Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-05-19
An Irish AnecdOte.

| Once upon time, long time ago, whel
giants were as plenty in Ireland as heas o.
tom cat, there lived on the borders OF tn
county Armagh, one Barney Mcconnell
who lawfully came under the above appel
lation, being seven feet high and made II
proportion. His prowess was well known
and acknowledged for many miles roundup
there was one thing that grieved Barney
above little, namely, that ne could &c
no one to stand before him in his own coun
try. Now report spoke of a certain giant II
Scotland who was laboring under the llk'
grief and for precisely the same cause
therefore, Barney, after consulting hl!
friends on the subject, sent a challenge tt
the Scotch giant, to "coma over to lrelant
and get the conceit taken out of himself
After the due time the bearer OF the chal
lenge returned with word that it had beer
accepted, and further stated that he was
advised to inform Barney, that he had bet
ter make his will, get his coffin made, &C..
as he. that he was about to encounter, nev'
er left his work half done.
"Did you see him ," asked Barney.
"Faith an did," said the messenger.
"Wbat is he like ~ interrogated the giant.
"Faith, Barney, ayic, he's like any thing
at all but mortal being"
"How big is he :" said Barney, looking
any thing but pleased at the description OF
his rival. .,
GLOW big is he, did you say' Faith,
he's as big as the ould tower furnlnt the
door, an a head an shoulders like Father
M'Gurney's bull, an by all accounts he'll
ait you alive"
Barney began to feel rather uncomforta-
BILE at the prospect before him, and straight
wav went to consult his wife, as towhat was
to be done in the event of his rival proving
to be such as his messenger had represent
ed. While they were thus engaged, one
of the children came running in and ex-
claimed: r
Daddy, come to the door and see the
great big man that S coming down the hill y
Barney peeped through the chinks OF the
door, and to his great terror, saw the mon
ster. =
A look was enough to satisfy him that
his messenger had not exaggerated his ac-
count of him, and turning to his wife ne
said, "Shela, jewel, I'm EFT alive for sartln
Here comes the Scotch balst to drum your
poor Barney" When Shela heard the ap-
proach of the coming foe, and ner lords ut
ter inability to wage war with one so supe-
rior in strength and size, she concluded that
it was only by some piece of woman's wit
that her husband could escape from the af-
fair without dishonor, and accordingly she
gently lifted the child out ofthe cradle, and
deposi:ing it on the bed Of the inner room,
made the father get in his. place, and COW
ering him with quilt, gently seated her
self and resumed her work. After, a few
moments, in walks the cause of all the dis
lurbance, and demanded an interview with
the..giant. Shela, after motionihg with her
hand for him to Keep quiety walked gently
across the floor to where he stood, and in
an under tone told him Barney had gone
out in the woods. The giant informed her
that he intended waiting his return. very
WE'LL" said Shela, "only don't make word
of noise for the life that is in you for there's
nothing makes him more furious. than to
hear the child crying when he comes
home" ,l ...JJ
By this time the giant had seated him
self on bench and was quietly surveying
the apartment but when his eyes rested
Oh the cradle, with look of unuttering as
tonishment, he asked what was IN it : "In
it itw-cried Shela, "don't you see that it is
the child that's in it an Heaven help. you
if you wake him; the craythur didn't get a
wink of sleep last night with the two back
teeth he's cutting The giant, with look
Of terror and astonishment, asked what size
the father was2 "Faith an can't tell
you, for never measured him, but that
gasson (pointing to the cradle) when the
father is angry, runs and hides himself in
one of his boots" "Laird save US y ex-
claimed the giant; II Wilma mind waiting
the moo lassee, maun be gaun, guide morn.
ing; and so saying he took to his heels and
never thought himself safe until he got a.
mong the hills of his own country.