New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-25
THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY.
TOLD By REV. JAMES MORROW.
story for Christmas Eve.

TOLD BY REV. JAMES MORROW.
From the Southwestern Advocate.
The Giants Causeway is the name of a
magnificent plateau of columnar basalt in
the north of Ireland. The causeway proper
is made of the tops of the columns not
covered by the sea, but fringing it are
splendid cliffs in which the columns are
exposed by some great upheavals, and
where they have the appearance of the
pipes of an organ. These many-sided col
umns are so close that you cannot insert
the blade of knife between them. Our
friend. the professor, here, could tell you
how famous the causeway is to lovers of
scenery, and how deep is the interest of ge-
elogis,s in the question OF its formation.
Probably, in the beginning" said the
professor, "what are now columns we're
ductlble balls of trap and these having
been brought under pressure, the present
appearance was the result. At least we
know by the forms that starch assumes
that, under certain conditions, molten mat
ter coOls into the columnar form" The
early inhabitants of this region were rich
in the belief of the supernatural. There
were giants in the earth in those days.
Witches and warlOcks and lang nobbed
things" a. Burns says, had their home in
the caves that opening from the sea run far
underground. Here the quaint forms of
mammoth stalactites and the waving fronds
OF the 'Sea Asplenium," with the unceasing
murmur and plash OF the sea produce that
hush of the spirit SO akin to the spiritual
that awe soon trembles into prayer Grosser
natures than yours, gentle hearers, look
upon the ever. varying play of strange and
beautiful lights upon the uncOuth forms
that nature has carved in tho limestone as
being too weird and ghoul like to be natu-
raj; and thus wild traditions abound
among the wild and unkempt natures of
the district. 1t is in truth at times a desolate
region. In summer the exceeding glory of the
sunsets, the gentle tapping of the crags by a
still sea, the sound OF a hidden brook hur-
rying to its home, the ripple ON the water
made by flick OF q sea CULTS wing, the
skylark at heavens gate, the odOr from the
neighboring bank "whereon the wild thyme
grows" give an ideal rest. Every sense is
ministered to, and to be lazy is to be good.
But in winter the forces of great nature are
On the stretch. Along the barren cliffs no
man nor beast may venture. The wind, as
if enraged at summers restraint, bowls and
races along, now pausing as if to take
breath (funny notion thap) and again with
freshened energies sweeping through the
numerous assures and gUrges. Now you
hear it sweeping among the "Organ pipes"
and the deep diapason tells it was not in
aptly named, now it has caught the swell
OF that last breaker and flung the binding
spray far over the sullen cliff.
AL along the iron bound coast as far as
Carrig a-kede you may hear tales Of adven-
ture, misfortune and crime. Woe to the
vessel that gets upon these rocks! The
league long roller OF the Atlantic will soon
huff it to pieces against the cliffs. The tour
list who ventures across the Bridge of Signs |
at Dunluce hears from the cackliug guide /
L <,f
all Of the old families were met together, q |
furious blast struck the castle walls and |
carried away whole wing Of the casde
crowded with minimizing men and women
into the boiling surf, and how above the
storm was heard the piteous wall
of the Banshee. Long ago it was a place
full of wild adventure and of wilder men,
but the present race is of a milder type |
though probably not less courageous. Ifthey
can nos show the lively courage in combat,
they often display the not less heroic quality
Of end uranee-the passl.e grace of patience.
OF late years has thinned the
IumOer of Inhabitants. Famine and fever, |
twin sisters Of want, crouched in their
dwellings,, then hurried OF with their prey
Men standing at their doors, from whence
had been carried wife and children, could
,ee at their feet the treacherous, tiger like
YEA play with the fragments of last nights
with them. but splinter them
o to malchwood. The fisherman looked and
aw in this symbol OF his own wrecked |
lie and broken hopes, and when the touch !
f the dark hour was upon him, lifting his
yes TO heaven-nOt to pray, but bitterly to
lsk "WhyF'-even then he saw far out at
ga the white sails Of the emigrant ship
'athed in the goldel glory OF the western
ky. He caught the meaning Of the sign.
Ia fh.-aa yuar,i nd lAId |
Yard hor' which you will find written in
he book of his loving providence.
THE terrible hardness passed from his
hind when ne first tasted pumpkin pie and |
hought 1T gorgeous, like The boy i'll De-
roit, and when he saw the pigs feed on
caches he called the place Goshen" said ,
Judge Qubble. This interruption was un-
Oticeu. 8
In the village af Bushmills there lived a
Ian named Dobbs Campbell. Past the
rune Of life and with shoulders somewhat 8
ooped, his naturally fine face was dark !
led by a perpetual cloud. Partly the | r
,sult ot bis holding gloomy creed ana
artly from general distrust, his down look | (
id passed into proverb. Mary, his wife, >
as one OF those rare spirits that embrace
IL purpose 0f God as discipline for CHER \
te. A God Ia riDg" woman, where her j
ashland saw chance or fate, she recognized
.nied she trusted anu obeyed. They had 9
70 children. Their daughter, Annie, was n
ighreyed ana beautiful, who, while feel e
< keenly the suspicion that hung about c
r fathers name, Was yet brave and trust e
H. The dislike for Campbell felt by the
opIe, melted INTO ply for the daughter. h
,r winsome modesty charmed many rude n
arts. and when in the village choir her "
eet voice seemed to run along the groined q
4 Il. Ia lnh 1
ection Her young brother Was help b
s cripple. >, ii
The suspicion against Campbell arose in p
5 way SDme Years ago the eldest son, OF
landlord was iOaud cruelty murdered al
,rt distance from Campbeii's house. The
iy was discovered lying at the bottom ot
igb bank. His watch was gone, though
purse remained in his packet. The sus- d,
IONS of tho people soon fell upon Camp
/, S. ich his own story strengthened. he
thai the young gentleman had called &c,
M rim i.t,. an the Dr. yiOus evening; that =