The Portland daily press., 1877-09-22
From the Boston Pilot.l
Luck and More Luck.

In old times there lived where Ballytotas
castle now stands a poor man namod TOwtas.
1t was in the time when mama fell TO the
earth with the dew of evening, and Towtas
lived by gathering the mama, and thus sup
ported himself, for he was poor man and
had nothing else.
fair young daughter. "Give us a nights
lodging" he said to Towtas, ''for we are
weary" And Towtas did so.
Next morning, when they were going
away, his heart longed for the young girl, and
he said to the peddler, "Give me your daugh-
ter for my wife," Chow will you support
her" asked the peddler. "Better than you
can," answered Towtas, 'for she can never
want"
Then he told him all about the mama;
how he went out every morning when it was
lying on the ground with the dew and gath.
cred it as his father and forefathers had done
before him, and lived on it all their lives, so
that he had never known want, nor any of
his people. Then the girl showed she would
like to stay with the young man, and the
peddler consented and they were married,
Towtas and the fair young maiden; and the
peddler left them and went his way. So
years went on, and they were very happy and
never wanted; and they had one son,
OllSApS uduunOluC yOutu, anu dS Cl6Ver DIS lie
was comely.
But in due time old Towtas died, and after
her husband was buried the woman went out
to gather mama as she had seen him do
when the dew lay on the ground; but she
soon grew tired and said to herself: s'Why
should do this thing every day? I'll Just
gather now enough TO do the week, and then
can have rest" So she gathered up great
heaps of it greedily and went her way into
the house. But the sin of greediness lay on
her evermore; and not bit of mama fell
with the dew that evening nor ever again.
5 And she was poor and faint with hunger and
had to go out and work in the fields to earn
the morsel that kept her and her son alive;
and she begged pence from the people as they
went into chapel, and this paid for her sons
schooling; so he went on with his learning,
and no one in the country was like him for
beauty and knowledge.
One day he heard the people talking of a
great lord that lived up in Dublin, who had a
daughter so handsome that her like was nev-
er seen; and all the fine young gentlemen
were dying about her, but she would take
none of them. And be came home to his
mother and said: 81 shall go and see this
great lords daughter. Maybe the luck will
be mine above all the fine young gentlemen
that love her." $50 along, poor fool" said
the mother; show can the poor stand before
the rich2 But he persisted. eff die on
the road" he said, 'Pll try it."
Swat, them" she answered, sstill Sunday,
and whatever get Pll give you half of it.''
So she gave him half Of the pence she gath.
cred at the chapel door, and babe him 60 in
the name of God.
He hadn't gone far when he met poor
man who asked him for a trifle for Gods
sake. So he gave him something out of his
mothers money and went on. Again, anoth-
er met him and begged trife to buy food,
for the sake of God, and he gave him some
thing also and then went on.
''Give me a trife, for Gods sake, "cried a
voice, and he saw third poor man before
him. 81 have nothing left," said Towtas,
shut a few pence; if give them, 1 shall have
nothing for food, and must die of hunger.
But come with me, and whatever can buy
for this I shall share with you." And as they
were going on to the inn he told all his story
to the beggar man, and how he wanted to 90
to Dublin, but he had now no money. So
they came to the inn, and he called for loaf
and drink OF milk. "Cut the loaf" he said
to the beggar. "You are the Oldest"
81 WON'T" said the other, for he was
ashamed, but Towtas made him.
And 80 the beggar cut the loaf, but though
they ate, it never grew smaller, and though
they drank as they liked OF the milk, it never
grew less. Then Towtas rose up to pay, but
when the landlady came and looked; "How
is this ?' she said. "You have eaten moth
ing I'll not take your money, poor boy,'
but he made her take some; and they left the
place, and went on their way together.
'Now," said the beggar-man, "you have
been three times good to me to, day, for thrice
have met you, and you gave me help for the
sake of God each time. See, now, 1 can
help also," and he reached a gold ring to the
handsome youth. "Wherever you place that
ring, and wish for it, gold will come-bright
gold, so that you can never want while you
have it."
Then Towtas put the ring first in one pock-
ct and then in another, until all his pockets
were so heavy with gold that he could scarce
ly walk; but when he turned to thank the
friendly beggar-maD, he had disappeared
So, wondering to 'himself at all his adven-
lures, be went on, until he came at last in
sight of the lords palace, which was beauti-
full to see; but he would not enter it until he
went and bought fine clothes, and made him
self as grand as any prince; and then he went
boldly up, and they invited him in, for they
said: Surely he is kings son." And when
dinner-hour came the lords daughter linked
her arm With Towtas, and smiled on him.
And he drank of the rich wine, and was mad
with love; but at last the wine overcame
him, and the servants had to carry him to
his bed, and in going into the room he drop
ped the ring from his finger, but knew it
not.
Now, in the morning the lords daughter
came by, and cast her eyes upon the door of
his chamber, and there close by it was the
ring she had seen him wear. "Ah," she
said, "Pll tease him now about his ring.'
And she put it in her box, and wished she
were as rich as kings daughter, that so the
kings son might marry her; and, behold, the
hfv 6Ilad nm tut h.
shut it; and she put it from her into another
box, and that filled also; and then she was
frightened at the ring, and put it at last in
her pocket as the safest place.
But when Towtas awoke and missed the
ring, his heart was grieved.
snow, indeed" he said. "my luck is
gone"
And he inquired of all the servants, and
then of the lords daughter, and she laughed,
by which he knew she had it but no coax
ing would get it from her, so when all was
useless he went away, and set out again to
reach his old home.
And he was very mournful, and threw him
self down on the ferns near an old fort. wait
ing till night came on, for he feared to 90
home in the daylight lest the people should
laugh at him for his folly. And about dusk
three cats came out of the fort talking to each
other.
, low long our COOK IS awayV' said one.
what could have happened to him: 90 said
another.
And as they were grumhling, fourth cat
came up.
"What delayed youq" they all asked an.
grily.
Then he told his story-how he had met
Towtas and given him the ring. "And I
Just went" he said, ''to the lords palace, to
see how the young man behaved; and 1 was
leaping over the dinner table when the lords
knife struck my tail and three drops of blood
fell upon his plate, but he never saw it and
swallowed them with his meat. So now he
has three kittens inside of him, and is dying
OF agony. and can never be cured until he
drinks three draughts of the water of the well
of Ballytowtas.'
So when young Towtas heard the cats
talk, he sprang up and went and told his
mother to give him three bottles full of the
water of the Towtas well, and he would 90
to the lord disguised as doctor and cure him.
So off he went to Dublin. And all the doc
tors in Ireland were around the lord, but
III