The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-25
.Signifying mistress, or lady.

THE Scala Pathetic Siory.-About 40
years ago, young seal was taken in Clew
Bay Ireland, and domesticated in the kitchen
of gentleman whose house was situated on
the sea shore. 1t grew pace, became fami
liar with the servants and family; its habits
were innocent and gentle, it played with the
children, and came at its masters call, ond
as the old man described him to ME, was
fond as dog, and playful as Kitten
Daily the seal went to fish, and after provid-
ing for his own wants, frequently brought in
a salmon or turbot to his master. His delight
in the summer was to bask in the sun, and in
winter to lie down before the fire, or if per-
mitted, to creep in the large oven, which a,
that time formed the regular appendage of an
Irish kitchen. For four years the seal had
been domesticated, when unfortunately, a dis
ease existed in this country, the chippawa-
a kind of paralytic affection ofthe limbs which
generally ends fatally, attacked some black
cattle belonging to the house; some died,
others became infected, and the customary
cure produced by changing them to drier pas
lures, failed. wise woman was consulted,
and the bag assured the credulous owner that
the mortality among his cows was occasioned
by his retaining an unclean beast about his
habitation the harmless, amusing seal. 1t
must be made away with directly, or the
chippawa would continue, and the charms be
unequal to avert the malady. The supersti-
tious wretch consented to the hays proposal;
the seal was pnt on board a boat, carried out
beyond Clare Island, and committed to the
deep, to manage for himself as he best could.
The boat returned, the family retired to rest
and the next morning the servant awakened
his master to tell him that the seal was quietly
sleeping in the oven. The poor animal had
over night come back to his beloved home,
crept through an open window, and took pos
session OF his favorite resting place. Next
morning another cow was reported to be I'M
well The seal must now be finally removed;
Galloway fishing boat was leaving West
port on her return home, and the master un-
dertook to carry off the seal, and not put him
overheard until he had gone leagues beyond
Innis Bufin. 1t was done; day and night
passed-the second evening closed-the SER
want was raking the fire for the night, some
thing scratched gently at the door, she opened
it and in came the seal! Wearied with his
long and unusual voyage, he testified by
peculiar cry, expressive Of pleasure, his de-
light to find himself at home, then stretching
himself before the glowing embers Of the
hearth, he fell into a deep sleep The man
Of the house was Immediately appraised of this
unexpected and unwelcome visit. In the
exigency the beldame was awakened and
consulted she averred that it was always
unlucky to kill seal, but suggested that the
animal should be deprived Of sight, and third
time carried out to sea. To this proposition
the despotic wretch who owned the house
consented, and the affectionate and confding
creature was cruelty robbed Of sight on that
hearth for which he had resigned his native
element; next morning, writing in agony,
the mutilated seal was embarked, taken out
side of Clare Island, and for the last time
committed TO the waves. A week passed
over, and things became worse instead Of bet
ter; the cattle Of the truculent wretch died
fast, and tho internal bag gave him the plea
surable tidings that her arts were useless, and
the destructive visitation upon his cattle ex-
ceeded her skill and care. On the eighth
night after the seal was committed to the At
lantic, it blew tremendously. In the pauses
OF the storm wailing noise at times was
family heard at the door; the servants, who
slept in the kitchen, concluded that the ban
shee came to forewarn them of an approach
ing death, and buried their heads in the bed
coverings. When morning broke, the door