Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-18
Misfsllang.
Shaun's Sorrow.


stones cows, children, and pigs mingled
IN iDextricable confusion a withered old
woman knitting dark haired, gray eyed
girl, with bare feet beneath her blue petit
coat two or three men, unshaven, stalwart,
and Lrish-looking-there is no better word.
In just such cottage as this (or rather
house for no Irishman would confess to
cottage) a party was gathered on the
night before All-Saints Eve 1t was
after sundown, and the door was closed at
last against the chill sea breeze which had
blown through it so keenly all day.
What will ye have for supper the
morrow, Madge said a tall young man ;,
who leaned near the tiny square of minute
panes which was dignifed by the title of
window. He addressed his sister who
was dextrously peeling potatoes into
round pot, as she balanced herself on a
block of turf at his feet.
Can't ye see yourself that I'm peel ing
for bruteen, Me'heal Mother bade Nan
cy bring a quarter stone of -four. There's
no stint for tay or sugar, either. If you
or Antony will cross the ferry for bit
Of fesh-meat, we should put Halley-eve
past in grand style
All-Hallow's Eve is the great festival,
or, as they term it, set night Of Western
Ireland. As social period it comes far
before Christmas Day or Easter Sunday in
the estimation Of the people. Most won
derful efforts the people make to pay all
due honors to its observation /; even the
very poorest among them collect their eggs
or save up their pence to procure the un-
wonted luxury Of white bread at this
time.
Michael O'Donnel and his family were
accustomed to a sort of rough plenty.
Their farm was largo, their cows many !;
and since their father s'death, Michael and
his brother Antony had found it easy to
keep the house in plenty of potatoes during
the autumn and winter, and in Indian meal
and .oaten cakes through the spring and
summer. They had their own milk, butter
and eggs and what could they possibly
want more Nothing, surely, except on
Hallow-eve;' and then little white -four,
and even butchers meat, with rice, bis
cults, and handful Of nuts, to make up
their yearly feast
Is it the morrow you're talking Of,
Madge p said young man, whose air
and dress, as well as his superior mode of
speech, proclaimed his superiority to other
occupants of the room. Take advice as
kindly given, and meddle only with pots
Of brutsen and scenes of boxty,t and don't
20 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 l well know
Madge looked up, knife and potato in
hand, astonished at the unusual solemnity
of his tone. and Michael said
What is that you are saying, Shaun
you are thinking Of some story, III be
bound Be aisy, Antony lad hold your
chatter Shaun is going to tell Us the
danger in Halley-eve spells
No, then, indeed and 1 could not.
Troth, Michael, it is no subject for laugh
ing
I'm never laughing at all, man alive.
Tell away there's but ourselves to listen.
Put over some sods on the fire, Antony.
Now, Shaun, we are 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 Michael's loud demands for his
story 1t was only when badge and
her mother joined in urging him, and even
Antony had added his rough pleading, that,
seeing he had no choice but TO comply, he
began, speaking in a low, faltering tone,
which, however, soon regained its deep and
somewhat gruf composure.
think l have told you | was living
in County Kerry when [ was a lad, far
enough from here. Ny father was keeper
to Lord Rathconne, and we had the COST
est house in the park. My sister was
lady's-maid up to the Hall and Oh, but
my lady was kind to the both of US 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 | thought myself
as grand as the priest himself, when she
would give me the packets, and promised
me more when had finished with them.
| believe, now, the angels III heaven can
be no better nor fairer than she was
We kept Halley-eve much as ye do in
these parts But | don't rightly know if
you hold to a thing [ heard talked of there.
They said, if at midnight man took a
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
who 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 spinkp
out yonder Is high. But the tales of the
people worried me. Were my books right
in calling such things foolish old wives
tales or was there a truth and a power
in them which all the learning in the world
could not tell so [ thought I'd prove this
night if there was indeed truth in them,
or if they were as shaleI and empty as
had read that they were
Lord Rathconnel's cOachman lived in
a house at the end of stable-yard. He
had only the wife and pretty wee daugh-
ter, little fgisgah of eight or nine. Of
ten 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 was the
prettiest ways. Many is the bit Of basket
I've made for her. and many is the boat
I've cut for her out of the slagh-mara. r
She would stand watching her father as he
strapped the clothes on the horses, with
her school-bag in her hand, and black
silk handkerchief knotted over her head.
Sometimes, if it was in lonely lane he
met her, William would lift her on the
back of one of the horses which he was
exercising and there she'd sit, as easy
and as happy as bird on high grown
twig.
:" shaun" Ivan, Juan (which last Is prcnouncedl
by the spaniards very much like the Irish haun