Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/61

 Rh I.

Once upon a time there was a man who had to mind a sheriff's house in Ireland; so one night as he was sitting down reading a knock came to the door; he went to see who was there, but no one was to be seen. After he went in a second knock came to the door; he went to see who it was, but no one could he see, then he went in again. A third knock came and the man said he would not mind that. The knocking was continued, and he went at last to see who it was. When he opened the door he saw an old woman, dripping with water, who said, "My good man, would you be so kind as to give me a night's lodging?" "By all means," said he, "I would give any one a help if I saw them hard up." Then he took her in and made a bed for her upstairs; then she went to bed.

In the middle of the night he heard the door upstairs squeaking, and all the clothes were hanging on the door. He jumped out of bed and rushed upstairs and made a grab at the old woman, and she disappeared. Soon afterwards two great big cold hands were laid upon his face, and a voice said "Don't mind her, she's one of your own good people, and you shall be rewarded for your kindness," and every day afterwards he had good luck.

The narrator of No. II. is James Collins, aged 14, native of Kildorrery, county Cork, who came over with his family two years ago. His father told him this story, and it also, I am assured, is true.

II..

A few years ago there was a miller, and nearly every bit of his flour was destroyed and he couldn't make out what was doing it. One night a great deal of damage was done, so next night he said he would stop up and mind the mill; and about midnight he heard a great noise in the above apartment, so he went to see, and there was a lot of cats on the flour tearing it about all over the room. The miller ran and threw a knife at one and cut its leg off; then he found what was doing all the damage. In the morning when he went home and was going into bed he saw his daughter lying in bed with one of