Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

ii8 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
The calling up of the old woman, the ride behind the
Fir Dhorocha, and the dismounting at the door of an
illuminated palace, all took place as mentioned in the
tale above alluded to. In the hall she was surprised to
see an old neighbour, who had long been spirited away
from the haunts of his youth and manhood, to the joyless,
though showy life of the Sighe caverns. He at once
took an opportunity, when the " Dark Man " was not
observing him, to impress on Nora the necessity of
taking no refreshment of any kind while under the roof
of the fairy castle, and of refusing money or any other
consideration in any form. The only exception he made
was in favour of cures for diseases inflicted by evil spirits,
or by fairies.
She found the lady of the castle in a bed with pillows
and quilts of silk, and in a short time (for Nora was
a handy woman) there was a beautiful little girl lying
on the breast of the delighted mother. All the fine
ladies that were scattered through the large room, now
gathered round, and congratulated their queen, and paid
many compliments to the lucky-handed Nora. " I am
so pleased with you," said the lady, " that I shall be glad
to see you take as much gold, and silver, and jewels, out
of the next room, as you can carry." Nora stepped in
out of curiosity, and saw piles of gold and silver coins,
and baskets of diamonds and pearls, lying about on
every side, but she
out empty-handed.
remembered the caution, and came
" I'm much obleeged to you, my
lady," said she, "but if I took them guineas, and crowns,
and jewels home, no one would ever call on me again to
help his wife, and I'd be sittin' wud me hands acrass,
and doin' nothin' but dhrinkin' tay and makin' curtchies
(courtesies), an' I'd be dead before a year 'ud be gone
by." " Oh, dear !" said the lady, "what an odd person
you are ! At any rate, sit down at that table, and help
yourself to food and drink." " Oh, ma'am, is it them
jellies, an' custhards, an' pasthry you'd like to see me at?
Lord love you !
I wouldn't know the way to me mouth