J. F. Campbell Collection > Fireside stories of Ireland

SHAN AX OMADHAN AND HIS MASTER. 79
flock while . you'd be blessing yourself/' "Feet off my
sheep, you anointed rogue ! and what would you be taking
their feet off for ] " " An' sure to mend the path as you
told me. Says you, ' Shan, dean staid hear, &c., make a
path with the feet of the sheep.' " " Oh, you fool, I meant
make good the path for the sheep's feet." " It's a pity you
did'nt say so, master. Hand me out one pound thirteen
and fourpence if you don't like me to finish my job." "Divel
do you good with your one pound thirteen and fourpence!"
" It's better pray than curse, master. Maybe you're sorry
for your bargain ]" " And to be sure I am not yet,
any way."
The next night the bodach was going to a wedding ; and
says he to Jack, before he set out: " I'll leave at midnight,
and I wish you to come and be with me home, for fear I
might be overtaken with the drink. If you're there before,
you may throiv a sheep's eye at me, and I'll be sure to see
that they'll give you something for yourself."
About eleven o'clock, while the bodach was in great
spirits, he felt something clammy hit him on the cheek.
It fell beside his tumbler, and what was it but the eye of
a sheep, and a very ugly looking article it was. Well, he
could nt imagine who threw it at him, or why it was thrown
at him. After a little he got a blow on the other cheek,
and still it was by another sheep's eye. Well, he was very
vexed, but he thought better t > say nothing. In two mi-
nutes more, when he was opening his mouth to take a sup,
another sheep's eye was slapped into it. He sputtered it
out, and cried, " Man o' the house, isn't it a great shame
for you to have any one in the room that would do such a
nasty thing ]" " Master," says Shan, *' don't blame the
honest man. Sure it's only myself that was throwin' them
sheep's eyes at you, to remind you I was here, and that I
wanted to drink the bride and bridegroom's health. You
know yourself bade me." "I know that you are a great
rascal; and where did you get the eyes'?" "An' where
would I get 'em but in the heads of your own sheep % Would
you have me meddle with the bastes of any neighbour, who
might put me in the Stone Jug [gaol] for it?" " Mo chuma
[my sorrow] that ever I had the bad luck to meet with you."