Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/193

Rh incongruities in his version which would not appear in a genuine Irish story. Mr. Croker probably heard the story in some such form as that I now give, and afterwards adapted it to his purpose.

Once upon a time there lived a rich gentleman who had two sons, named Michael and Pat. Mike was a steady and saving lad, while Pat used to squander and drink all that was allowed him; but he was very good in one way, for he used to go on his knees and pray that his father and mother would die, as he was expecting half the property. Soon the father did die, and willed his property between them. Pat soon sold his property, and squandered his money away, so that he was obliged to come and work as a labourer for his brother, and live in a cottage on the estate. One night a beggar man knocked at the door, and asked for a night's lodging. Pat, being very free-hearted, gave it to him. The beggar man, noticing they had nothing for supper but cabbage, said they would go halves, as he had plenty of potatoes. While the vegetables were cooking, he began to enquire about the gentleman up at the house (meaning Pat's brother). Pat soon told him the whole story; about his drinking making him as he was; and about the rich man being his brother. Now, as the cottage was situated close to the paddock where the cattle were kept, the beggar man said he would never see him have potatoes and cabbage without meat for supper while his brother was so rich. At the same time, pulling a pistol from his pocket, he forced poor Pat to go out into the paddock with him and kill one of the sheep; so they had plenty of vegetables and mutton for supper. The beggar man soon made bold and stopped, lodging with them, going out hawking at day-time, and bringing home plenty of potatoes at night; and when they wanted meat for supper they used to go the paddock and kill a sheep. They soon began to miss them up at the house, and Mike's mother-in-law and wife suspected Pat for it; but Mike said that, although he used to drink heavily, he would not steal. Now the mother-in-law proposed a plan that there should be a party, and that she would get into a chest that was in the drawing-room, with plenty of food in it, and have it taken down to the cottage, saying it was in the way up at the house; and in that way they would find out the truth. Now the first night the chest was at the cottage, they went out and brought in a sheep. After enjoying the supper, the beggar man remarked, "I