Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-29
Gales and Skttthes.
SHAUN'S SORROW.
A TALEOF ALL uALLOw EVE.

woman knitting; dark-haired, gray-eyed
girl, with bare feet beneath her blue petit
coat two or three men unshaven, stalwart
and Irish looking-there is no better word.
In just such cottage as this Cor rather
''house," for no lrishman would confess
to a cottage,) party was gathered on the
night before IAN Saints Eve" 1t was
after sundown, and the door was closed
at last against the chill sca-breeze which
had blown through it so keenly all day.
"What wild We have for supper the NOR
row, Madge ?' said a tall young man who
leaned near the tiny square of panes
which was magnified by the title Of win
dow He addressed his sister, who was
dexterously peeling potatoes into a round
pot. as she balanced herself on II block OF
turf at his feet.
Cant ye see yourself that I'm peeling
potatoes, Me'heal? Mother babe Nancy
bring cover quarter stone Of flour. There's
no stint for tay or sugar either. If you or
Antony will cross the ferry for a bit of
flesh meat we should put Halley-eve part
il grand style"
An-Hallow's Eve is the great festival,
or as they term it, "set night" of Wes-
tern Ireland. As social period it comes
far before Christmas day or Easter Sunday
in the estimation Of the people Most
wonderful efforts the people make to pay
all due honors to its observance; even the
very poorest among them collect their eggs
or save up their pence to procure the un-
wonted luxury of "whte bread" at this
time.
Michael O'Donnel and his family were
accustomed to sort of rough plenty.
Their farm was large, their cows many;
and since the fathers death, Michael and
his brother Antony had found il easy to
keep the house in plenty of potatoes dur
ing the autumn and winter, and i'll Indian
meal and oaten cakes through the spring
and summer. They had their own milk,
butter aud eggs; and what could they
possibly want moreo Nothing, surely ex-
cept on "Hallow eve," and then Il little
white -four. and even butchers meat, with
rice biscuits. and handful of nuts, to
make up their yearly feast.
els it the morrow you're talking OF
Madge?" said man, whose air and dress
as well as his superior mode of speech,
proclaimed his superiority to the other oc-
cupants of the room. Take advice as is
kindly given and NEEDLE only with bread
and meat, and don't go to trying charms
and spells on this blessed night. Folks do
more harm and draw higher to danger
than they know of by them same things,
as | well know"
Madge looked up knife and potato in
hand, astonished at the unusual solemnity
of his tone, and Michael said:
Whats that your saying. Shaun?'
You're thinking of some story III be
bound" "Be aisy Antony, lad hold
your chatter. Shaun is going to tell us
the danger in IIalley-eve spells"
mo, then, indeed and | could not.
Troth, Michael, it's no subjec for laugh
ing"
I'm never laughing at ALL man alive.
Tell away; there's put ourselves to listen.
Put over some sods on the fire, Anto-
ny. Now, Shaun, we're all ears"
But Shaun hung back-his face was
where the leaping light of the peat fire
could not reach it-nor did he answer a
word to MchaefS loud demands for his
STORY" 1t was only when Madge and
her mother joined in urging him, and
even Antony had added his rough plead
ing. that. seeing he had no choice but to
comply. he began, speaking in low fall
tering tone, which, however, soon re-
gained its deep and somewhat gruff
composure.
Il think I've told you was living in
County Kerry when was lad, far
enough from here. My father was keeper
to Lord Rathconnel. and he had the cozi
est house in the park. My sister was
lady's maid up at the Hall; and oh, but
my lady was kind to the both of us''
Il had wonderful learning for poor
lad, and my lady would come stepping
over the grass to our house, carrying
books for me with her own hands.
mind that thought myself as grand as
the priest himself when she would give
me the packets, and promised me more
when had finished with them. l believe
now, the angels in heaven can be no
better nor fairer than she was.
1--WE kept Halley-eve much as We do in
these parts. But don't rightly know ii
you hold to anything I'd heard talked of
there. They said, if IA midnight man took
riddle and SOME thrashed corn, and
opened the two doors of the barn so as
the wind swept clear through, then began
to winnow the grain, and say the name
of the Evil One, that you would see the
form of her that was to be your wife
passing before your eyes.
Yes, Madge, it was wicked-it was as
wicked as the sea is deep, as the cliffs out
yonder are high. But the tales of the
people worried me. Were my books
right in calling such things foolish old
wives tales or was there truth and
power in them which all the learning in
the world could not shift away and hide?
could not tell; SO thought I'd prove
this night if there was indeed truth in
them, or if they were as low and empty
as had read that they were.
'Lord Rathconners coachman lived in n
house at the end of the stable yard. He
had only the wife and pretty wee daugh-
ter, little girl of eight or nine. Often I'd
be at the kennels feeding the dogs, and
wee Norah would come to pat their heads.
and give her own chosen pets some scraps
she had saved for them; and the brutes
knew her right well, and would mind her
lightest word Hers were the prettiest
ways. Many's the bit of a basket I've
made for her, and many's the boat I've cut
for her out of the stem of the seaweed.
She would stand watching her father as he