The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14

amidst his poor and his parishioners, and be
coming perfectly conversant with the names OF
every hill and every hamlet, nay, believe, act
rally enamored of their Kills." and their
knocks" their SLEEVES" their Duns," their
:" kaths, their " Innises," their "Ballys," and
their B,gs" 1 had an occasional letter
from old friend, DR.. B, the bishop of the
diocese, speaking most highly of poor Harry
ana one from himself, telling me how he had been
twitted BY the leading dissenter in his parish
with reading his sermon from a book and
that ne had now become an extemporary
preacher; at which l shrugged up my shout
ders, shook my head, and cried, "Foolish
Every summer he came to see me during
i've years, till at last he joyfully announced
tnas tne oid Earl of D, whom he had me-
AZ trends house, had offered him his famil,
nsing IN Southern country. 1t was worth 9
cleae FL hundred pounds per annum; and he
took possession OF it shortly after he had lef
me Tor Ireland. And now came long letter,
from hin and Mary, descriptive of the delight,
OF their new residence, the grandeur of IN,
Earrs great oaks, the beauty of his forest walks
the river which swept through the park, and th,
extraordinarily rich and beautiful lights, ant
shadows, and purple tints, which glittered, ant
deepened, and glowed on the glorious Galte.
Mountains, which skirted their eastern horizon
Inen description of each of the children, O
~uicn mere we're now five, and another expect
ea not forgetting frequent illusions to the old
old quaint house in which they were living
wniie their glebe was repairing, and which hat
oeen hunting lodge of the unfortunate Ear
OF desmond, attainted in the reign of Elizabeth
ana called Earlsoke, from trees planted there
oy the hand of his almost equally ill.starrec
son.
think you may have perceived in the course
Of my narrative that l had no great love fol-
ireland I; yet, strange to say, found myself, OF
one hne June evening shortly after this, steam
ing into Dublin Bay. l had been summoned
as witness on an important trial involvine
some Irish property of which 1 had been lef
executor, much to my annoyance. 1 certainl,
was wonderfully delighted as we neared thss
irisn shores; the sun was Just setting amids
tam cioudiets OF amber, pink, and purple, thu
sea mirroring and retaining these tints in Ions
pains on Its smooth surface, and the Wicklow
mountains covered with golden gauze-likt
maze, yet preserving their tent-like outline.
against the darkening sky. As the sun wen
uo"n, .ne moon rose and shone out bright,
over hilllney hills. certainly never saw suci
. beautiful sight, or such grouping of thu
points OF diversifed landscape. Our packet
dasning through the deep, clear water, passed
many lettering yacht with snowy sail; many
racing boats tew by US as we rounded thu
wnite piers OF Kingstown; the harbor wa,
CROWDED with gay crafts, among which doomed
'arge war snip: The whole population seem
60 70 be on the long fat pier; there was musi,
on the water, and the many lights on the shore
reflected from the harbor, looked like trembl;n,
pillars OF gold standing in the water. / felt m,
prejudice against the Irish soil little abated
ana months scjourn in the good society O
dublin nearly converted me into Philo.Hi
Dernian. Here l found learning without ped
antry, humor without effort, piety without prip
ism, enthusiasm for the arts without exclusive
ness, much love of literature, a growing tast
Ior tne mechanical and agricultural sciences
ana thoroughly gentlemanIike hospitality; in
deed, they thought they could never max
enough OF the Dean Of Pimlico. So, on a fin
Juy DAY l vent down to my nephew, by til
Cork and Limerick express train, appointe,
ana worked fully as well as our Great Western
ana the same evening found me sitting III der
gigantic oak which stood almost opposite tn
queerest, oddest, and most antique of parsop
ages-.rudey Elizabetban in its architecture
with low walls, lofty chimneys, mullioned win
dows, and small arched door-a most uniou
YET tumble.down concern. Dear Harry wa
mere, radiant with joy at seeing me; his wife
nandsomer than ever, much improved, and YER
elt'possessed. The children, especially m
godson, whom they called the young Dean q
Pimlico, healthy, bright animals. We had te
and Strawberries under the kirgly tree, who's
noiiowed stem l measured next morning, an
found 1t to be twenty.four feet in girth. In tn
httie oark parlor was a wooden scutcheon owe
the mantei piece, and on it was rudely carve
IN the Irish or Celtic language an Inscription
winch Harry translated for nae in the folowin
fashion, This is the great Earl of Desmond
hunting lodge, 1870" All the old portion O
the mousse seemed to me very insecure, but th
much later erection. spent q delightful
month here; Harry was as enthusiastic and a
vehement as ever, and q truly active an,
efficient parish minister. Here was a Iarp
body of well.conditioned Protestant yeomanry
farmers, and cottiers, and the country wa
studded with the handsome seats of an edu
Gated, we'll born, and very wealthy gentry
Truly l was amazed, for always considere,
that Justice Shadows observation was pecu
liarly applicable to Ireland and her sons
"Beggsrs all-beggars ALL"
But l must hasten my tale, or the New Yea
will anticipate its conclusion. In the following
December, l was again summoned to Dublin
and l spent my Christmas at Earlsoke; the,
were to leave it in March for their new house
which stood higher up in the valley, and les.
exposed to the prevailing western gales. The
old tree, almost denuded, yet with few pale
brown leaves clinging to it's vast arms and dis
tor:ed branches, looked the very type of gaun
and worn senility; yet the children dearl,
loved this ancient servitor, regarding it, l be
leve, next to their parents, and spent most o.
their play hours climbing amidst its branches
or racing around its stem, or sitting in its hol
low. The river ran deep, turbid, and strong
The weather was mild, as the year died away
and we had "green Christmas" yet the place
was healthy, and no deaths, thus classifying an
old proverb.
On the last day of the year, the season was
90 sultry that the fire went out of its own &C.
cord, and no one thought of renewing it the
sky was of hazy blue the air dazzling and
trying to the eyes, and the light brassy. A
nervous man would have complained of the
weather, for the atmosphere seemed pregnant
With electricity. We spent the whole day wan.
dering amidst the glades of the earPs deer park
and the sun went down in burning flush Of
bright crimson haze, the sky all dotted and
aecked with pink clouds and copper colored
lines. | never knew 30 still An evening. After
prayers were over, we walked out before the
hall door, to watch the effect of the moonlight
streaming upon the great tree. The air was
even sultry. 1t was q splendid night and al.
most as light as day the wind rising in light
gusts, and voices, as it were, seeming to come
from the old woods, as it fell away into calm
again. Suddenly Harry spoke
Uncle, do you not hear the galloping of a
horse just near the bridge? Who can it be at
this hour?"
We all listened, and suspicion became Ger.
tainty, as In about five minutes q man rode
through the avenue gate, slamming it violently,
and cantered up to the hall door,