The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-01
AN IRISH LEAR.

GERALD GRIFFIN's STORY CONDENSED b
CHARLES READE.
THERE is legend, almost as old q
Lear, of father whom his childrec treat
ed as Goneril and Regain treated Lear, bu
he suffered and survived, and his hear
turned bitter instead of breaking. o
this prose Lear the story is all owe
Europe, and. like most old stories, told
Wiley. To that, however, there happens
to be one exception, and the readers o.
this collection shall have the benefit of it
In certain part of Ireland, long time
ago, lived wealthy old farmer whose
name was Brian Taafe. His three sons
Guiliaum, Shamus and Carrot, worked or
the farm. The ole man had great at
lection for them all, and, finding himself
grow unfit for work, he resolved to hand
his farm over to them, and sit quiet by
the fireSide. But as that was not thing
TO be done lightly. he thought he would
lust put them to their trial. He would
take the measure of their intelligence, and
then of their affection. Proceeding in
this order, he gave them each a hundred
pounds. and quietly watched to see what
they did with it.
Well. Guillaum and Shamus put their
hundred pounds out to interest. every
penny: but when the old man questioned
Garret where his hundred pounds was,
the young man said: II spent it, father. -
Spent it ?" said the old man, aghast.
us it the whole hundred pounds?'
Sure thought you told us we might
lay it out as we plaised."
lis that raison ye'd waste the whole
of ii in year, We prodigal?" cried the
old man: and he trembled at the idea of
his substance falling into such hands.
Some months after this, he applied the
second test. He convened his sons, and
addressed them solemnly: I'm an old
man, my children; my hair is white on
my head. and it's time was giving over
trade and making my sowl." The two
elder overlooked with sympathy. He
then gave the dairy farm and the hill to
Shamus, and the meadows to Guillaum.
Thereupon these two We'd with each other
in expressions of love and gratitude. But
Garret said never word; and this,
coupled with his behavior about the hum
trcd pounds, so maddened the old man
that he gave Carrots portion, namely, the
home and the home farm, to his elder
brothers to hold in common. Carrot he
di>inherited on the spot, and III due form.
That is to say. he did not overlook him
nor pass him by: but even as spiteful tcs-
tatorS used to leave the disinherited one a
shilling, that he might not be able to say
he had been inadvertently omitted, and it
WAS all mistake, old Brian Taafe SOL
EMMY presented young Carrot Taafe with
a hazel staff and a small bag. Poor Gar
ret knew very well what that meant He
Shouldered the bag and went forth into
the wide world with sad heart, but a
silent tongue. His dog, Lurcher, was for
following him, but he drove him back
with a stone.
On the strength of the new arrange.
ment, Guillaum and Shamus married di.
rectly, and brought their wives home, for
it WAS large house and room for ALL
Sut the old farmer was not cOntented to
be quite cipher, and he kept finding
fault with this and that. The Young men
became more and more impatient of his
interference, and the wives famed the
flame with female pertinacity. So that
the house was divided and very home
of discord. This went on getting worse
and worse, till at last, one winter after.
noon, Shamus dctied his father openly
before all the rest, and said: I'D like
TO know what would plaise We. May-b
ye'd like to turn US all out as We did
Carrot y
The old farmer replied with sudden dig.
nifty, if did, I'd take no more than
gave"
"What good was you giving it ?" said
Guillaum; 1--WE get no comfort of it while
you are in the house,
Do you talk that way to me:' said
the father, deeply grieved. "If it was
poor Carrot l had, he wouldn't use me
So"
Much thanks the poor boy ever got
from you,' said one of the women, with
venomous tongue: then the other woman,
finding she could count on male sup
port, suggested to her father in law to take
his stick and pack and follow his beloved
Garret. ''Sure he'd find him begging
about the counthry."
AT the woanen's tongues the wounded
parent turned to bay.
Il don't wonder at anything hear We
say. 1e never yet heard of anything
good that a woman would have hand in
only mischief always. If We ask who
made such a road, or built bridge, or
wrote great histhory, or did great &C
ton, you'll never hear it's woman done
1t; but If there is a jewel with swords
and guns, or two boys cracking each
others crowns with shillalahs, or didly
secret let out, or character ruined, or a
man brought to the gallows, or mischief
made between father and his own flesh
and blood, then I'll engage you'll hear
woman had some call to it, We needn't
have recoorse to histhory to know your
don's, It's under our eyes; for twas the
likes o. We two burned Throy, and made
the King O Leinsther rebel against Brian
Boru''
These shafts of eloquencc struck home;
the women set up screaming, and pulled
their caps off their heads, which in that
part was equivalent to gcntlefOlks draw
ing their swords.
"Oh, murther! murther! was it for
this married you, Guillaum Taafe!"
"Och, Shamus, will We sit an hear me
to the likes? Would | rebel
against Brian Boru, Shamus, ara gal."
Don't heed him, avOurneen, said
Shamus: "he is an ould man."
But she would not be pacified. ooh,
vo! vo. If ever thought the likes 'ud he
said Of me, that I'd rebel against Brian
Boru!"
AS for the other, she prepared to leave
ehS hOu'S. oulliduiIl, StlU Size, III
never stay day undher your roof with
them as would say I'd burn Throy. Does
he forget he ever had mother himselfs
All! it's bad apple, that is what it is,
that despises the tree it sprung FROM
All this heated Shamus, so that he told
the women sternly to sit down, for the
offender should go; and upon that, to
show they were of one mind, Guillaum
deliberately opened the door. Lurcher
ran out, and the wind and the rain rushed
in. 1t was stormy night.
Then the old man took fright, and hum.
bled himself:
"Ah! Shamus, Guillaum, achree, let
ye have it as ye will; I'm sorry for what
| saiG, ara gal. Don't turn me out on the
high-rOad in my Ould days, and Guillaum.
I'll engage I'll niver open my mouth
against one o. We the longest day 1 live.
All! Shamust it isn't long l have to stay
wild We, any way. Yer own hair will be
as white as mine yet, plaise Cod and veil
be thanking him We showed respect to
mine this night"
But they were ell young and of one
mind. and they turned him out and barred
the door. He crent awav shiverinp in