Litchfield enquirer., 1860-04-12
From the Dublin University Magazine. THE FAIRY SHOE.
Tr, l;+tlo tou,,o of Do,

lhE uiGlo tOhu Oi ASOCh aODCy, COuuIV O] Limerick, contains more curiosities, more things to be seen, than almost any place ol its size in Ireland There is the fine old abbey, from which it takes its name, beau tiful ruin situated in a green and quiet hol low, just beyond the struggling town yet so sheltered and hidden by the green slopes that when, half running, half sliding, you have descended the steep path which now forms the only practicable approach, you appear to have dropped suddenly from re- zion of smoke, dirt, CUTS, and children, into an enchanted ground, where the spirit oi peace sitteth forever. There is also the Round Tower, a fragment of castle perch. ed on the summit of green acclvity, at the farther side of the babbling little stream which tumbles and brawls through groups of cabins, more picturesque as objects, than enviabe as residences and then, widening and growing smooth in its course, glides away through marsh and meadow, making, now and then, little bays, where the speck- led trout do haunt the shade" Then there is the mushroom-stone, huge mass of rock, which, broad at the top and narrow at the base, bears some resemblance to Q gigantic mushroom. It lies in the midst of a mead ow; the soil around it is rich and fertile ; and who may say Aow that vast fragment came there? Then there is the Fairy's Oak, and likewise the Goats Leap. But my story is not of these for though these and many other curious matters were exam ined by me during my three days sojourn in that remote spot. not one appeared to me so great curiosity as Jemmy Morrogh, the guide aud attendant of my rambles. Many and strange were the tales Jenny related to me not hill but had it's history, not a stone but Jenmy had Q legend connected with it. Some of these were scarcely worth remembering, though they amused me at the time for Jenny, with his rich brogue and inimitable manner, could give point and expression to relations otherwise somewhat tedious and nsipid. He was, or affected to be, devout believer in fairies, witchcraft, and as he himself expressed it, call kinds of conjuration" He was by trade a shoe- maker but being devotedly attached to the 1 sport of angling, and somewhat addicted to other rccreatons, he did not give quite so much attention to his lawful calling as might have been desirable, for man who had five children to support. His wife, a thrifty, in dustrous termagant, between the irritation she received from his in0olence, and the whis- key she drank to allay it, had, as he ex pressed it, "tuk the faver and departed in pace," four or five years before. His two eldest daughters, tall, slattcrnly girls of twelve and fifteen, might be seen all day gossipping from cabin to cabin, or amusing themselves finging stones at the ducks in the lake of green water before the door His third daughter, child of ten, and her twin brother were usually either romping or quarrclling together while his own peculiar pet, the youngest boy, miniature of him sc.f, and called after his name, trampcd ev- cry where at his heels, with the same quick, slouchng gait sat by his side for hours during his angling expeditions mimicked his anxious gaze at his float, his knowing glance at the clouds, his brogue, and his pe- culiair turn of expression and who gave promise, as the rcighbors used to say, that while young Jemmy Morrogh lived, ould Jenny could never die.'
 The said "culd Jenny" was man who might have passed his eight-and-thirtieth year. He was rather below the middle height, and his limbs, though muscular and active, were loosely hung, so that, with considerable strength, they combined great dexibility. His face displayed that curious mixture of Italian contour and Hibernian shrewdncss, which I never saw bat in the peasants of the south of Ireland, and but seldom amongst them The outline of his face was even handsome :; the acquiline nose, fine dark eyes, wel-shaped mouth, and broad forehead, were almost dign6ed /; and yet, the expression which played everlastingly over them, the expression of careless dro- cry, the rdgabond look, if l may so call it, which pervaded the face, totally destroyed their effect. There was some thing laugha- ble ill the mans countenance, but it was not prepossessing you might be amused with Jemmy Morrogh, but you could scarcely re- spect him.
 That is beautiful little spot" said I, pointing to bay on the farther side of the river. The bank rose abruptly from the water, and was crowned with rich cIump of birch and hazels, while large old vii, low, half fallen and partly uprooted by the wiud, lay across the riverside path, stretch ing it's rich green wreaths over the bank, so that the slender extremities of it's branches touched the water "A beautiful spot" i" Jemmy," said l, "and warrant, a good harbor for the trout"
 You may say that, ma'am," replied my guide many one of the spotted darlins myself has landed safe and sound on that sthrip of green turf; and, Towering his yoice) more than the trouts myself has seen there"
 Indeed" replied, "I should much like to hear what you did see."
 \ long story it is, ma'am, but if you like to hear it-Jemmy avourneen, (to the chiId who fingered little behind us gath ering some blossoms of the beautiful wild iris, Jenny, run down to Mr. Glynne, and tell him, wid my compliments, the Yelling ton boots should have been soled these two days, only I've been hindered by rason of showing the beauties of the counthry to a lady all the way from England, aud Pm sure he'll not grudge her the time-There's no use, ma'am, in telling it before him, see. ing he hard it often before, and is apt to be putting in his word, which spells the story.
 "You see, ma'am, 'tis about ten years since that and Judy Doolan, the woman that owned me, lived beyant there, in as nate little cabin as you'd see in long summers day. A tidy woman was Judy, and something short in the temper-the heavens be her bed, I pray! Well, was