The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-10-25
THE THREE FINGERS.

it was the custom in the south of Ireland
to live in barracks. Not the military
quarters usually so named, but among s
set of merry boys and girls, and good
humored men and girls, in some wide,
rambling, hospitable country house.
The rebels, or Whiteboys banded them.
selves together to destroy, without ex.
ception, every Protestant man and
grown boy in the country ; but they
usually, except in rare instances, respec
ted the lives of women and children
The gentlemen, gay, gallant, well
mounted and well armed, formed them>
selves into yeomanry corps tor the
defence of their lives and properties
A large mansion in each district was
selected, into which as many as the
rooms would accommodate, congrega>
ted. Despite the burnings, pickings
and cruelties of the most atrocious
description which were going on around
the party inside usually contrived to
amuse themselves with eating, drinking,
laughing, dancing and love MAXIM, in
a highly satisfactory and thoroughly
Irish manner.
The old house of Carrigbawn, situa>
ted some miles distant from the town OF
Killislaughlin, was selected for this
purpose; it's master and mistress being
a kind and hospitable pair, never SO
happy as when every closet and Granny
hole was crammed full of guests. The
mansion itself was as queer specimen
of the in and out style Of architecture as
ever was seen. 1t, and the fine old
estate that lay around it, are now gone
the one in ruins the other into the
Encountered Estates Court. But some
sixty years ago both were filled with
life and merriment. Family after fam
lily had arrived, and had been accommo-
dated by Mr.. and Mrs. Synge.
1t was dull drilling day in autumn,
such as is very common in the south of
Ireland, when there is no cold in the
air, and yet you have such feeling of
thorough and diffused dampness that
you Involuntary hang over the fires, as
if to air not only your garments, but
your hands and feet. After breakfast,
the gentlemen, as usual, went out in a
party to patrol, and the ladies amused
themselves, as they best might, with
needle work and gentle gossiping.
GLOW l WISH" said Mrs. Synge,
laying down her embroidery, and pc.
litely trying to suppress yawn, " that
Hugh Lawrence were here. He is the
very life and soul Of a party, and Sc
good natured-there is nothing he
would not do to oblige a friend.
Yes" said Mrs. Warren, Sand
children are SO fond of him. My little
Ellie, who is so shy to every one else
actually flies into Hugh Lawrence
arms, and will not leave him for nurse
or anybody else."
He paid me q morning visit here q
few days ago, " said Mrs. Synge, Sand
we urged him strongly to leave his
lowly matched cottage, where he has nc
companions but his dogs, and come into
barracks like everybody else. Why
my dear lady, said he, 'who would
hurt me Thank God, / don't think
have an enemy in the country among
rich and poor and then | have my re-
ward, that faithful fellow, Hennessey
who would give his life for me, living at
the lodge"
The conversation then took another
turn, and the afternoon passed some.
what YEARLY away its monotony now
and then enlivened by the unavailing
efforts OF the matrons to preserve order
among the juveniles, each lady protest.
ing that her boys and girls were the
quietest imaginable creatures when at
home, and that it was only company
that excited them to rebel
The gentlemen returned in good
spirits to late dinner, and reported
that they had seen or heard nothing
alarming. About ten o'clock the house
was disturb ed by loud ringing at the
hall door. 1t was no light matter tc
open at that hour, so the visitor was
challenged by the master of the house
"Who's there.
GA friend-Hugh Lawrence let me
in. ="
At the sound Of that well known
voice, bolts and bars were speedily with
drawn, and the whole party crowded
into the hall to receive the welcome
guest, who looked pale and agitated.
"Synge, " he said, +" | have dread
full thing to tell you. My honse was Sc
on fire this evening, and everything ii
it burned. l don't care for the furni
ture, but my poor little dog, Minny, tha
was licking my hand an hour before
she persisted And the tears stood il
his kind, honest eyes.
1t appeared that, while sitting aftel
dinner, he perceived strong smell O
smoke, and, rushing to the window, b,
saw the dark figures who had put tn,
live sod of turf to the thatch, moving il
front of the house. He had been GU
shooting that day, and his gun stooc