“ Billy all this time regarded the poor girl with a most rueful expression of countenance; for he could not help thinking what a terrible thing it was for a nice young girl of nineteen, with large blue eyes, transparent, skin, and dimpled cheeks suffused with health and joy, to be obliged to marry an ugly little bit of a man, who was a thousand years old, barring a day. ”

“ MASTER AND MAN:
or
The Adventures of Billy MacDaniel.
BILLY MACDANIEL was once as likely a young man as ever shook his brogue at a patron, emptied a quart, or handled a shillelagh; fearing for nothing but the want of drink; caring for nothing but who should pay for it; and thinking of nothing but how to make fun over it; drunk or sober, a word and a blow was ever the way with Billy MacDaniel; and a mighty easy way it is of either getting into or of ending a dispute. ”

“ Now, Billy, said the little man, do as you see me do, and follow me close; but as you do not know your horse’s head from his tail, mind that your own head does not spin round until you can’t tell whether you are standing on it or on your heels; for remember that old liquor, though able to make a cat speak, can make a man dumb. ”

“ So Billy, who knew better than to question any order given to him by his master, brought a third rush, much wondered who it might be that would travel back in the company, and whether he was about to have a fellow servant. I have, thought Billy, he shall go and fetch the horses from the bog every night; for I don’t see why I am not, every inch of me, as good a gentleman as my master. ”

“ Never wish it twice, Billy, said a little man in a three-eornered hat, bound all about with gold lace, and with great silver buckles in his shoes, so big that it was a wonder how he could carry them, and he held out a glass as big as himself, filled with as good liquor, as ever eye looked on or lip tasted.
Success, my little fellow, said Billy MacDaniel, nothing daunted, though well he knew the little man to belong to the good people; here’s your health, any way, and thank you kindly; no matter who pays for the drink ”

“ When morning began to dawn, the little man turned round to him and said, You may now go home, Billy, but on your peril dont fail to meet me in the Fort-field to-night; or if you do, it may be the worse for you in the long run. If I find you a good servant, you will find me an indulgent master. ”

“ When they came back to the Fort-field, the little man dismissed Billy, bidding him to be there the next night at the same hour. Thus did they go on, night after night, shaping their course one night here, and another night there—sometimes north and sometimes east, and sometimes south, until there was not a gentleman's wine-cellar in all Ireland they had not visited, and could tell the flavour of every wine in it as well—ay, better than the butler himself. ”

“ One night when Billy MacDaniel met the little man as usual in the Fort-field, and was going to the bog to fetch the horses for their journey, his master said to him, Billy, I shall want another horse to-night, for may be we may bring back more company with us than we take. ”

“ I hope your honour's the same. I think ’tis falling you are, Daniel, says he. You may say that, sir, says I. And where are you going all the way so fast? said the gander. So I told him how I had taken the drop, and how I came on the island, and how I lost my way in the bog, and bow the thief of an eagle flew me up to the moon, and how the man in the moon turned me out. Dan, said he, I’ll save you : put yor hand out and catch me by the leg, and I’ll fly you home. Sweet is your hand in a pitcher of honey, wy jewel, says I, though all the time I thought in myself, that I don’t much trust you ”

“ This mode of travelling through the air upon rushes is of common occurrence in fairy history;—a straw, a blade of grass, a fern, or cabbage stalk, are equally well adapted for steeds. The writer has been told of many men who were obliged, like Billy MacDaniel, to give way and keep company with the good people ”

“ Those who are need to these journeys take care to choose the middle eourse; for, should any one unused to such things choose to go above wind, he will be borne so high as to despair of ever alighting again on the earth; and any ignorant wight who prefers to be carried below wind is dragged through all the brambles and briers that they ean find. ”

“ These fairies are often’ inclined to play tricks with the less pure inhabitants of the mountains, who hazard to ramble in misty weather; they will seize hold of any forlorn traveller they meet with, and propose to give him a lift through the air, and they offer the choice of one out of three courses ”

“ The Rinka (correctly written Rinceadh) which Billy, to whom they were so much indebted, danced at their wedding, is the national dance of Ireland; for a particular account of which the reader is referred to the conclusion of Mr Walker’s Historical Essay on the Irish Bards.
Carrigoguniel Castle is an extensive ruin, five or six miles west of the city of Limerick: it may be discribed by the words of the old poet, Thomas Churchyard—
A fort of strength, a strong and stately hold
It was at first, though now it is full old.
On rock alone full farre from other mount. ”

“ This ballad of Mr Hogg’s appears to be founded on the traditional anecdote recorded of one of the Duffus family, who by means of the phrase, ‘Horse and Hattock,’ equivalent in effect to the words ‘Borram, Borram, Borram,’ joined company with the fairies on a trip to examine the king of France’s winee-cellar, where, having drunk too freely, he fell asleep and was so found the next day, with a silver cup in his hand. ”