The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-02-24
the KOURIGAN.
A TALE OF BRITTANY,

vster. They were for Tho most par connsctcd
with each osber by an irregular natural esusousy
Shaded by lcf,y elm wees, snd partly hidden by
shrubs and weeds, pcopcd m, ht,le oottsses their
roofs covered With mos and rrsse, house-lcck
and other herbs, both vsucg .ied and Of brinisnt
green, that could .osnely conccve ,hern 10 70
the workmsnship and the dwelling Of man. Flocts
OF sheep, With long rurplsh wool, paesurcd the
| bJrder q thsse ossos sod our spprosch g,rtiot
number ~ flgver- or lspwings which flew r.padly
! round their island. uuerin-s strange Viii cry, ~
| though sounding an sIerm 10 the inhabitsn,s ne
path led va along The verge II the lsrg,ai ~ thess
cases scarcely bal w p,sscd IT, whom the great
moor, properly % cslol, spresd oui bsforc orr
view. There il lay, vsst undulatuz plain. con.
ple,eiy bare, it- red so interpreted he-c AMI hero
With nf. Of sickiy 'tuntod rcod.. api emitting N
offensive eShsisiior- witch 80 81 sidvsy IN the
air, Ike rod waves Winch hal boon expelled from
Tue bosom Of earth " add 70 the uniform colour ~
tho srone sbove not breath Of ar was 10 b. ter
al tho heights nor shallow 70 be scen IN the val.
| legs. The GROUND, which ~.. like red ashes admit.
ted Of no hrm footing and occasionally poud of
dark s,ssn,ns water 10 h. aeon, without ,ven
ba''e q grass upon ns margin
From time 70 time, We pssse pe ,yle cutting turf
| thor long hsr falling over their shoulders, and
thor form, Hnesrsd and dsrksned with the duh red
| dust and smoke, proclaimed them W be the true
| natives OF this dismal country. Our rarity afforded
lively contr,s, W The scene around the heads Of
| the mules being locked with various colours and
armed will green bou'hs to protect them from flies:
on tho finest Of these snimss WAS scalod the lovely
Jeanne; while walking and vhisilins vigorously
| kehtnd ker 40 ~ H. h., %
the greuAlier" having an accompaniment N his
music in the merry uukling Of the muc-bells. I
| drew JeAnns's sucntion to what h.d struck mo ~
forcby, s-king II our little eavslcado dill not re-
setnhle . bright glsideuins sunbeam on gloomy
day. She lorkeI me though,fn ", smos; dream
ily, for moment, and shook her beautiful bead.
Presently abe replied
"ro 10 sure the vast moor eanno, have the
charms Tor YOU that 1t has for those who lived
happily IN IT, But thore many women Vho
posSc's true worth and Ice lence though quite de-
void Of beauty and this bleak moor nlsntsins sght
| Christian congregations"
inquired how long she had lvci here.
Fourteen years" sho replied land may tru
IL say that they none OF tie saddsst years II
NY lite, Ny Halle hood and rcd serge rock cover
ed form untouched by he huger Of sorrow All,
yes! pcorc may soy they Ike, but youth j, sure
" the fsirest o. all Coils sits"'
The ook and tone which accompanied these vords
induced me To inquire II she would tain recall her
former condition n ne.
~ would recall nothing, sir hut rsr,r can I for.
get the past" size replied, IN an asita,ed voice. .,
the nm. time giving ~" speaking, h'siy look
Then abe sdiet, in her usual bhthe tone
~ vou could bu, know how hsrpy | used to h
uh.n driving through the moor With rocr fr.ren
y IN the Gre, cu, Of turf"
'Grs..n ~ss your guardians -on. suppo-c''
&" He wa. poor deserted child, -hor nv guar
dian. or rather bis sister, had, IN compassion, re-.
ou-d from thehospitsl in ssvsnn. We grew NJ toze
N Ike brother and sister Though A. ugly boy .,
could well b. found, yet more ,misble tind.heart
~ creature never lived upon the earth. Alas, hi
mind hAs II lace BOONE der anged. and he r~rnsin,
from horne for ~e"k, ,tA time, wandering shou
no ono knows wherr. Many people thiub enough
; | have not him sncc my rAirisRe"
sbs renamed rl-nt ana thougn,ful for NO
meu,, then went on, in hor simple, irtelgen
n Kramer, to draw = v-ly ricturo ofhe- former hi,
and occupations ~ the same time though qub
uneousciously, allowing me N have glimpsr mt
tho sAtc OF het lcellhsr AZ Nht Tctlon fT guar
dian, she told rue, was in the habit d cuttiug
very large qu,ntity of turf annually, and convey
ing It In his own boat the canal Of Means l.
the Loire A long farewell bid 70 home, as
lreightol with her dukky cargo, the heavy-lsdei
boat, with her single sail boosted, pushed of non
,he shore, - which she not 10 return Tor
al months Micnael the guardian, Jeanne, an,
GrA.eu, composed the entire crew; and thi
squanc turi-s1ack struggled against the current c
the Loire tie voyage was dNsys fIsusht with Goi
oftt.mes with DANGER.
81 The turf VAS sold, IS they glided on where eve
: purchasers were to befounj, else bartered 70
: other goode and necessary provisions Al nigh
. the boat spchored near tho shore; but IL
small cabin IN tho stern the deck when weather
permitted was Jeanne home during the entire voy
age. She len the boat only when the press Of wor
required her att nl.nce in q the larger 10 ns
During the depth OF winter, they were sometime
iee-bouud for several weeks together; sler which
when tho melted ice rendered the foundations 9
gr0Ai 10 prevent their discerning where the nayi
gaze water terminated, they tAd often an An xious
= dreary limo, and many moments Of solemn thought
. But when the brgh, smile Of sprpg once more q ad
dened the earth, when the leans Of sun grew dali,
warmer and more iuvigoratng, and sofl silver,
- clouds passed gently over the blue sky when HI
warhling Of birds could be heard distinctly from
suids, the shrubs on shore, and the spr.ns flower
on the river.bsrE again opened their brght eyes
then oil past distress was quickly forgotten Mchso
would hoist the sail and Grstien cast his net, Will
|