The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-09-18

OF his bed; the cattle lowed and horses
when he appeared; the singing
birds alighted on his shoulder in the
field; and the sea-gulls from their island
in the Tough flew to pick up insects at
his feet. An indescribable sense of
peace and well-being lowered over the
dwelling of which he was an inmate.
The very night after his arrival he
made a handsome bow, and each even
ing while Peggy sat at her spinning
wheel he made arrows, tossing them, as
he finished them, up to the loft There
was large sheaf of arrows living beside
the bow, but he never shot n single one.
g Why, but you TAX your bow an ar
rows out-bye an play yourself a wee,
Mel, dear?'' asked Mrs. Donnel, when
the bright spring evenings came; but no
answer of any description was forthcom-
ing. 1t was a real veXatiOn to her that
she had no means of discovering why he
had made the bow and went on making
so many arrows.
When May eve arrived, and flames
leaped up from fires on every hill,
and dark figures moved round the
blaze; when the glow was reflected in
the Tough, and the gulls flew screaming
in thick white cloud from their island,
disturbed by the unusual noise; and the
snipe whirred by, bleating their aston
ishment-On that most enchanting night
of all the year, Mrs. Donnel's dumb
servant was greatly agitated. More
than once he went to the door to gaze
at the fair scene without, and returning,
as if with a strong effort, to his kind
MISTRESS side, kissed her hand-his IA
vorite mode of showing his affection.
81 He's crying, the crathur,' - said Peg
gy on one of these occasions. ''Maybe
it's because you scolded him this morn
ing, John, for just naething, ava
John, whose temper was very hasty,
had spoken very sharply to the boy in
Peggy's hearing.
Things went on thus throughout the
summer and autumn; but when Hal
lOwe'en approached, Mel grew restless
again. The dry benweeds shook their
withered yellow heads in the cold
breeze there they stood in their ugli-
ness, spread over many a field, ready
when Hallowe'e en- came to turn into fairy
steeds, each one ridden by an elfin rider.
Mel went out in the moonlight on the
mysterious night, but returned in time to
smile his good night to Peggy before "
inc down on his humble bed, and he
was not able to tell her whether he had
S11iSIO " SIliiPoC u VhO Aeeiig COOP VI
not.
One November morning, a year after
Niel's arrival, John Donnel came into
the kitchen pale with grief and dismay
''The cattle are all away!n he cried
all driven off the mountain in the
night. Thieves! robbers! Oh, Me
avick! Oh, Peggy mavourneen, what Ill
do, any way?''
Gone? Stolen?" exclaimed Peggy
and she was unable to utter word
more.
cay, gone stolen!" repeated the be-
reaved owner, crying bitterly.
- Whisht,'' 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 Gained
John at once. He let him bring out the
mare, and helped him to put on the sad
die. Then he mounted, and it seemed
quite natural that the boy should spring
up behind, first taking his bow and ar
rows from the loft.
This way" commanded Mel, when
they reached the high road; q see the
tracks O. the beasts.'
DOnnel could not see any tracks, but
he suffered Mel to guide him at each
crOss-road. The day was far advanced
before they caught sight of the drove
about a quarter of a mile ahead of them
accompanied by two collies and fom
men.
How ill we fight a thae thieves an
rascaIs o. the worldP'' cried John, again
reduced to the depths of despair
Leave it to me-, - replied Mel, bend.
in tn ono SiHa anH Shnntino arrO1s
in the direction of the drove.
There was a strange cOmmOtion ahead
when that fairy arrow reached its goal
for the animal hit at once turned round
and galloped back to its owner. An
other and another arrow followed that
one, till at length the whole drove turn
ed about, and presently surrounded John
and Mel
There stood the four robbers gazing
after them as if spell-bOund.
81 Now" said Mel, "we may ride
home again; the cattle will 90 before
u.s.
On and on they rode, driving the re-
covered heifers. No word of gratitude
had Donnel spoken, and as the glow of
pleasure caused by the restoration of his
property died out little, his usual fret
full temper returned; but Mel did not
appear to notice his morose silence.
viii you be pleased to stop at this
house by the road, John, till 1 get a
drink?'' asked the boy, who was tired
and thirsty.
owe havena the time to stop, an
night comm on; sure you can wait till
we get home," replied the churlish mas
ter.
Mel said nothing until they reached
another house mile further on, when
he again made his request, and was
again refused. But DOnnel himself be-
gan to be thirsty and weary, and at the
next roadside cabin he drew up.
GOOD woman" called he, 81 be
pleased to gle me drink"
The woman hurried out with a bowl
of water, from which Donnel drank /;
and then he said to Mel, " Here, boy,
you may drink now"
"No, John Donnel," returned the
boy, =" you are a selfish, ungrateful man,
an I'll neither eat nor drink mair frae
your hand. 1 brought your cattle back,
but YOU wouldna stop a minute to let me
drink; an you'd TAX the drink yourself
before you'd hand the bowl to me! If it
wasna for Peggy, I'd just send the beasts
back to the thieves; but I'll leave your
house, an that i'll be punishment enough
for you So saying, Mel jumped down
from the horse, and climbing ditch
disappeared.
90 Oh, Mel, avick! Sure I didna mean
to affront you. Oh, come backi How
will get the beasts home, any wayP''
No answer-nO trace of Mel, search
where ne might. With the utmost diff
Guilty, and after hiring a couple of men
to help him, DonneI did succeed in driv-
ing his cattle home, and it was late at
night when he entered his own kitchen,
and sank down by the fireside.
3. Wherefs Niei2', was the first thing