The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-18
THE CROOK LADDER.
4 Fairy Story From Donegal.

Several old crones were assembled in
Grace McDonagh's kitchen, drinking
her health and that of her newborn
daughter, who had just been dressed,
and was laid down to sleep at the foot
of the bed. A tribe of brothers and
sisters were packed into the large bed in
the inner room; but poor Grace was as
well pleased with the ugly, red-faced
newcomer as if she had been her only
child.
A kind mother, excellent wife, and
obliging neighbor, Grace was very pop
ular; so the good women in the wide
chimney-cOrner drank her health very
heartily, and wished Joseph McDOnagh
at the same time JOY of the child and of
his new situation, that of bailiff to Mr..
Todd, of Buncrana Castle.
The house was built in an exposed
spot, on the side of hill that COM
manded view of a large portion of the
property to which McDonagh had Just
been made bailiff. Down below was
the castle, nesting in gardens and plan
tations, and beyond it lay the old town
of Buncrana, and the Tough, bold noun
tains pale in the distance bounding the
horizon. 1t was an extensive and beau
tiful landscape, but the McDOnaghs had
no idea that the situation was pictur-
esque; they knew that it was cold and
bleak, and exposed to every wintry
storm that swept across Tough Swilly.
As Grace slept, and her attendants
caroused by the fireside, feeble little
wall was heard. Mrs. Rooney got up
and went over to the foot of the bed
where she had laid the infant. What
was her amaZement to see two babies
where she had placed but Onei Two lit
tie puckered faces; two lilac pink frocks;
two white pinaforesl There did not APP
pear to be the slightest difference be-
tween them -
Mrs. Rooney's cry of terror and as
constituent brought all the women round
the bed, and awakened the poor weary
mother. Explanations of . Save uS!''
"Dear, but that beats ALL" mingled
with the feeble wailings of the two
babes.
"What II we do, anyway? There's
something bad an uncanny herel'' cried
Mrs. Rooney. (Which o. these weans
is the RIGHT ane?''
''Gie them to me, an hand me thon
big knife off the dresser said the
mother. Il" III kiss them bath, and the
one my heart warns to viii be nv ain /
child; as for the other one, III Just set I.
tie it wi the knife
"Stand back, You women, there"
commanded Mrs. Rooney, speaking au-
thoritatively in her character of nurse.
They obeyed, sitting down again beside .
the fire.
- Now gle them to me- said Grace,
holding out her hands.
Mrs. Rooney handed her one of the /
infants. She kissed it, and laid it be-
side her on the pillow.
My heart warmed to it, Molly
Rooney dear; that's my ain child. Now
gle me the wee rascal that's come to this
house for no good end''
She took the second babe and stretched
out her shaking hand for the knife. pre-
pared TO cut its throat; but at that very
instant there was noise heard over
head, and a small, beautifully dressed.
and very pretty lady came down the
wide chimney, using the chain of the
crook as a ladder. She bounded over
the fire, across the room, and stood be-
side the bed
In one second she had snatched the
child out of Grace's hands, and ran back
to the fireplace, turning to shake it
at her. as she cried. " You'll
rue the day you tried to hurt my child"
She sprang upon the hob, put her
tiny dainty feet into the links of the
chain one after another, mounted them
as staircase, and was out of sight like
a whirlwind. 4.