The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-06-03
Legend of nm Irish Giant.

when giants were plenty in Ireland as
mites in cheese, there lived on the borders
of the county Armagh, one Barney Nc
Connell, who lawfully came under the
above appellation, being seven feet high,
and made in proportion. His prowess
was well-known, and there was one thing
that grieved Barney above little,
namely: that he could get nobody who
was able to stand before him in his own
country. Now, report spoke ofa certain
giant in Scotland, who was laboring un-
der the like grief, and from precisely the
same cause. Therefore Barney, after
consulting his friends on the subject,
sent challenge to the Scotch giant "to
come over to Ireland and get the conceit
taken out of himself" After due time
the bearer of the challenge returned with
word that it had been accepted, and
further stated that he was advised to in
form Barney that he had better make his
will, get the coffin made, ETC., as he that
he was to encounter never left his work
half done.
"Did you see him ?' asked Barney.
"Faith an did," said the messenger.
"What is he likew interrogated the
giant.
Faith, Barney, avic! he's like any
thing at all but a mortal beingW
How big is he?" said Barney, look
ing anything but pleased at the descrip-
tiOn of his rival.
"How big is he, did you say? Faix
he's as big as the old tower forninst the
door. an head an shoulders on him
like Father McGurney's bull. BY all ac-
counts he'll ait you aliveW
Barney began TO feel rather uncom-
Portable at the prospect before him, and
straightway went to consult his wife as to
what should be done in the event of his
rival proving to be such as his messenger
had represented. While they were thus
engaged, one of the children came run
ming in and exclaimed: "Daddy! come
to the door an see the great man that's
coming up the HILL" Barney peeped
through the chinks of the door, and, to
his great terror, saw the monster.
One look was enough to satisfy him
that his messenger had not exaggerated
his account of him, and, turning to his
wife, he said:
"Shelab, jewel! Pm ate up alive, for
sartin! Here comes the Scotch baist to
drum your Barney"
When Shelall heard of the approach of
the coming foe, and saw her lords
inability to wage war with one so far su-
perior in strength and size, she concluded
that it was only by some piece of wo-
mans wit that her husband could escape
from the affair without dishon0r. Ac-
cordingly, she gently lifted the child out
of the cradle, and, dopositing it in the
inner room, made the father get in its
place, and covering him up with a guilt,
gently seated herself and resumed her
work. After few moments, in walked
the cause of all the disturbance, and de-
manded an interview with the giant.
Shelah. after motioning with her hand
for him to keep quiet, walked gently
across the floor to,where he stood, and in
an undertone told him Barney had gone
out to the woods. The giant told her that
he intended waiting his return.
. every we'll" said Shelah. "Only don't
make word of noise for the life that's in
you, for there's nothing makes him more
furious than to hear the child crying
when he comes home"
BY this time the giant had seated him.
self on bench, and was quietly survey.
ing the apartment; when his eye rested
on the cradle, with a look of unutterable
astonishment, he asked what was in it.
"In itw cried Shelah. Don't you
see it's the child that's in it. An heaven
help you if you wake him! The crayture
didn't get wink of sleep last night with
two back teeth he's cutting"
The giant, with a look of terror and as
tonishment, asked what size the father
was.
"Faith an I can't tell you !" said
Shelah, "cause l never measured him
But that gossoon," pointing to the cradle,
"when the father is angry, runs and hides
himself in one of his boots!"
"Laird save us |" exclaimed the giant
"I Wilma mind waiting the moo, lassie
maun be gaun! Guide morning"
So saying he took to his heels, and
never thought himself safe until he got
among the hills of his own country"