Blair Collection > Beside the fire

PAUDYEEN O'KELLY AND THE WEASEL. 83
"Don't be afraid of me at all," says the little man.
I'll be a friend to you, if you are able to keep a secret."
" I am able, indeed ; I kept your mother's secret, and
I'll keep yours as well."
" May-be you're thirsty ?" says the little man.
" I'm not free from it," said Paudyeen.
The little man put a hand in his bosom and drew out
a gold goblet. He gave it to Paudyeen, and said :
''Draw wine out of that barrel under me."
Paudyeen drew the full up of the goblet, and handed
it to the little man, " Drink yourself first," says he.
Paudyeen drank, drew another goblet, and handed it
to the little man, and he drank it.
"Fill up and drink again," said the little man. "I
have a mind to be merry to-night."
The pair of them sat there drinking until they were
half drunk. Then the little man gave a leap down to
the floor, and said to Paudyeen :
" Don't you like music ?'*
"I do, surely," says Paudyeen, "and I'm a good
dancer, too."
" Lift up the big flag over there in the corner, and
you'll get my pipes under it."
Paudyeen lifted the flag, got the pipes, and gave them
to the little man. He squeezed the pipes on hirn, and
began playing melodious music. Paudyeen began
dancing till he was tired. Then they had another drink,
and the little man said :
" Do as my mother told you, and I'll show you great
riches. You can bring your wife in here, but don't tell
her that I'm there, and she won't see me. Any time