“‘And was it to tell me what I know already that brought you here?’
“‘No,’ ses he. ‘I wanted to tell you that I dreamt of my mother’s people last night, and that always brings me good luck. So as ’tis a fine hard frosty day, I’d like to go birdcatching in Fingal’s Glen, and catch a dozen linnets, half a dozen finches, and maybe a couple of blackbirds and thrushes. But I haven’t the makings of a sprig of birdlime, or a crib, or a good singing bird to bring with me,’ ses he.
“‘If that is all that’s troubling you,’ ses I, ‘you have no longer any cause to worry. I’ll give you the box of birdlime that the bishop himself made me a present of last Easter, and I’ll give you the loan of the best singing bird I have in the house, a linnet that would put a nightingale or a prima donna to shame,’ ses I.
“And with that I handed him the box of birdlime that was made by the best cobbler in Antrim, and I took down the linnet cage from over the half door, and gave him that also.
“And then ses I, ‘Go your way and may God bless you, and if you can’t catch birds with my linnet and the bishop’s birdlime, you might as well go to America and try and convince the Irish-Americans that they are not a bit better than the Irish at home.’
“‘Wisha, bad luck to their impudence,’ ses he. ‘What do they know about the Irish at home?’
“‘The devil a hap’orth,’ ses I. And then he put the cage under his arm and ses: ‘I wish I knew how to thank you for all your kindness, and now I will trouble you for the loan of your topcoat, the fillings of a pipe, and a box of matches. For ’tis frozen with the cold I’ll be, standing behind a furze bush waiting for a flock of linnets to rise, so that I may throw myself down on my face and hands on the wet grass, the way they wouldn’t see me at all,’ ses he.
“‘A good birdcatcher,’ ses I, ‘will always find a place where he will be able to hide without throwing himself down on the wet grass or soft earth. However, you are welcome to the loan of my old coat, and I will make you a present of a plug of tobacco and a box of matches.’
“So after he put on the coat, he walked away with his ‘May the Lord spare and protect you all the days of your life,’ and a week passed before he returned. I was eating my breakfast when he called, and as he pushed open the half door with his ‘God bless all here,’ I up and ses: ‘What luck?’ ses I.
“‘Don’t talk to me about luck,’ ses he, as he placed the overcoat, the box of birdlime, and the cage on a chair beside him. ‘I’m the happiest man alive,’ ses he.