Blair Collection > Beside the fire

PAUDYEEN O'KELLY AND THE WEASEL. 8 1
cow-house. About a month after that he went to the
fair of Galway, and bought a pair of cows, a horse, and
a dozen sheep. The neighbours did not know where he
was getting all the money; they said that he had a share
with the good people.
One day Paudyeen dressed himself, and went to the
gentleman who owned the large house where he first
saw the weasel, and asked to buy the house of him, and
the land that was round about.
" You can have the house without paying any rent at
all; but there is a ghost in it, and I wouldn't like you to
go to live in it without my telling you, but I couldn't
part with the land without getting a hundred pounds
more than you have to offer me."
" Perhaps I have as much as you have yourself," said
Paudyeen. " I'll be here to-morrow with the money, if
you're ready to give me possession."
" I'll be ready," said the gentleman.
Paudyeen went home and told his wife that he had
bought a large house and a holding of land.
"Where did you get the money ?' says the wife.
. " Isn't it all one to you where I got it ?" says
Paudyeen.
The day on the morrow Paudyeen went to the gentle-
man, gave him the money, and got possession of the
house and land ; and the gentleman left him the furni-
ture and everything that was in the house, in with the
bargain.
Paudyeen remained in the house that night, and when
darkness came he went down to the cellar, and he saw
a little man with his two legs spread on a barrel.
"God save you, honest man," says he to Paudyeen.
"The same to you,'' says Paudyeen.
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