J. F. Campbell Collection > Fireside stories of Ireland

44 THE FIRESIDE STORIES OF IRELAND.
her lips, and seemed a little more comfortable, and the men
couldn't take their e^^es off her. " Gorsoons," says she,
" I'd offer you a drop of this, only you might think it too
free-making." " Oh, hang all impedent pride," says one,
" we'll take it, and thankee." So she gave them the bottle,
and they passed it round, and the last man had the man-
ners to leave half a glass in the bottom for the old woman.
They all thanked her, and said it was the best drop ever
passed their tongues. " In throth, agras," said she, " it's
myself that's glad to show how I value your kindness in
giving me shelter ; I'm not without another buideal, and
yous may pass it round while myself finishes what the da-
sent man left me."
Well, what they drank out of the other bottle only gave
them a relish for more, and by the time the last man got to
the bottom, the first man was dead asleep in the saddle, for
the second bottle had a sleepy posset mixed with the whis-
key. The beggar-woman lifted each man down, and laid
him in the manger, or under the manger, snug and sausty,
drew a stocking over every horse's hoof, and led them away
without any noise to one of Jack's father's out-houses. The
first thing the squire saw next morning was Jack riding up
the avenue, and five horses stepping after the one he rode.
" Confound you. Jack ! " says he, " and confound the
numsculls that let you outwit them 1 " He went out to
the stable, and didn't the poor fellows look very lewd o'
themselves, when they could be woke up in earnest !
" After all," says the sqnire, when they were sitting at
breakfast, " it was no great thing to outwit such ninny-
hammers. I'll be riding out on the common from one to
three to-day, and if you can outwit me of the beast I'll be
riding, I'll say you deserve to be my son-in-law." " I'd do
more than that," says Jack, " for the honour, if there was
no love at all in the matter," and the young lady held up
her saucer before her face.
"Well, the squire kept riding about and riding about till
he was tired, and no sign of Jack. He was thinking of
going home at last, when what should he see but one of his
servants running from the house as if he was mad. " Oh
masther, masther/' says he, "as far as he could be heard, " fly