit raving," says he. - -"Many and many's the time I have seen them, they riding down by the -hill; their fiddles and fifes I have heard, their shouts and their -laughs. But I had no cause for a dread till it come on me now," -she replies. - -With that herself took the thorn from the fire, where he was after -casting it down; she left it out on the door of the house. - -"Let their branch stop beyond on the street," says she, "the way they -will not be entering here and they seeking for to bring it away." - -In the black darkness of midnight there came the awfullest cry on the -street, on past the house and into the byre. Then a great lamentation -came from the cows and the ass. - -"The creatures are a killing this night," says herself. - -The man rose out of his bed and he kindled a light. He had the heart -to go out to the beasts to see what ailed them at all. There was no -loss on the cows nor the ass, and the cry and the shouting were gone. - -He went back to the house, but not a long was he in before the very -same trouble rose in the byre. Out with him again to make sure what -was wrong, and he found not a single heth astray. - -He was back in his bed when a third cry passed on the wind. The ass -let a roar was more nor horrid lonesome, and the cows were stamping -and roaring with dread. All the while there was nothing in it when -the master went out. - -There was no sound more until hard on the break of day. A laugh -that was hateful to hear passed the house, and a hand struck hard on -the window. - -Himself rose early, and he opened the door. What did he see only -the ass lying dead on the street, and the two cows were destroyed in -the byre. - -"'Twas the fairies, surely," says he. "And they brought this -destruction upon me for hoking a hole in their farm." - -"It's a powerful great price they're after charging you for the hire -of a small piece of ground," says herself, coming out. "But the thorn -stick is gone off the street where I threw it last night, and if that -had remained in the house they'd have murdered ourselves." - - - - - - - - -XIV - -THE NEW DECK OF CARDS - - -Of all the contrivances of the art and learning of man there is none -more curious nor cards. They have a connection with beings are not -right things at all, and it is well known that an Evil Angel can -house himself for a while in a new deck of cards. - -There was a young lad called Terry the Luck, and he a great warrant -for gaining all games of skill and of chance. He was that strongly -renowned the roulette men would warn him away from their boards in a -fair, and the thimble trick man fled clean from the street when he -come; the gosoons were in dread to toss pence with himself for the -coin fell head or tail as he called. - -Now it happened one night that Terry the Luck was on his way home -from the sports, and he carried a new deck of cards in his hand. He -was in the best of humour for he was after winning a powerful bet on -a race. Part of the gain was snug in his pocket, and the remainder -had paid for the drink of his friends and himself. - -The road to his home was lonely, for he lived in a backward -townland. The river passed within sight of his door, and it spanned -by a bridge was four arches long. - -When Terry the Luck set his foot on the bridge didn't he wheel away -round and start in the wrong direction. - -"That's a strange thing," says he. "Sure my legs were right steady -till now." - -With that he went at it again, but he couldn't succeed for to cross. He -went back about twenty yards and took a run at it--that was no use -either. Well any person that seen his antics that night would have -died of the laughter. Back he'd go and race up to the bridge for -all he was worth, but whenever his foot came upon it he'd turn like -a leaf on the wind and away to where he started from. What was more -nor horrid vexatious for the poor fellow was to see the light shining -in his own kitchen window beyond, and he not fit to get home. - -"'Tis enchanted I am," says he. - -At long last he thought of the new deck of cards, and he laid them -down by the roadside before he made another attempt to go home. He -passed the bridge without the least hindrance, but when he went into -the house he began to consider it was all a foolishness only. - -"What use is there in laying out money for cards, and throwing them -there to be rotting with damp?" says he. - -Back he went across the river to fetch the new deck of cards. But if -he was to strive till he died of exhaustion he couldn't get over the -bridge and they in his hand. - -"I'll lay them in under a stone until dawn," says he. "Maybe whatever -is in them will quit before then." - -So he settled his cards in a safe hiding hole, and away with him to -his bed. - -He rose with the early dawn for to bring out the deck. But there -wasn't a heth to be found where he stowed it away--and the earth by -the stone was all burnt into ash. - - - - - - - - -XV - -THE LIFTING OF A CHILD - - -There was a woman, a short while since, and she lived on a snug little -farm convenient to the lough. She went to the byre for to milk, of -a May morning, and no person stopped in the house only a young child -in the cradle. - -Not a long was herself without, maybe the half of an hour, and when -she came in there was no appearance of any disorder or strife in the -kitchen. But the poor wee child lay cold and dead in the cradle. The -mother began for to roar and lament, and her heart was feeble with -dread. - -There came a knock on the door, and a neighbouring man lifted the latch -and walked in. He never let on to observe the woeful countenance of -herself, but he says, in a hearty voice: - -"Will you tell me how is the child?" - -"He is after dying on us," she answers. "And he right well this -hour past." - -The man went over to the cradle, and he lepped three foot off the -floor when he seen the wee corpse lying there. - -"It's the strangest thing at all," she laments. "And what'll I be -saying to himself when he lands in from his work." - -"Let you be telling him," says the man, "that the little fellow is -in my house this day." - -"'Tis queer advice you are speaking to be bidding me utter the like -of yon lie, forenenst the innocent corpse," says herself. - -"Not a lie in the world, mam," he answers. "Sure I am just after -leaving your child by my own kitchen fire, and he wrapped up in -a shawl." - -With that she took a hold of the pot stick for to run him from the -place--she was odious vexed to think he'd make mock of her sore -lamentations. - -"Ar'n't you the ungrateful besom," says he, "to go destroying a decent -neighbour with a pot stick, and he after saving your son from the -power of the Good People?" - -"Let you tell a straight story, or quit off from here," she -answers. "For I am heart scalded listening to your old nonsense -and lies." - -"'Tis striving I was not to give you your death of a scare," says -he. "But the strangest thing is after coming to pass in this house. Let -you sit down and have good courage, the way I'll be telling you a -rejoiceful news." - -With that herself brought him over a chair, dusting it clean on -her apron, then she pulled up the creepy and sat down to attend to -his words. - -"Did you hear any noise of disturbance," says he, "wherever you were?" - -"I did not," she answers. "And not a far was I from this place at -all. I went to the byre for to milk; and no noise was in it only the -cow breathing and the splash of the milk in the can." - -"That's more nor horrid strange," says he. "For I was passing down -by the lough and I heard a powerful commotion up here. There was -laughter and cheering, the tramp of men's boots on the street, -and horses galloping by. Thinks I to myself, 'The fairies are out -contriving some old villainy this morning of May.' What did I do -only walk up among them, and I seen no person at all. When I came -to the house the poor wee child was a handing out on the window, -but I could not behold the fairies were at the lifting. - -"Well I'd have you to know I'm a brave and venturesome man, with a -heart as strong as an eagle! What did I do only make my way in among -the whole throng of Good People, and I standing on their feet, and -pushing them off to the wall to make space for myself. I took a hold -of the child for to pull him from the invisible hands were lifting him -out, and, as sure as I'm sitting here, I brought him safe from the lot. - -"There went a whole roar of annoyance from the fairies, and they -mounted up on their horses and away. But I brought the little fellow -to my own house for fear they'd return for him to this place." - -The poor mother was wild with delight to hear tell the son was alive. - -"Let's be going to fetch him," says she. "And he'll never be left in -the house by his lone from this out." - -The two went down to the neighbour's house, and sure enough the child -was in it asleep by the fire. - -The man had to carry him home, for herself was exhausted with fright. - -"Maybe the Good People are gone up to remove what they left in the -cradle," says she. - -But when they went into the kitchen wasn't the old corpse in it yet. - -"We be to bury yon article," says herself. But the man allowed there -was no need to be treating the like the same as a right thing. - -"Throw it in on the back of the fire," says he. - -Herself was in dread to lay her hand on the likeness of the child. So -the man lifted it out of the cradle and threw it down on the fire. And -it blazed away up the chimney for a second's time and departed in a -puff of smoke. - - - - - - - - -XVI - -THE VOICE AT THE DOOR - - -There was one time a poor widow woman he name of Cathleen the Hollow, -for her house was down in a dip of the ground. She had two fine -beautiful sons, Shan the Hollow and Hughie Cathleen. Shan was a -dancer could step on a plate and not put a break in the delf; and -Hughie could sing every ballad and song was ever heard tell of at all. - -They were wild daring lads, too, the way there was great talk of them -in the countryside. And the lamentations of the youth of the world -were more nor a fright when news came round to the neighbours that -Hughie was dead. - -He lay down of a Friday night, and he in the best of health, on -the Saturday morning the brother went to rouse him, and found him -perished dead. - -Well there was a most elegant wake, not a one in those parts but paid -respect to the corpse. And there wasn't the least suspicion but that -Hughie come by his death of some natural cause. - -It was maybe a fortnight after the burying that the sleep quit Shan -the Hollow entirely. If evenly he began for to doze in his bed he'd -be roused up again by a rap on the door--but when he stepped out -there was no person visible there. - -"Oh mother," says he, "I'm thinking poor Hughie is walking the world." - -"He is not," says she. "For he was a decent lad would find peace -in the grave. But there is some person making free with this house, -for not a day goes by but I miss some article of food." - -Shan let it be, but his mind was uneasy for Hugh. And not a long after -he heard a voice go past in the night, and it singing a beautiful -song. He rose and he went to the door. - -"Oh Hughie," says he, "is that your spirit travelling the earth?" - -"It's myself is walking the world, and I not buried at all," says -the voice. "The Good People have me away, and the corpse was an old -image cut from bog stick that they left in my bed to deceive you." - -"Then it's yourself is using the food from this house, my poor -boy?" says Shan. - -"Aye, indeed," says the voice, "and sometimes it's little I find. It -does be hard on me to refuse the noble refreshment the fairies set out, -but if I'd eat of the like I could never escape from their power. Do -you tell herself to leave me a mug of sweet milk and a morsel of -bread on the sill of the window, to keep me from hungering more." - -"You'll have the best in the house left ready against you come," -says Shan. "But will you tell me what way am I to contrive a rescue?" - -"It's easy enough," says the voice. "But I'm diverting myself with -the fairies, and I'll not be coming home for a while. They took me -out oversea to America and showed me the wonders are there. Sure -maybe it's in France I'll be at the dawning of day!" - -"I'd liefer sit by our own fireside than travel the realms of the -world with their like," says Shan. "Let you give them the slip and -come home." - -"I seen the King's daughter of Spain, and a Queen of the East," says -the voice. "For let me be telling you there's few like myself with -the fairies, the way they are showing me great respect." - -Shan gets vexed at the words and he says: "Is it boasting forenenst -your own brother you are? Sure we come of a poor stock of people, -and I have heard tell there are lords of the fairies." - -"It's my singing has them crazed about me," says the voice, "for they -have right understanding for music and songs." - -"Is there any man or woman of these parts excepting yourself abroad -with them now?" asks Shan. - -"Not a one at this present. But at dark to-morrow we are going for -to lift young Cassidy's wife." - -Well Shan kept inquiring of Hughie when would he like to come home. At -long last the lad gave out he'd be ready in three weeks from that hour. - -"Let you come to the fort," says he, "and meet the whole host of the -fairies. We'll give them the slip at the gap." With that the voice -went away off the street, singing till the sound dwined out in the -distance. But my poor Shan was that put about he couldn't decide what -to do. At the dawn of the morning he set off to visit the Priest, and -he informed him every word he was after hearing. Well his Reverence -couldn't believe there was anything in it only a dream of the night. - -"Let your Reverence go to the Cassidy's and keep herself from their -hands," says Shan. "For the Good People are determined to lift -her away." - -"Go home now and attend to your farm," says the Priest. "'Tis the -raving of grief is on you for the brother you lost." - -Still and all his Reverence set out for Cassidy's that evening to -see was anything wrong. Didn't he find the Good People before him -and they had herself brought away. "Oh if only I had come in time," -says he. "But I might be some hindrance to them yet." - -With that he went down to the hollow, and Shan was sitting within in -the house. Says the Priest: "Let you not stir from this for the calling -of voices that pass. You are after informing me of an intention you -have for to rescue your brother on a set and certain night. Now give -me your promise to make no attempt of the sort--for it's into the power -of the fallen angels you'd go, and you'd not get him rescued at all." - -"I be to make an offer anyway," says Shan. - -"Very well," says the Priest. "I'll send four strong men of this -parish to rope you down in your bed on that ill night." - -Didn't they hold my poor Shan from his offer to bring home the brother, -and surely it was well done for his own destruction was in it. But the -voice came no more to the window and the bread lay uncut on the sill. - - - - - - - - -XVII - -THE EARL'S SON OF THE SEA - - -When the Good People fell from the Heavens above, didn't some of them -sink in the sea, and there they are dwelling this day. - -Many and many a story is told of their diversions and how they be -wrecking the ships; but the strangest account I ever heard tell was -the fisherman's daughter that met the Earl's son of the sea. - -She was travelling the sands by her lone, on the west coast of Ireland, -and when she came near to the rocks she heard the notes of a harp. Of -course she was curious to know who was out playing in that place and -no dwelling near; so over she went towards the sound, and what did -she come on only a beautiful yellow-haired man. - -"It's destroyed in a short space you'll be," she calls out, "for the -tide is beginning to rise and you'll be dashed dead on the rocks." - -"Do you know who I am?" says he. - -"I do not," she answers. "But you're surely a stranger to these parts -or you wouldn't sit there with the waves beginning to rise." - -"Maybe I travelled this bay before you were born," says he. - -With that she let a laugh out of her. - -"I'm thinking the two of us are about the one age," says she. "So -quit your old-fashioned talk and come on out of that till I show you -the way up the cliff." - -"You're a beautiful girl," says the stranger, "and the wish is on me -to please you. Climb up out of reach of the rising sea and I'll play -you a tune on the harp." - -Well she travelled back over the sand and up by the path to the cliff, -never doubting but the stranger was following on. But when she looked -down she seen him below on the rock. - -"It is drownded you'll be," she calls out. - -"Let you not be uneasy," says he. - -With that he began for to play on the harp, and the music enchanted -the fisherman's child and the tears ran down from her eyes. When she -looked again to the rock wasn't the stranger washed from it and a -big white wave curled up from the place. - -"I'm after finding and losing a beautiful boy," says she, and she -went away home lamenting his death. - -Not a long after she was travelling the sands, and she heard the music -again. There was himself sitting up on the rock as sound as a salmon -at play. - -"I doubt you're no right thing," says she. - -"Maybe not," he allows. "But I'll rise your heart with a tune--if -it was crying I had you the last time it's laughing I'll see you -this day." - -With that he played the cleverest dancing tune on the harp, and he -had the fisherman's daughter in the best of humour. - -After a while he says, "I'm thinking you have a poor way of living -in your home, for it's hard set to earn a bit and a sup that the -fishermen are in this place." - -"We're miserable, surely," she answers. - -"I'll be making you a great advancement," says he. "For I'd have -you to know that there's plenty of wealth in my power. Let you quit -from your own friends and marry myself. It's a beautiful castle I'll -build you, out on a rock in the ocean, and jewels and pearls for your -portion to wear." - -"A lonesome life," says she, "to be watching the wild birds fly over -the waves, and maybe a ship passing by. Moreover you are no right -thing, evenly if you have the appearance of a beautiful gentleman. It's -a poor man of these parts will join the world with myself." - -"Sure I'm an Earl's son of the sea," he allows. - -But the grandeur didn't tempt her at all. - -"A sea marriage would be no marriage," she answers, and with that -she bid him good-day. - -"Let your man never travel the sea," he answers, "for I'll destroy -the ship from under his feet and leave him dead on a wave." - -He lepped down into the water and away with him from out of her sight. - -The fisherman's daughter never heard him out harping again, nor -seen a sight of his face. And after a while she forgot the queer lad -entirely. Didn't she marry a farmer inland, and it was a comfortable -life they enjoyed. - -But a notion took himself that he'd prosper more in the States, for he -was greedy for gold. He took passage for the two on a great big ship, -and away with them from Ireland. - -Not a long were they at sea before a sudden furl blast met the ship, -and a wave twenty times as high as a house stood up over the deck and -broke down. Every person was killed dead and smashed into the wood -of the ship only the fisherman's daughter. She felt the vessel sink -down from under her and she looked up and seen a beautiful castle -rise up on a rock on the sea. - -The Earl's son came past on a wave and he lifted her up by the hair -of her head for to land her out on the rock. - -The fisherman's daughter lived in that place for fourteen years -and she lamenting the lonesome hours of each day. She seen the wild -gulls flying and whales and every sort sailing the waves. She took -no delight in the jewels nor the dresses were stored in that house, -and the Earl's son of the sea allowed she grew ugly and old. - -It happened one day he was travelling in other parts that herself -seen a ship coming down, and she waved a white flag out the window. - -A man came out from the ship in a small little boat, and who was it -only her own brother Michael. - -"Oh sister dear," says he, "is it sitting on a rock you are for -fourteen weary years? Sure we heard tell of the loss of the vessel -was bringing you out to the States." - -"It's a fine castle is here," says she. "But it's lonesome I am for -my home." - -"I see no more nor a rock and it green with the weed of the sea," -says Michael. "It's on your eyes that there's more in it, for I see -nothing at all." - -With that she told him the whole story. And he was in dread for to -bring her away lest the Earl's son might destroy them. - -"I'll tell you what I'll do," says he. "It's back to Ireland I'll -sail, and I'll get an image made the down likeness of yourself. When -we set that up on the rock himself will believe you are in it, and -we may get away." - -So he rowed his wee boat to the ship and home he sailed to Ireland. He -got the finest image made, and it the dead spit of herself. With that -in his keeping he travelled the sea till he came to the rock and his -sister still sat there lamenting. But she had a red flag hung out -and that was the sign they'd agreed for him not to come near. So he -be to wait until she put up a white one, and then he knew that the -Earl's son was not near. - -He got her safe to the boat, and they left the old image stuck up on -the rock. - -"There's two little fellows like sea-monkeys he's left to watch when -he's gone," says herself. "But they didn't see me slip out and they'll -never think but the statue is me. I haven't the least fear of them -bringing him word there is anything wrong, but if he returns we are -lost for he won't be that easy deceived." - -They made great sailing to Ireland, and the ship was coming in on -the harbour the way they were sure they'd come safe. What did they -see only the Earl's son and he riding on a big white wave to catch up -to them. The image was with him, and he threw it after the ship the -way a hole was cleft in her side and she sank. But the fisherman's -daughter, her brother, and the sailors got on shore in a boat before -he came at them again. - -They seen him from the shore, and he flittering something with his -two hands. What was it only the sea-monkeys, and he threw the bits -of them up on the shore. He came in himself, but they pelted him from -it with stones for his power was lost on the land. - -But not a one of that family to this present day may venture into the -waves, for the Earl's son watches out to destroy them for vengeance -and spite. - - - - - - - - -XVIII - -THE GIRL AND THE FAIRIES - - -There was a beautiful young girl living in these parts, and she was -greatly admired by every person that seen her. - -It happened when she was about nineteen years of age that she fainted -one day on the street before the house, where she was washing the -spuds for dinner. The mother and sister went out for to carry her in, -and they laid her down on the bed--the poor girl never rose from it -more. Maybe a week she was lingering dying, not a word ever came from -her lips and she used no food at all. - -Not a long after the burying her mother heard a rapping on the window, -close upon midnight. She rose and she says, "Oh Bridget dear, is -it you?" - -"It is indeed, mamma," says a voice. "Let you give me a drink of -sweet milk and a small taste of bread." - -"I've heard tell of the dead were uneasy, but never of one needing -food," says the mother. - -"The fairies have me away," answers Bridget. "'Tis myself is living -this day, and you are after giving decent burial to an old thing they -left in my place." - -With that the poor mother brought milk and bread to the window and -handed it out. - -"Will you ever contrive to get home, my poor Bridget?" says she. - -"Aye surely," answers the girl, "if the men of this place are worthy -their keep. Let you make inquiries among them until you find two -strong daring boys are willing to attempt my rescue." - -She went away off the street, and the mother went back to her bed. - -The next evening there were some of the neighbours came in, and herself -gave out all she was after hearing. There were two clever lads in it -and they promised for to bring the girl snug and safe to her home. - -Not a long after Bridget came back to the window to speak with the -mother, so when she heard of the offer was made she says: "The Good -People are going away over the moor on Wednesday night and I must -journey with them. It is mounted on horses we'll be, and tell the -two lads I told them to stand by the gap and watch for the squad -going through. I'll be upon the third grey horse to go by, and let -the two lads take a hold of me, one at each side. Now if they're -not full sure they'll have courage and daring to hold their hold, -let them not come near me at all. For if I pass on with the fairies -they'll kill me dead for vengeance that night." - -The mother promised she'd give the lads great warning to keep their -hold and do all as Bridget was saying. - -Well on the Wednesday night the venturesome lads went down to the gap -of the fort field, and there they stood waiting one at each side of -the pass. Not a long were they in it before the Good People began to -go through. One grey horse went down beside another and a third came -behind with Bridget sitting upon his back. - -The two lads caught a hold of her, but didn't the horse let a stag -lep and they lost their grip on the girl. She gave the lonesomest cry -as she was carried from them, and the fairies began for to cheer and -to laugh. - -"We'll follow the Good People on," says one of the boys, "and maybe -we'll vanquish them yet." - -So the two travelled after the riders, away towards the moor. The -river flows convenient to that place, and a fine bridge spans it -across. It was there that the awfullest cry rose out of the throng -of the fairies, and when the boys came on to the bridge they seen it -all red with my poor Bridget's blood. The horsemen were after dashing -her down on the stones to her death. - - - - - - - - -XIX - -GOOD-NIGHT, MY BRAVE MICHAEL - - -There was a big gathering of neighbours sitting round a fire, telling -stories of an evening, and some person says: - -"There's the strongest bolt and lock in all Ireland on the door there -beyond, and it couldn't be broken at all." - -With that the Good People were listening outside began for to -laugh. Didn't they whip the lock off the door and away with them -through the fields. - -Says the man of the house: "I'm thinking there's danger abroad; -let the lot of you stop here till dawn." - -But there was a big, venturesome man in it and he allowed he'd go -home no spite of the fairies. - -He started off by his lone, and he had a wet sort of field to pass -through with a great shaking scraw to one side. It was an awful and -dangerous place to any person not used to the like, but he knew his -way by the pass. - -He was travelling at a good speed when all on a sudden he heard the -tramping of a score of horses behind him. Then they came up round -himself, but he seen no person at all nor a sign of a horse or an ass. - -"The fairies are in it," says he. - -With that one of them took a hold of him by the collar and turned -him round on the path. - -"Good-night, my brave Michael," says the horsemen. - -Then another of them took him by the shoulder and faced him away -round again. - -"Good-night, my brave Michael," says he. Well the whole score of -fairies kept turning him round until he seen the stars dropping -down from the sky and his ears were deafened with a sound like -the sea. And every one that took him by the shoulder would say: -"Good-night, my brave Michael, good-night!" - -The poor fellow didn't know what in under the shining Heaven was he -to do. He seen they were setting him astray, but he couldn't continue -for to keep on the path, and he was in odious dread they'd furl him -into the shaking scraw where he'd sink from the sight of man. - -A sudden thought struck his mind of a saying he heard from his ma. He -whipped the coat off his back and he put it on with the wrong side -turned out. And then he found he was standing alone in the field, -on the edge of the scraw, and no person near him at all. So he went -away home without any mishap, but indeed he was trembling with dread. - - - - - - - - -XX - -THE LAD AND THE OLD LASSIE'S SONG - - -There was a young lad living in these parts, not long since at all, -and his name was Francis John. - -It chanced of a May morning that water was scarce for the tea, the way -his mother put a bucket in his hand and hunted him off to the spring. - -Now an old lassie lived by her lone in a little wee house was built -right close to the path. The door stood open that morning, and my -brave Francis John looked in when he went on his way to the well. He -seen the old girl sitting on a small creepy stool by the fire, with -a row of clay images baking in front of the turf. Wasn't she singing -a song--and a queer cracked voice was her own--every word of it came -good and plain to the ears of the lad. - - - Ye that I bake before the fire, - Bring me the milk from my neighbour's byre; - Gather the butter from off the churn - And set it forenenst me before you burn. - - -Francis John didn't ask to disturb her diversions at all, so he went -on his way and filled up his can at the spring. But all the road home -the old lassie's song tormented his mind, and as he came in at the -door he began for to sing: - - - Ye that she bakes before the fire, - Bring me the milk from the neighbour's byre; - Gather the butter from off the churn - And set it forenenst me before you burn. - - -With the power of the words coming from him didn't the boots on his -feet fill up with sweet milk, and it running out on the lace holes. - -"Man, but that's an enchanted song," says he. And what did he do only -step into four pounds of butter that fell on the threshold before him, -for he never remarked it at all! - - - - - - - - -XXI - -THE BASKET OF EGGS - - -There was a woman one time, and she on her way to the market, counting -the price of her basket of eggs. - -"If eggs are up," says she, "I'll be gaining a handful of silver, -and evenly if prices be down I'll not do too badly at all for I have -a weighty supply." - -With that she remarked a little wee boy sitting down by the hedge, -he stitching away at a brogue. - -"If I had a hold of yon lad," says she, "I'd make him discover a -treasure--for the like of him knows where gold does be hid." - -She juked up behind him, like a cat would be after a bird, and she -caught a strong grip of his neck. - -Well he let an odious screech out of him, for he was horrid surprised. - -"I have you, my gosoon," says she. - -"Oh surely you have, mam," he answers. "The strength of your thumb -is destroying my thrapple this day." - -"Will you show me a treasure?" says she. - -"I'd have you to know," he replies, "that the pot of gold I could -convey you in sight of is guarded by the appearance of a very strange -frog." - -"What do I care for the creeping beasts of the world," says she. "Worse -nor a frog wouldn't scare me at all." - -"You're a terrible fine woman, mistress dear," says the -leprachaun. "I've travelled a power of the earth and I never came in -with your equal." - -"Go on with your old-fashioned chat," she replies, but she was middling -well pleased all the same. - -"I'm a small little fellow," says he, "and I couldn't keep up with -yourself. But it's light in the body I am, the way I'd be never a -burden at all and I sitting up on the handle of the basket." - -"Up with you," she answers, "for I'll soon put you down to walk by -my side if you are not speaking the truth." - -But she didn't find the least burden more on the basket when himself -was on the handle. - -He was a great warrant to flatter, and he had her in humour that day -all the while he was watching out for a chance to escape, but she -kept a hold of his ear. - -What did he do only put his two wee hands down into the basket and -he began for to bail out the eggs. She fetched him a terrible clout, -but the harder she beat him the faster he threw out the eggs. - -"Oh mam! oh mam!" says he, "what for are you skelping my head?" - -"To make you quit breaking my eggs, you unmannerly coley," says she. - -"Sure it's doing you favour I am," he replies. "I'd have you to -know when I spill an egg on the ground a well-grown spring chicken -leps out." - -"Quit raving," says she. - -"If you doubt my word," he makes answer, "let you turn and look back -at the chickens are flocking along." - -With that she turned her head, and the leprachaun slipped from her -grasp. He made one spring from the basket into the hedge, and he -vanished away from the place. - -"The wee lad has fooled me entirely," says she, "and my beautiful -eggs are destroyed--but I am the finest woman he's seen, and that is -a good thing to know!" - - - - - - - - -XXII - -THE BROKEN BRANCH - - -There was a man in the olden time, and he owned a snug little farm. - -What did he do, of a winter's day, only break a great branch off a -lone bush for to burn in the fire. A thorn went into his hand and it -pierced it through. - -"That was a sore jag," says he. - -But there was a little grey woman sitting in under the lone bush, -and she let a terrible laugh. - -There were two of the neighbours seen what occurred, and they passing -down through the field. One of them ran away home, but the other, -a venturesome lad, came across. - -"What are you after doing, my poor fellow?" says he. - -"I am after destroying my hand with a thorn," says the man. - -The neighbour allowed there was worse in it nor that. - -"Did you hear the grey woman laugh?" he inquires. - -"There is no woman here," says the other. - -"I seen her a while past, and I coming down to your side. She was -sitting in under the bush, but now she is gone. When you drove the -thorn through your hand she let a lamentable laugh that was worse -nor a cry." - -The man didn't believe it at all. But the jag in his hand festered -up and he died for breaking the branch of the thorn. - - - - - - - - -XXIII - -DIGGING FOR GOLD - - -In the ancient times a poor decent labouring man dreamt three nights -of finding a kist was hid in the fort near his home. - -So away there he went for to dig, and not long was he working at all -when he came on the beautiful gold. - -"In troth I am rich from this out," he calls at the height of his -voice. - -With that the whole treasure fell down through the earth: he should -not have spoken at all. Then there came a powerful great cat, and it -was the guard of the kist. Now the man had the wit to take hold of -the appearance before him, and let it strive never so hard it could -not contrive to escape. "I'll hold you," says he, "till you tell me -where is the gold!" - -"Dig at the far side," says a voice. But whether it came from the -cat was past the man's wit for to know. - -Well he went over and began for to dig at the far side, and he came -on a big copper pot. But no gold was in it at all. - - - - - - - - -XXIV - -STORY OF A CHURN - - -There was a woman renowned for making the best of good butter. - -Now it chanced in the spring that her man had three boys hired for -to work at the setting of spuds. One morning they passed through the -house when the churn was a making, and not one put his hand to the -work nor uttered a blessing upon it. - -Herself was horrid annoyed to think they'd be that unseemly and -ignorant, yet she passed no remark of the sort. Didn't her whole -morning's work go to loss for no yield come on the churn. - -She was not very great with her neighbours, and the first time she -chanced for to speak of what happened that day was next time she seen -her own mother. - -The old woman says: "If you have one of them three lads impeached for -taking the yield from the churn, let you write his name backwards on -a small slip of paper and burn it in a shovel over the fire." - -"What good'll that be?" asks the daughter. - -"It will be the means of restoring the butter was lifted away," -says the mother. - -"I doubt not--and it two months and more since the loss," says the -young woman. - -But she brought out the paper and ink for to write down the name of -the lad she impeached. She set it down backwards and burnt it over -the fire. - -"Now," says the mother, "go out to the churn." - -What did she find only five pounds of butter sitting within on the -dry wood! - - - - - - - - -XXV - -THE GANKEYNOGUE IN THE OAK CHEST - - -There was once a man of these parts and he had a great longing for -to find a treasure. - -It chanced one evening that he seen a gankeynogue in the field, -sitting in under a bush, and he says: - -"Yon lad will surely be worth a powerful weight of gold." - -With that he went over and caught a hold of the gankey. - -"Let you discover a treasure," says he, "or else I'll keep you like -a dog on a chain from this out." - -"Keep away!" says the gankey. "How would a poor creature like myself -be finding treasure for a strong farmer!" - -"Let you not let on to be miserable," says the man, "for well I know -it's great wealth you enjoy." - -"Is it me!" says the gankeynogue. "Sure I support a lengthy family -entirely by my own industry." - -But the farmer would not believe a word of the sort. He carried the -gankey to his house and put him into a big oak chest. - -"You'll never get out except for to show me where treasure is lodged," -he allows. - -But the gankeynogue wasn't in notion of giving the least -information. He sat up in the oak chest, hammering, shouting and -singing until he had the people's heads light. - -All the while the farmer was determined to get the better of him and -he never agreed to let him go. - -The lad was his tenth day in the chest when the man of the house came -running in that evening, shouting at the top of his voice: - -"Darragh fort's on fire! Darragh fort's on fire!" - -With that the gankey began the most woeful lamentations, and he -hammering like mad to get out of the chest. - -"What ails you at all?" asks the farmer. - -"My wife and family are in that place," says the gankey. "Let me away -to bring them safe from the fire." - -"Will you show me a treasure?" asks the man. "Aye surely!" says the -gankeynogue. "But let's go first to Darragh fort to save my weak -family, and then I'll bestow the treasure." - -So the two started off for Darragh fort, and it not on fire at -all--that was a story the man was after inventing for to scare the -gankeynogue. - -When they landed in sight of the place the man allowed the fire be -to have burnt out. Didn't the gankey make a run and lep in among -the trees. - -"I'm safe from you now," says he. - -But the man never let on to be vexed that he couldn't see the lad any -more, he listened to his voice speaking for to know the direction -he went. Then he lay down in that part of the fort and let on to -be asleep. - -After a while he heard the gankeynogue telling his wife about how he -was kept in the chest. - -"I was ten days in that place," says he. "And I full of venom against -the farmer. But it's the cunning lad I am, for I never let on where -the treasure is buried at all." - -"Where is it?" asks the gankeynogue's wife. - -"Under a stone in the street before his house," says the gankey. "And -herself tripped and spilled a bucket of milk just over the place this -morning. I was looking out on a hole in the chest, and still I never -let on one word when I seen what happened." - -"You're a wise little fellow, sure enough," says his wife. - -The farmer got up and away home with him after hearing what they -said. He asked herself where she spilled the milk at the morning of -the day. - -"By that stone," says she, setting her foot on a flag in the street. - -He brought the loy and a crowbar for to hoke up the place, and didn't -he discover a beautiful treasure of gold. - - - - - - - - -XXVI - -THE MAKER OF BROGUES - - -There was a young lad travelling the road to a fair, and he passed -convenient to a field had a sand pit in the middle of it. What did he -see, sitting up in that place with his legs dangling over the edge -of the pit, only a little wee man making brogues. The lad took one -lep into the field and he walked up to the cobbler. - -"Good-morning, mister!" says he. "Might I make so bold as to ask what -work you are doing this hour of the morning dew, and what makes you -fancy the edge of a pit for a seat?" - -"'Tis making brogues I am," says the leprachaun, "and they for the -Good People's wear." - -"I'm thinking you're watching a treasure," says the lad. - -"I'm not," says the leprachaun. "But I know where there's plenty hid." - -"You be to discover it for me," says the lad. - -"Let you wait till this one pair of brogues is made," says the fairy. - -So the lad agreed and he sat down to watch him at work. - -"Begob," says he, "I never seen any person could hammer in nails such -a rate." - -"It's a slow worker I'm counted in these parts," says the -leprachaun. "Let you look down into the pit at the man is cobbling -below. I warrant it's three nails he's driving for each one of mine." - -The lad looked over the edge. - -"There is no man in it at all!" says he. - -With that the leprachaun let a laugh. - -"There is not," says he. - -"There's a sore chastisement waiting on you for deceiving me," -answers the other. - -But when he stood on his feet and looked round wasn't the leprachaun -gone. - -"I'm the fool of the whole wide world," says the lad, and he travelled -away to the fair. - - - - - - - - -GLOSSARY - - -A power of, a large number. - -Bohlan, rag-weed. - -Loy, a sort of spade peculiar to the west and north-west of Ireland. - -Lone bush, a hawthorn growing at a distance from all other trees. The -lone bushes are dedicated to the fairies, and must not be cut down. - -Cailee, a visit. - -Join the world, to marry. - -To allow, to declare. - -Gankeynogue, possibly a synonym of leprachaun, used only in the -northern districts. A stone barred with fossil reed is said to be -the Gankeynogue's pipe. - -Fort. The forts referred to are the circular enclosures supposed to -have been made, in pre-Christian days, by the Tuatha de Danaan. - -Breffny, the counties of Cavan and Leitrim, originally part of -Connaught, though Cavan is now in Ulster. - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Folk Tales of Breffny, by B. 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