oice.

MISER. Ho! ho! Raftery, making poems as usual. Well, there is
great joy on us, indeed, to see you in our midst.

BLIND MAN. What is the present you have brought to the
new-married woman?

MISER. What is the present I brought? O _maisead_! the times
are too bad on a poor man. I brought a few fleeces of wool I had to the
market to-day, and I couldn't sell it; I had to bring it home again. And
calves I had there, I couldn't get any buyer for at all. There is
misfortune on these times.

BLIND MAN. Every person that came in brought his own present
with him. There is the new-married woman, and let you put down a good
present.

MISER. O _maisead_, much good may it do her! (_He takes out of
his pocket a small parcel of snuff; takes a_ _piece of paper from the
floor, and pours into it, slowly and carefully, a little of the snuff,
and puts it on the table._)

BLIND MAN.

Look at the gifts of every kind
Were given with a willing mind;
After all this, it's not enough
From the man of cows--a pinch of snuff!

OLD FARMER. _Maisead_, long life to you, Raftery; that your
tongue may never lose its edge. That is a man of cows certainly; I
myself am a man of sheep.

BLIND MAN. A bag of meal from the man of sheep.

FAIR YOUNG MAN. And I am a man of pigs.

BLIND MAN. A side of meat from the man of pigs.

MARTIN. Don't forget the woman of hens.

BLIND MAN.

A pound of tea from the woman of hens.
After all this, it's not enough
From the man of cows--a pinch of snuff!

ALL.

After all this, it's not enough
From the man of cows--a pinch of snuff!

OLD FARMER. The devil the like of such fun have we had this
year!

MISER. Oh, indeed, I was only keeping a little grain for
myself; but it's likely they may want it all. (_He takes the paper out,
and lays it on the table._)

BLIND MAN. A bag of meal from the man of sheep.

ALL.

After all this, it's not enough
From the man of cows--a half-ounce of snuff!

(_One of the girls hands the snuff round; they laugh and sneeze, taking
pinches of it._)

OLD FARMER. My soul to the devil, Seagan, do the thing
decently. Give out one of those fleeces you have in the cart with you.

MISER. I never saw the like of you for fools since I was born.
Is it mad you are?

ALL. From the man of cows, a half-ounce of snuff!

MISER. Oh, _maisead_, if there must be a present put down, take
the fleece, and my share of misfortune on you! (_