D MAN. O my poor Mary Hynes, without luck! (_They hear the
wheels of a cart outside the house, and an old farmer comes in, a frieze
coat on him._)

OLD FARMER. God save you, Martin; and is this your wife? God be
with you, woman of the house. And, O Raftery, seven hundred thousand
welcomes before you to this country. I would sooner see you than King
George. When they told me you were here, I said to myself I would not go
past without seeing you, if I didn't get home till morning.

BLIND MAN. But didn't you get my message?

OLD FARMER. What message is that?

BLIND MAN. Didn't they tell you to bring a present to the
new-married woman and her husband. What have you got for them?

OLD FARMER. Wait till I see; I have something in the cart. (_He
goes out._)

MARTIN. O Raftery, you see now what a great name you have here.
(_Old farmer comes in again_ _with a bag of meal on his shoulders. He
throws it on the floor._)

OLD FARMER. Four bags of meal I was bringing from the mill; and
there is one of them for the woman of the house.

MARY. A thousand thanks to God and you. (MARTIN
_carries the bag to other side of table._)

BLIND MAN. Now don't forget the fiddler. (_He takes a plate and
holds it out._)

OLD FARMER. I'll not break my word, Raftery, the first time you
came to this country. There is two shillings for you in the plate. (_He
throws the money into it._)

BLIND MAN.

This is a man has love to God,
Opening his hand to give out food;
Better a small house filled with wheat,
Than a big house that's bare of meat.

OLD FARMER. _Maisead_, long life to you, Raftery.

BLIND MAN. Are you there, boy?

BOY. I am.

BLIND MAN. I hear more wheels coming. Go out, and tell the
people Raftery will let no person come in here without a present for the
woman of the house.

BOY. I am going. (_He goes out._)

OLD FARMER. They say there was not the like of you for a poet
in Connacht these hundred years back.

(_A middle-aged woman comes in, a pound of tea and a parcel of sugar in
her hand._)

WOMAN. God save all here! I heard Raftery the poet was in it;
and I brought this little present to the woman of the house. (_Puts them
into_ MARY'S _hands._) I would sooner see Raftery than be out
there in the cart.

BLIND MAN. Don't forget the fiddler, O right woman.

WOMAN. And are you Raftery?

BLIND MAN.

I am Raftery the poet,
Full of gentleness and love;
With eyes without light,