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salt covered all the decks and poured down into the hold； and at last the
ship began to settle in the water； salt is very heavy。 But just before the ship
sank to the water…line； the Captain had a bright thought： he threw the Little
Mill overboard！
It fell right down to the bottom of the sea。 AND IT HAS BEAN
GRINDING SALT EVER SINCE。
BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from In Chimney Corners； by Seumas McManus。 I have
ventured to give this in the somewhat Hibernian phraseology suggested by
the original； because I have found that the humour of the manner of it
appeals quite as readily to the boys and girls of my acquaintance as to
maturer friends； and they distinguish as quickly between the savour of it
and any unintentional crudeness of diction。
Once upon a time； there was a king and a queen； and they had one
son； whose name was Billy。 And Billy had a bull he was very fond of； and
the bull was just as fond of him。 And when the queen came to die； she put
it as her last request to the king； that come what might； come what may；
he'd not part Billy and the bull。 And the king promised that； come what
might； come what may； he would not。 Then the good queen died； and was
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buried。
After a time； the king married again； and the new queen could not
abide Billy； no more could she stand the bull； seeing him and Billy so
thick。 So she asked the king to have the bull killed。 But the king said he
had promised； come what might； come what may； he'd not part Billy Beg
and his bull； so he could not。
Then the queen sent for the Hen…Wife； and asked what she should do。
〃What will you give me；〃 said the Hen…Wife； 〃and I'll very soon part
them？〃
〃Anything at all；〃 said the queen。
〃Then do you take to your bed； very sick with a complaint；〃 said the
Hen…Wife； 〃and I'll do the rest。〃
So the queen took to her bed； very sick with a complaint； and the king
came to see what could be done for her。 〃I shall never be better of this；〃
she said； 〃till I have the medicine the Hen…Wife ordered。〃
〃What is that？〃 said the king。
〃A mouthful of the blood of Billy Beg's bull。〃
〃I can't give you that；〃 said the king； and went away； sorrowful。
Then the queen got sicker and sicker； and each time the king asked
what would cure her she said； 〃A mouthful of the blood of Billy Beg's
bull。〃 And at last it looked as if she were going to die。 So the king finally
set a day for the bull to be killed。 At that the queen was so happy that she
laid plans to get up and see the grand sight。 All the people were to be at the
killing； and it was to be a great affair。
When Billy Beg heard all this； he was very sorrowful； and the bull
noticed his looks。 〃What are you doitherin' about？〃 said the bull to him。 So
Billy told him。 〃Don't fret yourself about me；〃 said the bull； 〃it's not I
that'll be killed！〃
The day came； when Billy Beg's bull was to be killed； all the people
were there； and the queen； and Billy。 And the bull was led out； to be seen。
When he was led past Billy he bent his head。 〃Jump on my back； Billy； my
boy；〃 says he； 〃till I see what kind of a horseman you are！〃 Billy jumped
on his back； and with that the bull leaped nine miles high and nine miles
broad and came down with Billy sticking between his horns。 Then away
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he rushed； over the head of the queen； killing her dead； where you
wouldn't know day by night or night by day； over high hills； low hills；
sheep walks and bullock traces； the Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox with
his bugle horn。
When at last he stopped he said； 〃Now； Billy； my boy； you and I must
undergo great scenery； there's a mighty great bull of the forest I must fight；
here； and he'll be hard to fight； but I'll be able for him。 But first we must
have dinner。 Put your hand in my left ear and pull out the napkin you'll
find there； and when you've spread it； it will be covered with eating and
drinking fit for a king。〃
So Billy put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the napkin； and
spread it； and； sure enough； it was spread with all kinds of eating and
drinking； fit for a king。 And Billy Beg ate well。
But just as he finished he heard a great roar； and out of the forest came
a mighty bull； snorting and running。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 They knocked the hard ground into
soft； the soft into hard； the rocks into spring wells； and the spring wells
into rocks。 It was a terrible fight。 But in the end； Billy Beg's bull was too
much for the other bull； and he killed him； and drank his blood。
Then Billy jumped on the bull's back； and the bull off and away； where
you wouldn't know day from night or night from day； over high hills； low
hills； sheep walks and bullock traces； the Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox
with his bugle horn。 And when he stopped he told Billy to put his hand in
his left ear and pull out the napkin； because he'd to fight another great bull
of the forest。 So Billy pulled out the napkin and spread it； and it was
covered with all kinds of eating and drinking； fit for a king。
And； sure enough； just as Billy finished eating； there was a frightful
roar； and a mighty great bull； greater than the first； rushed out of the forest。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 It was a terrible fight！ They knocked
the hard ground into soft； the soft into hard； the rocks into spring wells；
and the spring wells into rocks。 But in the end； Billy Beg's bull killed the
other bull； and drank his blood。
Then he off and away； with Billy。
But when he came down； he told Billy Beg that he was to fight another
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bull； the brother of the other two； and that this time the other bull would be
too much for him； and would kill him and drink his blood。
〃When I am dead； Billy； my boy；〃 he said； 〃put your hand in my left
ear and draw out the napkin； and you'll never want for eating or drinking；
and put your hand in my right ear； and you'll find a stick there； that will
turn into a sword if you wave it three times round your head； and give you
the strength of a thousand men beside your own。 Keep that； then cut a strip
of my hide； for a belt； for when you buckle it on； there's nothing can kill
you。〃
Billy Beg was very sad to hear that his friend must die。 And very soon
he heard a more dreadful roar than ever he heard； and a tremendous bull
rushed out of the forest。 Then came the worst fight of all。 In the end； the
other bull was too much for Billy Beg's bull； and he killed him and drank
his blood。
Billy Beg sat down and cried for three days and three nights。 After that
he was hungry； so he put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the
napkin； and ate all kinds of eating and drinking。 Then he put his hand in
the right ear and pulled out the stick which was to turn into a sword if
waved round his head three times； and to give him the strength of a
thousand men beside his own。 And he cut a strip of the hide for a belt； and
started off on his adventures。
Presently he came to a fine place； an old gentleman lived there。 So
Billy went up and knocked； and the old gentleman came to the door。
〃Are you wanting a boy？〃 says Billy。
〃I am wanting a herd…boy；〃 says the gentleman； 〃to take my six cows；
six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture every morning； and bring
them back at night。 Maybe you'd do。〃
〃What are the wages？〃 says Billy。
〃Oh； well；〃 says the gentleman； 〃it's no use to talk of that now； there's
three giants live in the wood by the pasture； and every day they drink up
all the milk and kill the boy that looks after the cattle； so we'll wait to talk
about wages till we see if you come back alive。〃
〃All right；〃 says Billy； and he entered service with the old gentleman。
The first day； he drove the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six
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