Folk Tales of Breffny

t 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 horr

hy's body, but they could put no name on the sickness nor think of a remedy to relieve i

son is the finest boy in al

an with him was a very soft-sp

ng gentleman. I have a tongue on me is that sweet I do be drawing

h M'Carthy. He sat down by the side of the bed and began for to

r Lordship's honour be telling

t on to a living s

ormation against a noble person l

tleman began telling th

n me," says he, "but a

a sorrow or a sickness, and you grand to loo

ve I am," sa

isfortune to a fine lad li

, nor for one is dead that I could be following to the grave. I have a little statue has the most beautiful co

m under his pillow, and the loveliness

," says he. "But let you take valour into your heart, for that is the liken

ses to young M'Carthy he told the lot of them all he was after hearing. The doctors allowed that

ldest doctor. "Then the whole notion will pass off him, an

overy that he agreed to sell the place and gi

yself from this out, and I am old m

or the grandest arrangements out were made for his future and he'd surely meet the lady. When he seen

angest 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 th

[60]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

the food in this place not to your liking? Let you name any

refreshment set before a

w. "How would you be satisfied with the meat is set before

says M'Carthy. "I had best be moving on from this place, the way I'

se began for to speak in praise

" says M'Carthy. "Doctors have no relief fo

from start to finish. How he set off on his travels and wa

e comes down to a stream is convenient to this place, and six waiting maids along with h

ing wild with delight t

nd do you go down to the stream for to fish in it too. Whatever comes [62]to your line let you give to

e the lady came down and the six waiting maids along with her. Sure enough she wa

the lady, according to the advice of the Jew. She was pleased to accept the gift of it, but didn't she turn home

stream this day," she says, "and

and her six waiting maids walking behind her. He caught a splendid fin

r and better nor the one I brought back yesterday. If the like happens at the next time I g

t pleases yourself

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 ver

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 [64]head. The whole time it is

mself is that uneasy about you how would it be possibl

d reception you'll be getting. Only let you not be speaking of

spicion the two were in notion of other. But didn't they

pending my whole great fortune of money travelling the territory of the world. I

a bad case at the latter end. I'll oblige you with the loan of what money will start you in a fine place

er, the Jew gave himself and the lady grand assistance at the elopement, the

elds 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

nte

ion he had, brought himself over to England from time to time, and the lady M'Carthy would mind all until he was ho

n was the best of company. They played cards together and they drank a great power of wine. In

rnament to the roads when she is passing along. But no person gets

ause?" asks t

anding by," says M'Carthy. "So she gives me that satisfaction on her promised word: a

a great laugh out o

ghtly when you are not in it herself will be feastin

e impertinence of him, an

powerful big bet with myself that I will not be able for to bring y

e money off you, su

easy about it, for I'm full sure it's the truth I'm after s

back," says M'Carthy. "Let you be prepared

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

"But I am weary travelling and I

he told him all what the mistress of the house was like; how she had a mole under her right arm and on

, and demanded the payment of the bet. And that is the way t

ted 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 s

her seen the lady struggling in the sea. He was an aged man, ye

husband being vexed with her, and she thought it hard to believe the evidence of her senses that he was after [70]striving to make away with her. The mi

a great lawsuit. The miller heard all, and he brought

"Your father has him impeached for stealing you away and

to plan the whole elopement. My father is surely say

was borrowed, and it due for repayment:

ay the debt," says the lady. "Where can

murder of yourself: and that is the

am thinking I'd do well to be giving evidence in court of law, fo

laid out for yoursel

s came to him. But I have a go

f it we had best be s

after coming by sea. When they got to the court of law wasn't the judge after condemning M'Ca

ned on me," says he, "maybe

rt and gave out that she had not been destroyed

. 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 degr

be restored by that villain, and the

he forgave herself and the husband for the elopement. Didn't the three of them go away home