The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-09-22
Erin MavOurneen.
A PLEASANT PIotURE OF THE IRISH
PEASANTRY.

a PLEAsANT PIotURE OF THE IRIsI
..... ... PEAsANTRY.
A felicitous writer in tho Gin
ctnnati Daily Gazette, who is now
travelling in Ireland, furnishes the
subjoined pleasing skotch Of cor
tain classes of the Irish pcasan
try: .... ~, ,.. ,..
AS for their piicttlu1ryesqucnss, bic the,
got it from their landscape. Iro
land is ono uninterrupted but evor
varying scene ofnatural beauty
And people assimilato the land
scape. Hills have poetic power
Why docs Mary Ann pick out
three colors from tho pilo on tho
shop counter2 Why not ono
only ? The infhlliblo hills propo
her clumsy fingers. Tho land
scape dresses the peasant. Ma
ture is tho servant Of human na
ture. And the Queens maids OF
honor do not array her in half tho
fascination with which brook and
bog, and hoather-crowned hill
adorn tho tidy Mary .lnn for
chapel ofa Sunday morning. She
in hor white frillod cap, and check
apron, and blue cloak, and rcd
petticoat, and baro feet, is II picture
But there is ono who has got Il
little above her class, and sho has
on the fashionable mode Of attire
woo bonnet, with flowers, Paisley
shawls and shoes. She is neat and
prim, and also stiff and common
place while tho other is q picture.
| say, easy and pleasing and grace
fol, charmingly dashed with the
unconscious picturesque. And us
for young Mollie, who has IL cap
to "act," she sots herselfthroughout
and all the young Pats stare with
Il will when her bare ankles and
red pctticoat and blue cloak, with
it's hood hanging carelessly away
from tho brown face and blue eyes,
pass over the threshold of tho
chapel. .".I .t...
These people all havo blue eyes.
-kindling, expressive bIue eyes.
So have tho children, who are re-
marlxably good.loolling, am sur,
prised at the glow Of their com.
plcxion, and tho grace Of their
physique. Some Of them arc OF
raro and captivating beauty. Some
who have run by the side Of the
car, imploring n penny or Offering
stockings for sale, went to my
heart. Their teeth wore perfect,
their eyes sparlSlcd with bluo
brilliancc. thcir forms wero little
and compact. thoir oountcnanccs
of rare formation. Quo little
girl particularly, Oh, that face of
penslve sweetness comes to me
now. 1t was Il face to be caught
up and carried away by angels to
thcir homes in tho blue, quiet sky.
1t was torment, indeed, to leave
tho pretty little Irish cherub sit
ting to rest on tho roadside after
her long run We descended the
hill, and sho passed from sight,
sitting, resting on tho roadside, in
tho restless land, in tho restless,
troublous world.
Oh, [ am sure shall be followed
for long while by these children
of tho "unhappy country" At
times the darkness is bright with
their bri ght eyes, and their faces
beam upon one with their ponsivc
beauty. / am sure l never saw
more beautiful childron anywhere
than I have scon in the Iii ghIands
Of Ireland.
Nor havc I ever soon moro mod.
esty Of behavior in women, or
moro quictness Of demoanori in men.
| havo yot TO sec the first act Of
immodosty in all tho poverty and
degradation I have witnessed in
ireland, and certainly have wit
messed good dcal OF pov-
erty and degradation. On tho
other hand / havo seen. con.
duct Of downright and upright
dolicacy! Clothed as scantily as
she may be, the Irish peasant girl
never, by word, or act, otfcnds
against tho most fnstidious sense
Of proprloty. Thore is not moro
chasto class in the world than tho
poasantry Of Ireland.
AS wo approach the town Of
Donegal tho wilder features Of
the landscape disappear, and tho
country becomes moro thrift and
crimpt. Tho people got more
tidy; flowcns bloom about the
doorstcps Of tho cabins, and q
groom vino chambers around tho
window.
Tho frequent marriage Of widows