Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/268

 260 IRISH STORY FROM COUNTY KERRY.

was listening and observing them closely. At last he asked what the cat had said. John replied that the dish, brimfull, was in a particular place. The master went and brought the dish with him again, and they eat contentedly as they were accustomed to do.

When it was time for the mistress to start, she did not find the dish. She was sad and melancholy about it. She did not utter a word all night, but sat with her face covered, sullen and discontented, rubbing herself against the stone of the fireplace. Early in the morning John and his master went into the field. In this fashion they were spending the day. "No sooner had they left her in the morning, than she went to the landlord and related to him every word of her disappointment. He told her there was no other way for her but to come to him with the meal at midday. He told her he would be in the field before her, and as a sign for her she was to make towards the white horse.

She went back home and prepared a good meal to take to him. About that very time John pricked the brown mare in the shoulder with his knife and cut her. Immediately he yelled out to the master saying the brown mare was cut and in danger of death. The master, knocked off work to apply a cure to the horse. John said, " I will bring that white cloth on yonder bush and will put it over her for fear she catch a fever." He did that, and about the same time the mistress marched off with the meal to the landlord, and she did not the least know where she was till she came close to John and the master. She recognised them at once and turned back. John saw her going away, and said " Welcome, mistress. It is the right time for thee to come and look at our work. I hope thou hast brought us a meal." She was obliged to leave them the meal and went away as fast as she could, ungrateful at her bargain, till she reached the house again. John and his master then sat down and eat their meal. There were a dozen eggs with it, and John got half of them. As they were thus eating, John said, " I wonder why thou wilt not ask the landlord to come and eat this meal with thee. Does thou know that trifling is the reason the landlord would require in order to do thee injury." " True, John, go over and take him an invitation." John went off, taking his eggs with him, and dropped them on the path