Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-30
An IRISH lDYL.
By The Author of ''TEe Queen of Con.
naught."
London Belgrayia

London Belgravia.
We had been out all night watching
the herring-tishers, but as soon as the
work was over, and the faint glimmer-
ing of dawn appeared in the east, we
mrned our boats bow towards the shore
and pulled swiftly homewards. There
Law the group of curraghs still upon the
scene of their labor, loaded with phos-
phorescent fish and dripping nets, and
manned with crews of shivering, weary
men. The sea, which during the night
had been throbbing convulslvely, was
calm, and bright as a polished mirror
while the gaunt gray cliffs were family
shsdowed forth by the lustrous light
Of The moon.
Wearied with my nights labor, ! lay
listles,ly in the stern of the boat, listen
ing ireamily to the measured splash,
Splash of the oars and drinking in the
beauty of the scene around me-the
placid sea, the black outline Of the hills
and cliffs, the silently sleeping village of
Storport. Presently, however, my ears
detected another sound which came
family across the water and mingled
softly with the mOnotonouS Splashing
Of the oars and the weary washing of
the sea.
as it mermaid singing?" | asked
sleepiIy. "The village maidens are all
dreaming of their lovers at this hour,
but the INDIAN Maras sing of theirs.
Oh, yes, it must be a mermaid, for
bark the sound is issuing from the
shore yonder, and surely no human
being possessed voice half so beauti-
iulm
To my question no one vouchsafed u
reply, so lay still halfseepiiy aud lis
tened to the plaintive waillng of the
voice, which every moment grew
stronger. 1t came across the water like
the low sweet sound Of an IEolian harp
touched by tae summer. breeze; and
as the beat gtded swiftly on, bringing
it ever nearer, the whole scene around
seemed suddenly to brighten as if from
the touch of a magical hand. Above
ME sailed the moon, scattering pale
yitreous light around her, and touch
ing with her cool, white hand the mel
low matched cabins, lying so secluded
on the hill, the long stretch OF SHIN
merlug sand, and fringe of foam upon
the single, the peaks of the hills sill
houetted against the pale gray sky.
A white owl passing across the boat
and almost brushing my cheek with its
wing aroused me at length from my
tOrpor. The sound Of the voice had
ceased Above my head flock Of sea-
gulls screamed, and rs they sailed away
| heard the whistle Of the curlew; little
putfns were floating thick as bees
around us, while rock-doves flew swift
y from the caverns, and beyond again
the cormolants blackened the weed
covered rocks. The plash Of our oars
had for a moment created a commotion
presently all Gained down again, and
again heard the plaintive wailing Of
the mermaid's voice. The voice more
musical than ever, was at length 50 dis
tnct as to bring with it the words of the
song:
"My owen Bawn's hair is of thread gold spun;
VI go't in the shadow, OF light in the SUM-
Al curled in u coolun the brigh treSses are,
Ihey make his head radiant with beams like q
Start
NY owen Bawn's mantle is long and is wide,
10 wrap me up safe fro the storm by his side;
anu rather face snow.drlt aud winter WIND
Than be among daisies and sunshine elsewhere.
Ny owen Dawn Con is bold fisherman,
Ne spears the strong salmon in midst OF the
Baum.
And rocked in the tempest on stormy Tough
Nclgh,
Draws NJ the red trout through the bursting of
spray"
Inc voice suddenly ceased, and as it
uil SO, saw the that singer was young
g!rL. who, With her hands clasped be.
Alhd her. and her face turned to the
moonIlt sky, walked slowly along the
snore. Suddenly she paused, and while
Tue ST. kissed her bare feet, and the
moon LAID tremulous hands npon her
nead, began to sing again
-uIsFe called my love, hut he still sleeps on,
81 ms llps are cold rs clay;
az kissed them DER and Ger again
tuar pressed his cheek with my burning brow,
i ,ut We watched DER him all the day;
o. 'ueh true that no more thOu'lt smile
s-tt. On Moira?
~ 'Aou then lcst to thy Molina?
.uef usd amb my love gave me,
~ we mountain snow twas white:
w" loved il nobody knOWsl
NJ sl II each morn with the myrtle rose
NJ ''r2et- me. not at night
'e' Ihey slew, and they tore my lsnb
1aey pierced the hearts core Of poor Door Motnar
as the last words fell from the trem-
'3N' !lps, and the echoes Of the sweet
.e ,@aed Tar away across the sea, the
- glolng gently on ran on her bow
.r.' ne sand, and !, leapiug out, came
oNehly face TO face with the loveliest
',ion had ever beheld.
: II mermaid" / asked myself