The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-09
THE BLIND EYE.
A Fairy Story from Donegal.

"A from DOneSdl.
Mrs. Mcpherson was a very important
parsonage in the townland of Crohanroe
having something to do with the exit Of
her neighbors from this troublous life
but still more with their entrance into
it; in short, she was the sage femme OF
the entire district. Her duties, there.
fore, took her to every wake and
christening in the country, after she had
attended the death-bed and dressed the
dead, or received and welcomed the
newborn. She spent few nights at
home in her lonely cabin by the road
side, where there were none to bear her
company, for she was a childless widow
The townland was very extensive; ii
embraced tract of well cultivated
country, as well as a wild region stretch
ing up into the Donegal mountains.
Crohanroe took its name from a rocky
piece of land where furze bushes and
blocks of granite abounded. The high
road lay between this picturesque wilder
ness and Mrs. McPherson's cottage, and
no other human habitation was in sight.
Somewhat lonely felt the good woman
one afternoon after returning from Matt
O'DonOghue's funeral, where, out of re-
spect to the family, she had keened her
self quite hoarse.
She was having recourse to her short,
black pipe for comfort, when steps were
heard at the door, and, glad to welcome
a neighbor in her solitude, she looked
round briskly.
A stranger entered-a man apparent
" between 40 and 50 years of age,
dressed in the long-tailed coat, knee
brooches, and blue stockings then worn
by the peasantry.
Mrs. Mcpherson babe him kindly well
come, and prayed him to be seated.
"My good woman said he, twill
you be pleased to gle me a drink of
water?n
With all the pleasure in life,'' re-
piled she, going over to her water can,
and handing him drink.
An where do you get your water,
ma amp" he asked, when he had thank
fully returned the cup.
"Why, sir, | 90 a good little piece for
that water-down to the well a: the foot
o Donnel's potato field"
"Why do you 90 that far, an spring
There's nae spring ava in my gar
den, sir
"Troth is there; Just fine spring
bubbling up beside the ash tree
Mrs. Mcpherson knew that there was
no well in her garden; but being too po-
lite to contradict the stranger, she re-
manned silent.
At length he got up and said he must
be going.
"How far have you to go, sir?"
asked his hostess.
" Not far, ma'am; I'm a neighbor o.
yours; | live on Crohanroe.'
Crohanroe, good man? There's nae
house on Crohanroe, an [ never seen
you before to my knowledge" replied
She, in extreme bewilderment.
''But l ken you well; I'm living on
Crohanroe these hundred years
Mrs. Mcpherson stood at her door and
watched the visitor, who crossed the
high-road and went TO Croheuroa. but
there she lost sight of am; there were
So many furze bGasnes and great stones
that he micnt easily be hidden.
Slowly she turned into her little gar
den, and walked over to the ash-tree.
There, sure enough, was clear spring
bubbling Op at the root of the tree, and
wearing 4 reservoir for itself in the
g1aveRS soil! She rubbed her eyes; she
pincAed herself; at last she faltered out;
" didna take drop but one wee glass
- poteen. just for company an ciyility
like, at Shaun Doyne's on my way Fac
the funeral
No: she could not understand i in the
least. She knit her brows and puzzled
all dav, and was still musing upon the
young-lookingm who declared he had
lived on Crohanroe for the last hundred
wears. when she heard the trot of
horse on the road, and presently knock
at her door. IL was then night, and the
moon had lately risen.
Mrs. Mcpherson, well accustomed to
be summoned in the night, was not
much surprised to see a man holding
horse at her door.
" You're wanted, ma am. to attend
lady, friend O. mine, said the man.
- Can you come wi me at wanst?'
" Where do You come from, sir? l
dinna know you, an l know all the
people in this country far an near. "