The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-22
SHAUN'S SORROW
a Tale CT All-Hallow Eve,


Most of our readers have clear idea
conveyed to their minds by the words
IAN Irish cabin" A vision of smoke
and bare stones COWS, children, and
pigs, mingled in inextricabe confusion ::
a wiihered old woman knitting; dark
haired cray-eyed girl, with bare feet be-
meath her blue netticoat +; two or three
men, uRshavon, staiwart, and Irish look
ng-there is no better word.
In just such-a cottage as this for rather
"house, for 10 Irishu!an would confess
TO cottqge) i. party was gathered on the
night before ''All Saints Eve" 1t was
after shutdown, and the door was closed
at last against the chill sea- breeze which
hac blown through it so keenly all day.
Nv hat will ye have fer supper the
morrow, Madge? said a tall young man,
who leaned near the tiny square of min
ute panes which was digniied by the
title of widow. He addressed his sister,
who was deXterously peeIing potatoes
into round pot, as she balanced herself
On block of turf at his feet.
Can We see yourself that [ m peel
lng Tor bruteenf Me heal? Mother babe
Nancy bring over a quarter stone of -four
There S no stint for tay or sugar either
If you or Anthony will cross the ferry for
bit OF flesh meat we should put Haley
eve past IN grand style"
Alf-Haliow Eve is the great festival,
or as they term it. set night" of West
ern Ireland. As social period it comes
far before Christmas day OF Easter-Sun
Gay 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 col
leet their eggs or save up their pence to
procure the unwonted luxury OF white
bread at this ;ime
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 it
easy TO keep the house in plenty of po-
tatoes during the autumn and winter,
and IN Indian meal and oaten cakes thro'
the sprlHg and summer. They had their
own milk, butter and eggs; and what
could they possibly want more Nothing
surely, except OF HALEY eve )" and
then little white flour, and even butch
er's meat, with rice, biscuits, and hand
tul OF nuts, to make up their yearly feast.
Is 1t the morrow you re taking OF,
Madge 2" said man, whose air and
dress, we'll as his superior mode of
speech. proclaimed his superiority to the
other occupants of the room. Take
advice as is kindly given, and NEEDLE
only With pots OF bruteeD and scenes of
boxty,t and don't go 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 you re saying, Shaun?
You re thinking of some story, I'll be
boun'. Be aisy, Antony lad ; bold your
chatter! Shaun is going to tell US the
danger in HaIley-eye spells"
No, then inleoa and [ uuuld not
Troth Michael, its no subject for laugh
ing"
m never laughin' at all, man alive.
Tell away there 5 but ourselves to listen.
Put over some sods on the fire, Antony.
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 10 Michael's loud demands for his
story. It was only when Madse and her
mother had 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
terng tone, witch, however. soon regain
ed It's deep and somewhat gruH compos-
ure.
II think I've told you was living in
County Kerry when | was lad, far
enough from here. My father was keep
or to Lord Kathconnel, and we had the
contest 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!
] had wonderful leaning for a 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. [ be-
heve, now, the angels in heaven can be
no letter nor fairer than she was. IS
@We kept Halley-eve much as ye do
in these parts But don't rightly know
fyou hold to a thing Id heard talked
of there. They said, if at midnight
man took a riddle and some threshed
corn, and opened the two doors of the
pdIn so AS the Wlnd swept clear tlrongn,
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.
es, Madge, it was wicked-it was
as wicked as the sea is deep, as the
sphinx out yonder is high. But the
tales of the people worried me. Were
my books right in Ealing such things old
wives tales? or was there truth and a
power in them which all the learning in
the world could not shift away and hide?
! could not lel, so thought I'd prove
this night il there was indeed truth IN
them, or if they were as shale0 and empty
as ! had reat, that they were.
Lord Rataconnefs coachman lived in
hous5 at the end of the ssable-yard.
lie lad only the wife and pretty wee
daughter, little gissah# of eight or nine.
Often L d be at the kennels feeding the
dogs, and wee Norah would come to pat
their heads, and give her own chosen
rets some scraps she had saved for them;
ano tie brutes knew her right well, and
would mind her highest word. Hers
were the prettiest ways. Many's the bit