Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/269

 IRISH STORY FROM COUNTY KERRY. ^61

here and there till he was over the march. The landlord asked him saying, " What dost thou want ? " John replied, " My master ordered me to come to thee and announce to thee not to engage in any more disgraceful conduct with his wife till he shall try every point of law with thee on that account."

The landlord ran after John, and John set off running from him till he reached the master's house again. *' What was the affair the landlord had with thee, John?" said he. '' Master, the landlord took offence that thou hadst sent thy lad to carry an invitation to him, for he was good enough for thee thyself to go to him and give him the invitation." " There is danger, John, that the landlord is angry about it. I will go myself now to give him an invitation." The master got up and went, and before long he found an egg, and a second egg, and a third egg, and a fourth egg, and a fifth egg, and a sixth egg. The landlord was ooserving him and thought it was stones he was picking up to revenge himself upon him on account of his wife, whom he (the landlord) had at his disposal. The landlord ran quickly out of the field and went home. The master was obliged to turn back, and he came where John was. " Where was he going when he did not wait for thee ? " ** I don't know, but he ran quickly when he saw me coming towards him and see the eggs I found on the path." " They are my eggs," said John; " I lost them, for look at my torn pocket." They sat down again and eat their fill of the meal. They worked well for the rest of the day. They stopped in good time, as was their habit. John put the horses into the stable. So they passed the night merrily in conversation.

When the mistress had put her work on one side, she went in the night to the landlord. She told him the lad took her for a simpleton, and was generally playing tricks upon her, and '*I cannot expel him, for the master has too much esteem for him." " Now," said she, " I will not hide my secret from thee any more. I love thee, and if it is the same with thee we will accomplish our union to-morrow night. Don't be behind or before, here or there, from this time forward, but be ready to-morrow night. Bring with thee the boot of gold and the boot of silver, and I myself will steal the full of it besides. I will sham sick to-morrow, and will say I have the fever. I will ask them