The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-07-02
MI is c eIIan Q O III S.


Once upon Il time long time ago, when
giants were as plenty in Ireland as mites
in cheese there lived on the borders of
the County Armagh one Barney Mcconnell,
who lawfully came under the above appel
lation, being seven feet high and made in
proportion. His proves was we'll known,
and there was one thing that grievcd Bar
ney not u little, namely, that he could get
no one who was able to stand before him
in his own country.
Now report spoke of certain giant in
Scotland who was laboring under the like
grief and from precisely the same causes.
Therefore Barney, after consulting his
friends ON the subject sent challenge to
the Scotch giant to come over to Ireland
aud get the conceit taken out of himself.
After due time the bearer of the challenge
returned with word that it had been ac-
copied, and further stated that he was adj
vised to inform Barney that he had better
make his WILL get his coffin made, etc, as
he that he was to encounter never left his
work undonc.
"Did you see him 2" asked Barney.
"Faith an did," said the messenger
"What is he like 2" Intercepted the
giant.
"Faith, Barney, avic he's like anything
at all but mortal being"
GLOW big is he ?" said Barney, looking
but little pleased at the description of his
rival.
"How big is he, did you say Fax
he's rs big as the ould tower forcninst the
door, an a head and shoulders on him like
Father McGurney's bull. BY all accounts
he'll ate you alive"
Barney began to feel rather uncomiort-
able 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 running
in and exclaimed: Daddy! come to the
door and see the great man that's coming
up the hill" Barney peered 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 ac-
count of him, and, turning to his wife, he
said:
"Shelah, jewell I'm cat up alive, for sar-
tin Here comes the Scotch baist to drum
your Barney"
When Shelah heard of the approach of
the coming foe, and saw her lords inabil-
ity to wage war with one so far superior
in strength and size, she concluded that
it was only by some piece of woman's wit
that her husband could escape from the
affair without dishonor. Accordingly she
gently lifted the child out of the cradle,
and depositing it in the inner room, made
the father get in lis place, and covering
him up with quilt, gently seated herself
and resumed her work.
After few moments i'll walked the cause
of all the disturbance, and demanded 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 under
tone told him Barney had gone out to the
woods. The giant told her that he intend
cd waiting his return.
"Very WELL" said Shelah. "Only don't
make a 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 surveying
on the cradle, with a look of unutterable
establishment, he asked what was in it.
I'm It'll" cried Shelah. "Don't you sec
it's the child that's in it? And heaven
help you if you wake him! The crayture
didn't get wink of sleep last night with
the two back teeth he's cutting"
Tie giant with look of terror and as
constituent, asked what size the father
was.
"Fath an | can't tell you" said She
lah, cause | 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 Isl" exclaimed the giant
81 Wilma mind waiting the moo, lassic !!
maun be gaun Guide morningW
So saying, he took to his heels, and new
er thought himself safe until he got among
the hills Of his own country.
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