The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-20
letter frem Irefana--No. 8.
Corrasnondance of Camhria Fresmanl

DEAR MA0-As soon as my fair compan-
ions and myself fixed ourselves, after our
smash>up, We set out again on our way to
Portros, This time Marion took the 6bons,
which gave me good opportunity for admir-
ing the scenery and cou.ersing with Maud,
with an occasional word to Georsiha.-
Poets have sung of tbs beauties of the Rhine
and the Alps. artists have sketched sorns oil
our bold beautiful American landscapes, but
! candidly say that the almost enchanting
seems which presents itself all along the
Lochtea road, equals, if not surpssses, any,
thing of the kind in Europe America.
The road curves round the base of a high
beathar>clad bill, making an incline OF above
three hundred feet till 1t reaches the waters
edge. Spread out bsforo yeG, for miles, ia
the expansive. beautiful. lovely Loeb Derg.
with its numerous little islands; opposite is
the old town of Scariff with its smiling bay;
away in the distance rises up the Holy Isl-
and'' of Iani.caltra. with its seven churches
and Round Tower so full of traditional end
legendary lore; while farther on looms up
the iron-bouud shore of Galway-ths whole
forming a scenic tableau that would have
delighted the most eminent landscape paint
err After passing wooded Castle Lough on
our left, we soon came TO the foot of huge
hill called EnccUnmucha, but before our
alight from the car. When we reached tho
top we were nearly out Of breath, and meet-
ing gooG>natured farmer who asked us in
to rest ourselves, We gladly accepted his in>
vitation. | could read wit and drolery IN
biz eye. go | got into conversation with him.
After chatting about the weather, "the state
of the conutry," etc. | drew him cut about
! the landlords. Said he, They are bad by
nature, but sometimes good through fear"
asked him if there were many absentee
landlords in his neighborhood. Said be,
Good bless you, sir, this place is .fuU Of
them" This | considered a littlo scintilIa
from wits anvil, and felt sorry l could not
stay long enough to have him indulge in his
rich vein of Wit and humor, for l learned
Afterwards that he was "born genius"
After taking leave of "Atch," we set out
again and in few minutes after NE we're on
P0RTRoE HILL
which commands rich, varied and diyersi-
fed view. From it one can see parts Of five
counties, the Dsvil's-Bi mountain, Siisve-
Ea-mon and Kncckshegowna. Descending
this big hill, we entered Portroe town, and
as Marion WAS acquainted hsre she said ne
should stay off to see some friends. She in,
troduced mo to the Misses Jennie and Emma
De BurgO. two most accomplished and faAci
mating young ladies. Jennie left nothing
undone to accord US a hearty reception.
4 After dinner the whole Of us get out to see
the slate quarriss, about mile from this
town. They employ about three hundred
hands | was anxious to geo all | could of
them, so l went t. the obliging and iutslii-
gent manager, Mr. d. Mannix, who gave
ms all the information | needed. l was not
satisfied till | would go down to the bottom,
where the most of the men were engaged in
8 L.
chisong. Marion screamed, Emma entreat
ed, Maud pouted, moi to have mo "go down"
unless | went away round to the place where
tho men went in, but could not be de-
TERED 30, at my request, | was lowered
down in a wagon a distance of nearly three
hundred feet. " hen l got out of the wagon
a broad chssted Tip said that | must have
mighty courage to como down that way. lie
ceased his work and came along with me to
show me how they out the states, stones,
etc. The states taken out of thi. quarry ara
considered the best in Ireland. After see
ing all wanted | found myself, like the
goat in the pit, not able to ge: 10 tho top.
Scramblipg up rocky lodge. then creeping
round tortuous path, l, after knee SMASH
ing ascent, made my way to the top. Look
ing round. found l was far away from the
point where | descended so after long
anxiously watching for ne. We then re-
turned to Portroa, where we were all wiued
and feastcd by the hospitabla, good -natured
Mrs De Burgo. l thought to proceed on
my journey that evening, but neither Mrs.
ID. or her anisble daughters would hear to
it, SO NE had another evsning similar to the
one described in my last. Jennie, with her
bright bre eyes, sweet, tempting mouth, and
her noble, frank, honest countenarcs, made
me forget the Derry and other heart killing
charmsrs, and. friend Mac, between you and
mo, and nobody else, have big notion of
invoking Hymen but if she docs not con>
cont to cross the Atlantic with me. you will
know how il is YOURSELF with "Erion sch."
The fair and handsome Emma seemed pos
ses.ed of lofty, noble mind and yet she
was as Innocent as child Of the wCrld's
craft and ehicanery. 1t was long time
before | could get her into a conversation
with me-, but when did she convinced me
by her clear, caudd. conclusive Arguments
that her mind was like rich, rsro reposito-
ry, replste with all that was pure, snnobling,
modest and virtuous. Jennie displayed her
vocal and musical ability by playing and
singing
High upon the gallows tree
Swung the noble e-hearted three,
By the vsngeful tyrant stricken in their doom;
But they met him face to face,
With the courage of their race,
And they went with souls undaunted to their
doom.
God save Irelandv said the martyrs;
God save Ireland" say we all;
Whether on the scaffOid high,
Or the battlefield die,
Oh, what matter, when for Ireland dear we
fall"
I would like to give this national anthem
of Ireland in full. but space forbids. /; is
noble tribute to the memory of Allen. Lar
kin and O'Brien, the Manchester martyrs,
who were murdered by the EngIi.h govern
msnt, for their love of Ireland. in November.
1867. After spending right joly time of
1t, we all retired to rest but sleep | could
Let woo. AS I lay restless on my pillow, l
saw the ful>faced moon rise over the GAL
way hills. reflscting its silvsry beams on
Loeb Derg's unruffled bosom. 1t WAS soon
dimmed by dark, ominous clouds, but again
did old Luna dart her horns through the
dark, clondy mantles. and pulled herself