School: Bawnboy

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1. The Laughing Knights' Island Folktale (continued)

   

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   of work. He got up and said,
   '' Mother I'll go and push my fortune. ''
   '' Aye indeed, '' said his mother,
   '' a tenderfoot like you push your
   fortune, '' you that never left the ashes. ''
   '' Well mother, luck's a king and luck's a beggar, I might bring you a couple of handfuls of gold before seven years.''
   '' Well, be sure and don't steal it, for I don't know how you would get it by earning it but sure enough the like of you is often lucky.
   so start as soon as you like, and I'll give you my blessing. ''
   '' That's just all I want Mother and a few weeks of oaten bread, and a horn of milk. ''
   There were no bottles in those days.
   The cows had such long horns, that one of them would hold a pint of milk. They fitted a bottom of wood in the big end and cut a little off the point, and put a cork of wood in it. So Jack got his oatcakes, and his horn of milk, and started.
   He kissed his mother, and his two brothers were laughing at the idea of his making a fortune. He bade them good-bye, and set out, not knowing where he was going. He travelled on for a day until he came to a forest as night was falling.
   Said Jack to himself,
   '' there is a great place to stay for the night.''
   so he took some of his bread, and milk and lay down and

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Informant

   B. O Grady

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan