Three or four of the
boys run out._)

OLD FARMER. Aurah, Seagan, what is your opinion of Raftery now?
He has you destroyed worse than the bush! (_The boys come back, a fleece
with them._)

BOY. Here is the fleece, and it's very heavy it is. (_They put
it down, and there falls a little bag out of it that bursts and scatters
the money here and there on the floor._)

MISER. Ub-ub-bu! That is my share of money scattered on me that
I got for my calves. (_He stoops down to gather it together. All the
people burst out laughing again._)

OLD FARMER. _Maisead_, Seagan, where did you get the money? You
told us you didn't sell your share of calves.

BLIND MAN.

He that got good gold
For calves he never sold
Must put good money down
With a laugh, without a frown;
Or I'll destroy that man
With a bone-breaking rann.
I'll rhyme him by the book
To a blue-watery look.

MISER. Oh, Raftery, don't do that. I tasted enough of your
ranns just now, and I don't want another taste of them. There's
threepence for you. (_He puts three pennies in the plate._)

BLIND MAN.

I'll put a new name upon
This strong farmer, of Thrippeny John.
He'll be called, without a doubt,
Thrippeny John from this time out.
Put your sovereign on my plate,
Or that and worse will be your fate.

MISER. O, in the name of God, Raftery, stop your mouth and let
me go! Here is the sovereign for you; and indeed it's not with my
blessing I give it.

(BLIND MAN _plays on the fiddle. They all stand up and dance
but_ SEAGAN NA STUCIARE, _who shakes his fist in_ BLIND
MAN'S _face, and goes out._

_When they have danced for a minute or two_, BLIND MAN _stops
fiddling and stands up._)

BLIND MAN. I was near forgetting: I am the only person here
gave nothing to the woman of the house. (_Hands the plate of money to_
MARY.) Take that and my seven hundred blessings along with it,
and that you may be as well as I wish you to the end of life and time.
Count the money now, and see what the neighbours did for you.

MARY. That is too much indeed.

MARTIN. You have too much done for us already.

BLIND MAN. Count it, count it; while I go over and try can I
hear what sort of blessings Seagan na Stucaire is leaving after him.

(_Neighbours all crowd round counting the money._ BLIND MAN
_goes to the door, looks back with a sigh, and goes quietly out._)

OLD FARMER. Well, you have enough to set you up altogether,