John Cheap, the Chapman's Library. Vol. 1: Comic and Humorous: The Scottish Chap Literature of Last Century, ClassifiedGraham, Dougal
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John Cheap, the Chapman's Library. Vol. 1: Comic and Humorous: The Scottish Chap Literature of Last Century, Classified
Graham, Dougal
Chapbooks, Scottish; English literature -- 18th century; Graham, Dougal, 1724-1779; Popular literature -- Scotland
The little man then said some queer kind of words, out of which
Billy could make no kind of meaning; but he contrived to say them
after him for all that and in they both went through the key-hole
of the door, and through one key-hole after another, until they got
into the wine-cellar which was well stored with all kinds of wine.
The little man fell to drinking as hard as he could, and Billy,
no way disliking the example, did the same. The best of masters
are you, surely, said Billy to him; no matter who is the next; and
well pleased will I be with your service if you continue to give me
plenty to drink.
I have made no bargain with you, said the little man, and will
make none; but up and follow me. Away they went, through key-hole
after key-hole; and each mounting upon the rush which he left at
the hall door, scampered off, kicking the clouds before them like
snow-balls, as soon as the words, Borram, Borram, Borram, had
passed their lips.
When they came back to the Fort-field, the little man dismissed
Billy, bidding him to be there the next night at the same hour.
Thus did they go on, night after night, shaping their course one
night here, and another night there--sometimes north, and sometimes
east, and sometimes south, until there was not a gentleman’s
wine-cellar in all Ireland they had not visited, and could tell the
flavour of every wine in it as well--ay, better than the buttler
himself.
One night when Billy Mac Daniel met the little man as usual in the
Fort-field and was going to the bog to fetch the horses for their
journey, his master said to him, Billy, I shall want another horse
to-night, for may be we may bring back more company with us than
we take. So Billy, who now knew better than to question any order
given to him by his master, brought a third rush, much wondering
who it might be that would travel back in the company, and whether
he was about to have a fellow servant. If I have, thought Billy,
he shall go and fetch the horses from the bog every night; for I
don’t see why I am not, every inch of me, as good a gentleman as my
master.
Well, away they went, Billy leading the third horse, and never
stopped till they came to a snug farmer’s house in the country
Limerick, close under the old castle of Carrigoggunniel, that was
built, they says by the great Brian Bora. Within the house there
was a great carousing going forward, and the little man stopped
outside for some time to listen; then turning round all of a
sudden, said, Billy, I will be a thousand years old to-morrow!
God bless us, sir, said Billy, will you?
Don’t say these words again, Billy, said the little man, or you
will be my ruin for ever.--Now, Billy, as I will be a thousand
years in the world to-morrow, I think it is full time for me to get
married.
I think so too, without any kind of doubt at all, said Billy, if
ever you mean to marry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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