Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-10-02


i god snuush nasna shoashi
s ~ - called sSizl, wns given
& sF 2s and sl.os aas socks, ana
~ saaa lnssesa 0f u. szaant, Tlm
m
M s1lzasy prosperity kegan lor
Sea1 En - dzy Niel eans 10 slIem.
~ - = ths cnslle ihnt uinierof
l 4 hssa AIa a'liuehsly, - lhns Fsgsy
saaIs||st pE mpsy by sallina sgsns o.
III W = 81 4 hnaEsx slai 90 SIT
.H H4s. IS IS sd kossst Nr fsips-
~ M a s.
snAfisR. 10 Donnel sold, be galnea nlose than
bis neighb0rss 4 he b0ughts everything wus
ehsap fOr him.
ssws did weel 20 shelter the boy, Be vas wont
70 remark when aHy striking instance of Nie's
industry or eleverness came under his observa-
tion; but sometimes, 10 his wiie's anger and dis
gust he would animadvert upon the large appe-
lite ofhis little servant.
Mel gained the goodwill Of the Few nsighbOrs
who lived on tbe mountain; bat, what was more
remarkable, he seemed to hare q strong attrac-
ton for all birds and animals.
The very night after his arrival he made a
handsome bow, and cath evening while Peggy
sat at her spinning-wheel he made arrows, tos-
sing them, as be finished them, up to the loft.
There was a large sheaf Of arrows lying beside
the bow, bat be never shot single one.
'swhy, but ron TAX your bow an arrows out
bye an play yourseP wee, Mel, dear % asked
Mrs. Donnel, when the bright spring evenings
came, but no answer Of any description was
forthcoming. II was a real vexation to her that
she had no means Of discovering why he made
the bow and went on making 50 many arrows.
One November morning, year after Niel's ar
rival, John Donnel came into the kitchen, pale
with grief and dismay.
s'The cattle are all away r. he cried-''All
driven OF the mountain in the night. Thieves
robbers Oh, Mel, avick oh, Peggy, ma
vourneen, whafill do, anyway"
"Gone7 Stolen2'' exclaimed Peggy, and she
was unable to utter q word more.
"Aye, gone-stolen u repeated the bereaved
owneE, crying bitterly.
'swhisht," (" said Mel, coming forward Quietly,
and speaking in an authoritative tOne-''whisht
this minute, an saddle the mare, an let us ava
after the thieves ~
The surprise Of hearing Mel calmed John a
once lie let him bring out the mare, and helped
him to put on the saddle. Then he mounted,
and Il seemed quite natural that the boy should
spring up behind, Hrst taking his bow aud ar.
rows from the loft.
''This way" commanded Mel, when they
reached the high-road; 81 see the tracks o. th'
beasts"
Donnel could not see any tracks, but he suffer
cd Mel to guide him at each cross-road. The
day was far advanced before they caught sight c
the drove, about n quarter Of mile ahead o.
them, accompanied by two coolies and four men.
"IIow ill we fight ~ thae thieves an rascnls
o. the world p cried John, again reduced to the
depths Of despair.
'Leave il to me" replied Mel, bending to OnC
side, and shooting an arrow in the direction o.
the drove.
There was q strange eommotion ahead when
| the fairy arrow reached its goal for the animal
hit at once turned round and galloped back tc
| its owner Another and another arrow followed
/ that one, till at length the whole drove turned
about, and presently surrounded John and Mel
There stood the four robbers. gazing after then
as ifspell-bound.
tNow," said Mel, ''we may ride home again;
the cattle will go before u.s.
On and ON they rode, driving the recovered
heisers No word ofgratitude bad DonEel spoken
aud as the glow Of pleasure caused by the resto-
.aticn Of his property died out little, his usua
| fretfuI temper returned but Mel did not appear
/ 10 notice his morose silence.
"WiIl you be pleased to stop at this house by
| the road, John, till get a drink p asked th'
boy, who was tired and thirsty.
sfWe havena the time 70 stop, an night comm
| on; sure you can wait till We get home replied
| the churIish master.
Mel said nothing until they reached another
house, q mile further on, when he again mad'
his request, and was again refused. But D0nne
himself began 10 be thirsty and weary, and ut th'
next roadside cabin he drew up.
GOOD woman" called he, ''be pleased to gi'
1 me drink"
The woman hurried out with bowl Of water
| from which -Donnel drank; aud then he said d
| Mel, ''fIere, boy, you may drink now"
ssNo. John Donnel,'' returned the boy, styot
are a selfish. ungraseful man. an I'lI neither en-
| nor drink mair frae your hand. brought youI
cattle back, but Jon woaldna stop minute q
| let me drink; an you'd tax the drink yoursel
| befofe You'd hand the bowl 70 me. fit wasnl
-N~A's@ -
thieves; but I'll leave your house, an that ~
punishment enough for you.' So saying, Me
| Jumped down fr0m the horse, and climbing I
| ditch disappeared.
ooh. NleI. avick! Sure didnA mean to AZ
/ front yous Oh. come back How viii ! get ih'
beasts home, anyway
No answer-no trace Of Mel. search where h
might. With the utmost difficulty, aud afisI
hiring q couple OF men 10 help him, Donnel did
succeed In dFisiag his cattle home, and IL wa
| late at night when be entered his own kitchen
l and sank down by the fireside.
sWhere's Mel p was the first thing Peggy
said.
Her soFrow and dismay overwhelmed her g.
she listened 20 her husbands story.
sNOh, John, you unfortunate, foolish man;
don't yOu know what you We done? Yoa'v'
/ hanished luck frae we'er roof Sure knosed
what he was the minute beard him speak tliiI
/ nornin' :"
The poor woman threw ber apron over hel
bead and sept as she had not wept since her sons
eOlfin Ieff The house one-And-tWenty years before
/ And good reason had she for her tears. Fr0m
that mousens nothing Prospesed with John. Hil
health failed; his cattle mel with accidents; iI
l luck attended bim In everything be undertook
He had. indeed, abundant cause to mourn for ths
loss o. Lis fairy guest.