Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-10-28
Sfleft Stpiu.
A Bit Of "Still Life" Among the
Hills of Connemara,

ten years, since, with my trussy Manton
in my hand, and accompanied by favor
lite setter, I strolled up the mountain,
which overhunga friends shooting lodge
in Connemara. For some time, was
tolcrably successful in my sport; bird af-
ter bird sprang up from the heather, only
to fnd its way into my capacious pockets
and by twelve o'clock I found / bad Sc
cured more game than I could well stow
away. Cursing my want of foreshought,
which had prevented me from accepting
the services of at least one of the dozen
lazy hangersou at the lodge, I determin-
ed on retracing my footsteps. with what
feelings I leave to my brother sportsmen
to decide.
Fortune, however, had better luck in
store for me- had not moved ten wards
from the spot where had been standing;
when wreath of smoke, curling over the
shoulder of a mountain far away to the
right. attracted my attention. Certain,
now, Of discovering some house where l
might deposit my spoil, and obtain shelter
from the heat which was becoming in
tense, | drew my shot belt tighter around
me, and, shouldering my gun, pushed
briskly forward-now plunging to the hips
in the tall heather, now threading my
way through morass-till, after hale
an-hour's hard work reached small
low cabin at the top of narrow glen, and
out of the chimney of which the smoke
was pouring in considerable volumes.
| had been long enough in Conncmara
to more than half suspect | had come un-
awares on an illicit still indeed, the day
before, [ had heard there was one in full
operation somewhere in these mountains,
SO, without farther ceremony than the
usual Irish benediction of 'God save all
here" to which the over-scrupulous ada,
except the cat" | pushed open the door
and entered the cabin.
A tall, ine-looking girl, whom i'm
mediately recognized as an old acquaint-
ance, having frequently seen her at the
lodge, was seated on a low stool in the
center of the apartment, while a stout,
middle-aged countryman, dressed in a
long frieze coat and knee breeches, but
without shoes or stockings, was on his
knees in corner blowing away with a
pair of old bellows at turf fire, on which
hung what appeared to my uninitiated
eyes an immense pot. My sudden en-
trance evidently startled him not little,
for, springing to his feet, ne grasped a
stout blackthorn stick that lay beside him
and stared at me for a moment with 3
countenance in which fear and rage was
curiously blended. Not 50 the girl. She
rose from her seat and welcomed me to
the cabin, with that gay, frank, and pecu
liar Irish hospitality, which, I'll be sworn
has gladdened the heart Of many weary
sportsman like myself.
"A, thin, bud yer honor's welcome -
It's happy and proud we are to see you
Tim, you unmannerly thief. what are yor
starin' for, as if ye seen the gauger ?
Don't we see the masters frind standin
toreninst you? and yer caubeen on your
head, ye amathan %
Tim dotted his hat with much reverence
He faxed my honor's pardon but thu
thieven gaugers war gettin' SO plenty
that a poor boy could hardly get done a
hands turn without havin' them on hi
tracks"
looked at the fellow as he spoke =
There was none of that brutal, debauch
ed look about him G. hich distinguishes tn
English law breaker On the contrary
he was very fair specimen of an Iri isl
peasant ; and, as examined his honest
manly countenance, could not help feel
ing strong misgivings as to tie right
eousness of the excise laws. Whether
this feeling was caused by the delicious
smell of the ''potheen" that pcrvaded the
room, leave it to the charitably dispose
reader to decide.
Meantime, bottle filed with the afore
said potheen was placed on the table b
the girl and consigning my manton to
corner, and emptying my pockets on tn
dresser. l speedily came to the conclusion
that there are worse places than an Iris
stilI-house for tired sportsman to REF
in.
| | had hardly drained the first glass
the health of my fair hostess, when lii
tie ragged, sunburnt gossoon rushed int
the cabin, and, clasping his hands abov
his head; broke out icto the most uneartt
ly yell | ever heard.
I "Och! virr-as-thrue, murder loo