"Get workmen and masons, and begin the church, and I'll give you the workmen's wages from week to week," said the Buideach.
"I'd sooner have it now," said the priest. "A thousand pieces will do the work, and if you give them to me now I'll put up the church."
The Buideach gave him one thousand pieces of gold out of the purse, and the purse was none the lighter for it.
The Buideach came home and his mother was there before him, with a fine milch cow and new clothes for himself. "Indeed, that's a good cow," said he; "we can give the poor people some milk every morning."
"Indeed they must wait until I churn, and I'll give them the buttermilk--until I buy a pig."
"It's the new milk you'll give the poor people," said the Buideach, "we can buy butter."
"I think you have lost your senses," says the mother. "You'll want the little share of riches which God sent you before I'm a year in the grave."
"How do you know but that I might not be in the grave before you?" said he; "but at all events God will send me my enough."
When they were talking there came a poor woman, and three children to the door and asked for alms in the honour of God and Mary.
"I have nothing for ye this time," said the widow.
"Don't say that, mother," said the Buideach. "I have alms to give in the name of God and His mother Mary." With that he went out and gave a gold piece to the poor woman, and said to his mother, "Milk the cow and give those poor children a drink."
He got the vessel, milked the cow, and gave lots of new milk to the poor children and to the woman. When they were gone away the mother said to him, "Your purse will be soon empty."
"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,"[84] 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.