GHOSTS AND FAIRIES. 223 



her ! " said the keeper, *' for I can't ; she treated the 

 young dogs abominably. Spot will lose a claw ; and I 

 am sure it was Sibby, the devil speed her ! that scalded 

 him." 



" She could hide a quart of spirits, and it would never 

 show upon her," cried Pattigo. 



" She was mighty dangerous in a house," exclaimed 

 the black-eyed chamber-maid ; ** I never settled the 

 master's room, but she was sure to pass the window." 



*' She's gone," said the otter-killer ; " there's worse 

 in the north than Sibby. Many a good bowl of broth 

 she gave me. Tho she mur tho she ; agus neil she gun 

 lought* She was no great Catholic, it is true ! for she 

 owned to me last St. John's — and she hearty at the time 

 — that she was in debt four stations at Ball, and three 

 and twenty at Croagh Patrick ! She was, the crature, 

 a fine warrant for a promise, but the worst performer 

 under the canopy of heaven — she'll never," said the old 

 man, with his own peculiar chuckle, *' clear scores with 

 the Reek and Father Nolan. In troth, I think it would 

 almost puzzle Bobby ! " This extraordinary being, 

 it should be explained, lived at the foot of Croagh Patrick, 

 and was the first performer (religious) of his day in 

 Connaught. He generally resided at the house of a 

 neighbouring gentleman ; and when a pilgrim visitor 

 was discouraged by the acclivity of the hill, or the 

 quantity of prayers to be got over, Bobby, jor a con- 

 sideration, undertook and executed the task. He was 

 not only a harmless, but, as may be well imagined, a 

 very useful personage ; and his death has left a blank 

 which has never yet been filled. 



* Anglice, " She is as she is ; but she's not without her fault." 



