Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-05-04
\ LUCKY PRESENTIMENT.

4
About sixiy years ago remarkable
case was tried, at the criminal side, in
the county Of Cork. The writer wish
es to pledge himself at the outset to
the literal authenticity of the narrative,
which he heard from the lips Of the
late eminent Queens counsel, George
.Bennet, at the time junior in the
Munster Court, and himself an eye
witness and attentive listener at
the trial. On q fine summer even
ing, when the rustic hour of supper
was approaching, there arrived at the
door of comfortable thatched cabin,
OF large dimensions, such as the per-:
sons known in Ireland as- .strong far
mers usually .inl,ahit, a stranger dress
I'd in the then peasant costume, Cor
duroy shorts, freze coat, cadbeen, and
brogues, and with blackthorn stick
in his hand. The way -farer entered
with the usual salutation, "God save
all here" and asked if this was not
Dennis Macarthy's house. The wom-
en- who were in the cabin told him it
was, and invited him civilly to SIT
down /" and take an air of the fire."
and with this invitation he complied,
entertaining his new acquaintant:es .he
while with such news as he had oOllec-
ted while OH his journey. The man
was dark featured, of middle statue,
and OF square and powerful build
In little while Dennis Mccarthy
returning from his fields, entered the
cabin door, and the stranger introdu-
ced himself as cousin, Phil. Ryan, from
Cappaghmore, in the county of LINER.
ick, and told him what had brought
him to that distant part of the world
His business was to say certain pray
ers, according to Irish usage, over the
grave Os a common kinsman of both,
who died two or three weeks before
and was buried in the neighbOrine
graveyard. Mccarthy received his
cousin, although he had never seen
his face before, with the customary
cordiality of c.anship, and told him ht
must sup and sleep in his house thai
night, and eat his breakfast there lie
fore setting out on bis hoineward jour
ney. To all this the stranger consented
and then as he was nnacquainted will
the situation of the graveyard, he ask
cd Mccarthy, if it was not far to show
him the way to it, and point out th'
grave of their cousin. Mccarthy read
lily consented, and, as the potatoes
were not quite boiled, it was agreet
that they should set out at once ant
return in time for supper.
!. In the south of Ireland burial pla
ces, probably of immense antiquity
containing no yesiige ofa sacred build
ing, rudely fenced with loose ston'
wall, ,lichen stained and often partl,
overgrown with; ivey, with perha
two or three hawthorns, and an an
Gent ash tree growing within them
are frequently to be met with. Possl
bly these small and solitary inclosure
were dedicated to the saIhe. tnnera
uses long before the dawn OfChristian
| ity broke upon the island. "a wild an,
narrow track, perhaps as ancient as th
Iplace ofsepulture itself, crossing at
SHORT, distance from Macarthy's cabil
the comDritively modern main road
leads over a little rising ground to tn
burial place, which lies in the lap of :,
lonely hollow. seldom disturbed by th'
sound of human tread 1t. voice, or rat
tie !9f = car wheel. Mccarthy and tn
stranger walked up the ancient ant
silent by.road, until they reached til,
hollow i have mentioned. There un
der the shadow 0fan old twistee thor
tree, q stile crosses the loose wall @
the burial ground. 1T this stile the,
came to a pause. ~. ~.
"GO on )" said Mccarthy. :.
go you first" replied the stranger
go first yourself" said the farmer
q little peremptorily, making a stand
he did not know why, upon the poin
OF precedence. =,
".Arra, man 60 on can't ye, an
don't be botherin'; what are ye afrai
/, Off insisted Ryan.
"Now, | tell you what it is; i don
understand you, nor what you're at
but devil foot I'll 60 over the wa
} till you 60 over it first,D said Macarth
ldOpOadlv. it