The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-11-20


night in a neighbor's cabin, and the
women were really afraid TO venture
out of-doors to call him besides what
good could he have done had he been
there2 They sat on, telling quaint and
strange stories about the wee folk, some
Of which had been told them by their
parents, and others that had come under
their own observation but all agreed
that 30 strange q circumstance Rs that
Just witnessed was bad thing for the
neighborhood, and especially for the
McDonagh family.
Il never alIronted the gentry TO my
knowledge, sighed the poor mother,
but Joe helped Mr.. Todd's gardener TO
cut down the old hawtborn-tree on the
lawn Friday was eight days; an there's
them that says it's avery bad thing to
do. / heeched him not TO touch it, but
the master offered him six shillings il
he'd help wi the job, for the other men
refused She sighed again aud shut
her eyes.
That's the way OF it, whispered the
crones over their pipes and potoen;
that's just it. The guide man had had
the i'll luck to displease the gentry an
there'll be trouble in this house yet.
Grace did not hear these cheerful pro-
phecies, for she had dropped asleep.
Weeks passed and the augury had
not been fulfilled. Little Eliza throve
apace, but her mother never lost sight
of her for a moment.
She lay fast asleep in her cradle near
the fire one day, while Grace, standing
at the dresser, was occupied in cutting
up vegetables with the large knife. ALI
at once a tumult OF the elements arose.
A rush OF cold wind hurried up the
mountain, and whirled around the
house. Grace was startled at the sound
and dropped the knife in terror. The
door burst open, and the hurricane dashed
into the kitchen, overturning the cradle.
and driving it, bottom upward across the
floor. Grace ran to lift it up aud see
what had become Of the baby. The lit.
tie creature was crying, and both her
pretty, straight ankles were twisted and
her feet turned inward. II was long
before she ceased TO scream.
The storm subsided as suddenly as it
had arisen, but the mysterious evil it
had brought the child al not end. She
became sickly and very frettul, and the
other children grew weary of nursing
her. They had been very fond OF Eliza,
but they now began to dislike her, and
the poor overworked mother could hard
ly ever lay her out OF her arms.
Weeks, months, years went by. Eliza
WAS five years old, but looked like a
child of eighteen months, 80 small and
shrunken was she. She still fitted into
the cradle, and therein spent most Of
the day. She had been very sorrow
full burden to her motherall these years,
and her cross, fretful temper had driven
Joy and contentment far from the cabin.
The healthy, rosy elder children were
sometimes 30 provoked with the wailing
sister that they would have hurt her if
their mother had not watched them very
carefully. But though so sickly, Eliza
was much cleverer than any OF her strong
brothers or sisters. She said extraordi-
nary things, that were repeated from
house to house in the neighborhood.
Mrs. Rooney, happening to pay Grace
McDonagh visit one day, saw Matt,
the eldest brother, give Eliza wicked
pinch as he passed the cradle |; and when
the unfortunate child's howl had a little
subsided, the wise neighbor took upon
herself to speak word in season.
DO you mind what happened the
night that wean was born, Grace darlin'?'
DO mind itG Richly mind it, Mrs.
Rooney
An the time her feet was turned imp
Ay, it's weel l mind it.
'Weel, Grace, if You TAX my bidding,
you'll no let the childer offer to touch
thon vean to hurt her for if you do,
KNOWN what she is, some black trouble
IL be coming to this house..
rs it q wee elf, then, Mrs. Rooney
dear, that was put in the place O. my ain
child, do YOU thinkp'
rs itP cried the neighbor scornfully;
an you Ak me sich an innocent
question, an you working wi the crathur
these five year2 Sure enough it's an
elf, Grace McDonagh an if you hurt
it, you ain child will be hurried just as
much an if it's kilt in this house, your
ain child IL come to it's end where it is,
and that's wi the gentry in their grand
parlors underground, as sure as I'm o
living sinner this day 7 concluded she,
dropping her voice TO a mysterious
whisper.
Poor Grace was deeply impressed.
She called her healthy children around
her, and threatened them with all man.
ner Of penalties il they ventured again
to ill.treat Eliza, promising to complain
to their father, Of whose more energetic
correction they all stood in much terror.
But she had tenderness for the wailing
child, go hated by the rest OF its little
world and although she believed Mrs.
Rooney, she believed her most unwil.
lingly. Maybe the poor crathur IL not
ha varv long troubleaomo. She looks