"I have no fear of that," said he; "it's God who sent it to me, and I'll make a good use of it," says he.
"Have your own way,"[83] said she; "but you'll be sorry for it yet."
The next day lots of people came to the Buideach asking for alms, and he never let them go away from him empty-[handed]. The name and fame of the Buideach went through the country like lightning and men said that he was in partnership with the good people [i.e. fairies]. But others said that it was the devil who was giving him the gold, and they made a complaint against him to the parish priest. But the priest said that the Buideach was a decent good boy, and that it was God who gave him the means, and that he was making good use of them.
The Buideach went on well now, and he began growing until he was almost six feet high.
His mother died and he fell in love with a pretty girl, and he was not long until they were married.
He had not a day's luck from that time forward. His wife got to know that he had a wonderful purse and nothing could satisfy her but she must get it. He refused her often, but she was giving him no rest, day or night, until she got the purse from him at last. Then, when she got it, she had no respect for it. She went to Castlebar to buy silks and satins, but when she opened the purse in place of gold pieces being in it there was nothing but pieces of pebbles. She came back and great anger on her; and said, "Isn't it a nice fool you made of me giving me a purse filled with little stones instead of the purse with the gold in it."
"I gave you the right purse," said he; "I have no second one."
He seized the purse and opened it, and as sure as I'm telling it to you, there was nothing in it but little bits of pebbles.