Page:Three advices an Irish tale.pdf/10

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it’s all right—I’ll take eare of it—you need not trouble yourself any more about the matter; “and so saying, he slapped the door in her face. When she returned, her husband produced the two cakes which his master gave him on parting; and breaking one to divide betwecn his children, how was he astonished at finding six golden guineas in it; and when he took the other and broke it, he found as many more! He then remembered the words of his gencrous master, who desired him to give one of the cakes to his wife, and not to cat the other himself until that time; and this was the way his master took to conceal his wages, leșt he should have been robbed, or have lost the money on the road.

The following day, as John was standing near his cabin-door, and turning in his mind what he should do with his money, the young squire eame riding down the road. John pulled off his hat, for he had not forgot his manners through the means of his travelling to foreign parts, and then made so bold as to inquire if his honour had got the purse he lost

“Why, it is true enough, my good fellow,” said the squire, “I did lose my purse yesterday, and I hope you were lucky enough to find it; for if that is your cabin, you seem to be very poor, and shall keep it as a reward for your honesty.”

“Then the servant up at the big house never gave it to your honour last night after taking it from Nancc—she’s my wife, your honour—and telling her it was all right?”