In this fourth chapter Séadna is at home and content that he did not acquire the horse or the cow at the fair. They would only have caused him trouble. He continued in the cobbler shop, hired apprentices and prospered beyond belief.

	huise, an bhfeaca aon Chríostaí riamh a leithéid sin d'obair? " ar seisean, agus tharraing sé amach é. Cuardach ! Níor chuardach go dtí é! Aon ní ach mo mhéireanna a chur amach trí chúinnibh na bpocaí !... Bhíodar comh follamh agus a bhíodar riamh agus níor bheag dóibh sin. Ní fhéadfaidís bheith níos follamha... Cár imigh sé ? Cé thug thar n-ais é? Cad é an tairbhe dhomsa sparán trom teann bheith agam im phóca agus ansan mé a dhul ar an aonach agus spreallairín fir na mearacán mé caineadh os comhair na gcomharsan, agus 'greasaí beag buí' a tabhairt orm ná raibh pinginn im phóca !... Agus anois, caithfidh mé dul in éineacht leis an bhFear Dubh i gceann trí bliana déag !... Cad é an saghas mhargadh é sin nuair nach féidir liom aon usáid a bhaint as an sparán ? Beidh sé comh teann an lá deannach agus atá sé anois... ní hiúnadh dhó san a rá !	27. "Well, did any Christian ever see the likes of that for work ? " he said, and he drew it out. Search ! There was never a search like it! I almost put my fingers out through the corners of my pockets! They were as empty as ever they were and that's saying a lot. They couldn't be emptier... Where did it go ? Who put it back ? What is the use of having a full, heavy purse in my pocket and going to the fair for any fool of a thimble-rigger to be able to shame me out in front of the neighbours and call me 'little, yellow cobbler without a penny in his pocket' ! And now, I must go with the Dark Man in thirteen years time. What sort of bargain is that when I can't make any use of the purse ? "It'll be as full on the last day as it is now"... no wonder he could say that ! "
	28. Bhí Séadna ag machtnamh dó féin... B'fhéidir, tar éis an tsaoil, gurb amhlaigh mar is fearr é nar cheannaíos an capall...mharódh an capall úd mé agus ansan ní bheidís na trí bliana déag féin agam... agus... b'fhéidir óir nar cheannaíos an bhó, ní gá dhom bheith ag lorg mná chun a chrúite. B'fhéidir narbh fhearr riamh é mar scéal !.. .Déanfad brógaí agus beidh fhéidir liom a chuid airgid a thabhairt do Uí Marlaigh arís... gan bacadh cor ar bith leis an t-airgead i sporán an fhir dhuibh	28. Séadna was thinking to himself... Perhaps, after all, it might be that it was better that I didn't buy that horse... It would kill me and then I wouldn't even have the thirteen years !... And perhaps it was just as well that I didn't buy a cow, because I would have had to look for a wife to milk it... I'll just make the boots and be able to pay back the money to Marley without bothering at all with the Dark Man's purse.
	29. Ag gabháil an bóthar abhaile dó, do bhí a aigne agus a intinn trína chéile. I gcaitheamh na slí, níor scar an lámh clé leis an taobh an veist go raibh an sparán laistigh de. Nuair a tháinig se abhaile, bhí a aigne déanta suas. Shuí sé isteach sa cathaoir... thóg úll agus greim den mhín... agus bhí é ag cogaint ... agus chaith sé sparán an Fhir Dhuibh treasna an seomra isteach sa choirnéal � áit ina fhán sé le blianta fada ina dhiadh sin � deannach agus leaba an deamhain alla air. Tharraing sé cuige a chuid leathair agus a chuid chéarach agus a chuid snáithe agus chrom sé ar obair. Nuair a bhí dá fhéire bróg criochnaithe aige, d'imthig sé agus dhíol sé iad agus thug sé luach dhá phúnt leathair abhaile leis, agus ansan luach cheithre bpunt. Ansan do thug sé leis beirt ghréasaí eile ar a bpá lae agus fé cheann tamaill beirt eile. Ba ró ghearr go raibh a ainm in airde sa dúthaigh le feabhas agus le saoire a bhróg.	29. As he went home, his mind was in a whirl. The whole way his left hand never left the side of his waistcoat where the purse was. When he got home, his mind was made up. He sat down in his chair... took an apple and a fistful of meal... and whilst he was chewing, he took the purse of the Dark Man... and threw it across the room into the corner, where it stayed for long years gathering dust and cobwebs. He pulled a sheet of leather towards him together with his wax and thread and got down to his work. When he had two pairs of boots made he went and sold them and took two pounds-worth of leather home with him, and then four pounds worth. Then he took two other cobblers on a daily wage and after a little while, two more. In a very short time, his name was widely known in the area for the excellence and cheapness of his boots.
	30. Is cuige a thagadh ag triall air na daoine ba shaibhre agus dob uaisle ag ceannach bróg mar is ortha a bhíodh an déanamh ba deise. Is ag triall air a thagadh na daoine bochta n� bhíodh airgead na mbróg oiriúnach acu, mar do thugadh sá cairde breá fada dóibh. Thug sé cabhair do gréasaíthe eile ná raibh airgead acu chun leathar a cheannach is mó gréasaí bocht a bheadh go minic gan bia ag a chlainn ná muc sa doras aige mára mbeadh Séadna. Ag dul go dtí Aifreann an Domhnaigh no lae shaoire nó ar margadh ag díol bróg dó, is mó duine a bhiodh ag teacht roimis ar an mbóthar agus ag glaoch i leathaoibh air, a rá, Gabh mo leithscéal, a Shéadna... bheadh an dá phunt úd agam duit ach gur theip orm an mhuc a dhíol. nó Go deimhin, a Shéadna tá náire orm teacht chun cainnte leat agus gan leathphinge ded chuid airgid fós agam duit ach do buaileadh mo mhac breóite...	30. It was to him that the richest and highest came to buy boots for they were known for the excellence of workmanship. The poor people came also who had not the right money for boots since he gave fine, long credit. He helped other cobblers who lacked the money to buy leather many a poor cobbler wouldn't have food for child or pig at home but for Séadna. Going to mass on Sunday or High day or at the market selling boots, many a person would come over to him on the road and call him to one side, Excuse me Séadna... I would have had that pound for you but I failed to sell the pig. or Indeed, Séadna I'm ashamed to come talking to you and not having a halfpenny of your money yet, but my son fell ill...
	31. Bhí aon fhear amháin gur thug Séadna an t-eiteachas dó. Tháinig sé sin i gculaith éadaigh uasail a dhá láimh go breá bog gan rian oibre orthu. Go deimhin a Sheadna, ar seisean, tá cheann fé orm go gcaithfinn teacht ag triall ortsa ag lorg airgid ar iasacht. Ach do dhéanfadh céad punt áise mhór anois dom... Ní hé gach lá a thiocfaidh mo leithéidse á iarraidh ort. Is oth liom ná fuil céad punt agam oiriúnach anois le thabhairt duit, arsa Séadna.	31. There was one man to whom Séadna gave a refusal. He came in elegant clothes and his two hands were soft and without the marks of labour on them. Indeed Séadna, I'm embarrassed to come looking for you seeking the loan of money. It isn't every day that a man of my quality comes asking you, but a hundred pounds would be of great assistance to me at the moment. I regret that I haven't a hundred pounds that I could conveniently give you, said Séadna.
	32. Do stad an duine uasal agus d'fhéach sé ar Shéadna. Ní raibh aon choinne aige in aon chor aige leis an bhfreagra san. D'fhéach sé ar Shéadna mar a fhéachfadh sé ar ainmhí éigin neamhchoitianta. D'fhéach Séadna go seasmhac idir an dhá súil air... Ó, ar seisean, do dhéanfadh deich bpuint is daichead an gnó. Is oth liom, arsa Séadna, na bhfuil deich bpuint is is daichead... na deich bpuint... ná aon punt amháin le fáil agat. Tháinig an féachaint úd i súilibh Shéadna. Tabhair do bhóthar ort ! Is beag nar léim sé an doras amach.	32. The gentleman stopped and looked at Séadna. He had not expected any such reply at all. He looked at Séadna as if he were some unusual sort of animal. Séadna looked back at him steadily between the eyes. Oh, said the gentleman, Fifty pounds would do... I regret, said Séadna, that you cannot have fifty pounds... nor ten pounds... nor even a single pound ! That look came into Séadna's eyes. Get out ! The man almost jumped out through the door.
	33. Maidin amháin níor tháinig Micheál, fear den a chuid ghréasaí, isteach chun obair. D'fhéach Séadna ina thimpall. Cá bhfuil Micheál? ar seisean. D'fhán sé sa bhaile, arsa an fear a labhair. Tá báille ag teacht ann ag tógailt cíosa, agus ní deirim go bhfuil leathphinge airgid fé iadhadh an tí acu. Níor dhéin Séadna ach casadh agus imeacht an doras amach. Baintreach dob ea mathair Mhíchil. Do dhéin sé ceann ar aghaidh ar thigh na baintrí. D'fháiltigh an baintreach roimis. Ní raibh an báille ann go fóill. Cad tá uaidh sin ? arsa Séadna. Tá an cíos, ar sise. An mór é ? ar seisean. Fiche punt,ar sise. Seo,ar seisean.Tá punt sa tseachtain ag dul do Mhicheál. Sin fiche punt dá phá roimh ré agat. Ariú, ar sise, cad ar a shon go dtabharfá an oiread san airgid dom roimh ré ? Ar son an tslánaitheora, ar seisean.Go dtuga an Slánaitheor a luach dhuit ! ar sise. Bhí sé imithe sara raibh uain aici ar a thuilleadh a rá.	33. One morning, Micheál, one of his cobblers, didn't come come in to work. Séadna looked around. Where is Micheál ? he said. He stayed at home, said one of the men.The bailiff is coming to collect the rent and I tell you, there isn't a halfpenny in the house. Séadna did nothing but turn on his heel and go out the door. Micheál's mother was a widow. She welcomed him in. The bailiff hadn't come yet. What does that fellow want? asked Séadna. The rent, she replied. How much is it ? he asked. Twenty pounds, she said. Here, he said. Micheál gets a pound a week. That's twenty pounds in advance you have. Heavens ! she exclaimed. Why would you give so much money in advance ? For God's sake, he said. May God give his reward to you! she replied and he was out the door before she could say more.
	34. Tháinig an báille isteach. Hata bán air. Pluic air. Pus mórchúiseach air. Caincín ramhar air. Muineál beathathaithe air. Casóg bhréide ghlaschaorach air. Bolg mór air. Tarr leathan air. Colpaí air. Bata trom draighin duibh ina láimh. É ag cneadaigh agus ag séideadh. Cíos no seilbh, a bhean an tí, ar seisean. Do ghlaoigh sí ar a mac. Seo, a Mhicil, ar sise, comhairimh é sin agus tabhair don duine mhacánta seo é. Do leath a shúile ar Mhicil, mar ní fheaca sé Séadna ag tabhairt an airgid dá mhathair, agus do leath a shúile ar an mbáille, mar ní raibh aon choinne aige go raibh aon leathphinge airgid sa tígh. Ghlac sé an cíos agus thug sé a bhothar air, agus is é a bhí go cráite cancrach, mar bhí an áit geallta aige an mhaidin cheanna do dhuine eile ar bhréib mhaith.	34. The bailiff came in. A white hat on him. Bulging cheeks he had. A self-important face on him. A frieze coat of sheepswool. A big belly on him and a wide front to him. Thick legs he had and a heavy blackthorn stick in his hand, panting and blowing. Rent or eviction, woman of the house ! he growled. She called for her son. Here Micheál, she said, Count that and give it to this honest man. Micheál blinked for he hadn't seen Séadna giving the money to his mother, and the bailiff blinked too, because he had no expectation of there being a halfpenny in the house. He took the money and hit the road, and he was tormented and cantankerous, because he had already promised the place to someone else for a good bribe.
	35. Ar an Domhnach a bhí cugainn, bhí mathair Mhicil ag caint le bhean béaldorais agus innis sí an scéal díreach mar do thit sé amach...Agus iúnadh an scéal go léir, nuair a bhí Séadna ag díol na bhfear aréir, do shin sé punt chun Michil mar ba gnáth. Ó arsa Micil, táim díolta cheana. Glach é sin uaim, arsa Séadna, agus b'éigean dó ! (Beídh níos mó agaíbh an chead uaír eíle !)	35. On the next Sunday, Micheal's mother was talking to her next door neighbour and she told the story exactly as it happened... And the wonder of it all was , when he was paying the men last night, he handed a pound to Micheál as usual. Oh, said Micheál, I'm paid already. Take that now from me, said Séadna, and Micheál had to ! to be continued.

We would like to acknowledge that, because of unavoidable condensing, necessary for fitting this tale into the space available, some alteration in plot has had to be made. We have, however, tried to use An tAth Peadar's own beautiful West Cork Gaelic as far as possible. Courtesy of Jack & Vivian, IrishPage.com Jan 1. 2025 Click here for Séadna Chapter 1 Click here for Séadna Chapter 2 Click here for Séadna Chapter 3 Click here for Séadna Chapter 4 Replay backgrond music: Be not Afraid... Ar mbuiochas le Caoimhghín Ó Brolcháin ar son a chabhair leis an nGaedhilge