` Good-morning to you , ' said the woman as she reached the place where the Black Gallows Bird lived when he was not away on his business . ` My son has a fancy to learn your trade . Will you be kind enough to teach him ? ' ` If he is clever , I do n't mind trying , ' answered the Black Gallows Bird ; ` and , of course , if ANY one can turn him into a first-rate thief , it is I . But if he is stupid , it is of no use at all ; I ca n't bear stupid people . ' ` No , he is n't stupid , ' said the woman with a sigh . ` So to-night , after dark , I will send him to you . ' The Shifty Lad jumped for joy when his mother told him where she had been . ' I will become the best thief in all Erin ! ' he cried , and paid no heed when his mother shook her head and murmured something about ` the bridge of Dublin . ' Every evening after dark the Shifty Lad went to the home of the Black Gallows Bird , and many were the new tricks he learned . By-and-by he was allowed to go out with the Bird and watch him at work , and at last there came a day when his master though that he had grown clever enough to help in a big robbery . ` There is a rich farmer up there on the hill , who has just sold all his fat cattle for much money and has bought some lean ones which will cost him little . Now it happens that , while he has received the money for the fat cattle , he has not yet paid the price of the thin ones , which he has in the cowhouse . To-morrow he will go to the market with the money in his hand , so to-night we must get at the chest . When all is quiet we will hide in the loft . ' There was no moon , and it was the night of Hallowe'en , and everyone was burning nuts and catching apples in a tub of water with their hands tied , and playing all sorts of other games , till the Shifty Lad grew quite tired of waiting for them to get to bed . The Black Gallows Bird , who was more accustomed to the business , tucked himself up on the hay and went to sleep , telling the boy to wake him when the merry-makers had departed . But the Shifty Lad , who could keep still no longer , crept down to the cowshed and loosened the heads of the cattle which were tied , and they began to kick each other and bellow , and made such a noise that the company in the farmhouse ran out to tie them up again . Then the Shifty Lad entered the room and picked up a big handful of nuts , and returned to the loft , where the Black Rogue was still sleeping .
At first the Shifty Lad shut his eyes too , but very soon he sat up , and taking a big needle and thread from his pocket , he sewed the hem of the Black Gallows Bird 's coat to a heavy piece XXXXX bullock 's hide that was hanging at his back .
after as at for into of on to up with