Blair Collection > Beside the fire

LEEAM O ROONEY S BURIAL.
97
" It's I,'' said Leeam ; " open the door for me."
When they heard the voice, they knew that it was
Leeam who was in it, and the wife said : " I can't let
you in, and it's a great shame, you to be coming back
again, after being seven days in your grave."
" Is it mad you are ? " said Leeam.
" I'm not mad," said the wife ; " doesn't every person
in the parish know that you are dead, and that I buried
you decently. Go back to your grave, and I'll have a
mass read for your poor soul to-morrow."
" Wait till daylight comes," said Leeam, " and I'll
give you the price of your joking ! "
Then he went into the stable, where his horse and
the pig were, stretched himself in the straw, and fell
asleep.
Early on the morning of the next day, the priest said
to a little lad that" he had : " Get up, and go to Leeam
O'Rooney's house, and the woman that I married yester-
day will give you a pig to bring home with you."
The boy came to the door of the house, and began
knocking at it with a stick. The wife was afraid to open
the door, but she asked : " Who's there ? "
"I," said the boy; "the priest sent me to get a pig-
from you."
" She's out in the stable," said the wife ; " you can get
her for yourself, and drive her back w^ith you."
The lad went into the stable, and began driving out
the pig, when Leeam rose up and said : " Where are you
going with my pig ? "
When the boy saw Leeam he never stopped to look
again, but out with him as hard as he could, and he
never stopped till he came back to the priest, and his
heart coming out on his mouth with terror.
" What's on you ? " says the priest.