"So he met a bear, who was taking a ride on a horse, and Matt waited till he came alongside him, and then he said 'A happy ride to you, bride and bridegroom,' and then he went back to his mother and told her how he had said what she bade him.
"'And pray! what was it you said?' she asked.
"'I said, 'A happy ride to you both, bride and bridegroom.'
"'And whom did you meet?'
"'I met a bear taking a ride on a horse,' said Matt.
"'My goodness! what a fool you are,' said his mother. 'You ought to have said, "To the de'il with you." That's what you ought to have said.'
"'Well! well! mother. I'll be sure to say so next time.'
"So he set off again, and this time he met a funeral; and when he had come well up to the coffin, he greeted it and said, 'To the de'il with you!' and then he ran home to his mother, and told her he had said what she bade him.
"'And what was that?' she asked.
"'Oh! I said, 'To the de'il with you."'