The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-16
Barrett, the Piper.

barrett, the Piper, you sec, lost his skill
and was advised to 60 to the Black North
to recover it. O5arrctt was Munster man.
We'll, he took his little hoy with him, and
they walked till the dark came, and then
went into cabin by the roadside to look
for lodging.
''God save all here !" says they.
'Savc you kindly !" says the man of the
house, but he left out the Holy Name.
"liow are you, Jack Barrett 2"
"Alusha, pure and hearty, sir; many
thanks for the axing, but how do you know
me3"
"Och, l knew you before you were
wcancd. Sit down and make yourself at
home here you stay till morning."
Well, faith, they got II good supper of
pratecs and milk, and Il good bed Of straw
was made for them by the wall up near the
fire, and they lay down quite comfortable
to good sleep But some bad thoughts
came over Jack Barrett in the dead of the
night, and he got up and went out of the
bed, and into the fields by himself, and
couple of mad dogs running after him.
There was big tree near him with ever so
many crows nests i'm the top, and he run
and climbed up into it from The dogs, and
If he missed the dogs he found the crows,
and didn't they fall on him to tear his eyes
out! lie bawlcd, and he roared, and The
man of the house came into the kitchen,
and stirred the fire, and there was Jack
barrett on the hcn-roost, and the cocks and
hens cackling about him
"Musha, the sorras on you for a Jack
Barrett How did you get up there among
the fowls"
''Thc goodness knows; it's not their
company | want. viii you help me down.
honest man2"
We'll, he got into bed again. and if he
did he was not long there when a bad
thought came into his head, and up he got.
lie was going into the next room, when
where did he find himself but by the bank
of big river, and the same two dogs tear
ing along like vengeance to make gbblcts
of him. There was tree there, and its
0oughs were out over the river. Up climbs
Jack, and up after him the dogs and to
get out Of their clutches he scrambled out
on long bough. The dogs were soon feel
ing after him, and he going out farther and
farther, till he was afraid it would break.
at last he felt ii cracking, and he gave n
roar out of him that you'd hear Il mile off,
and the man of the housc came into the
kitchen and stirred the fire, and there was
Jack, sthraddle-lcgs on the pot-rack.
"hlusha, Jack, but you're the divcl's
quare youth at your time O. life to be max
in horse of my pot-rack. Come down,
you onshuch, and 90 to bed"
"Wcll, the third time, where did tho
divel guide him but to bed in the next
room, and when he Topped into it he let
such a howl out of him that you'd think il
was @ heaven and earth coming together.
''What's in the win now, Jack ?" saws
the man of the house.
"Oh, it's the pains of labor am ~ saws
the unfortunate piper.
''Will we send after the midwife for
you'll" says the other
"Oh, the curse of Cromwell on Yourself
an the midwife !" says tho poor man; 'it
wasn't God had hand in us the hour we
darkcncd your door. Oh, tatthcration to
you, you ould thief won't you give lis
some aise 2"
'Fathcr, honey" says the boy, 'ft's
pishrogues Is on you. A drop of holy
water will do you more good nor the mas.
ter o. the house, God bless him ~,
I'll tear you limb from limb" SAYS the
ould villain, when he heard the Holy Name,
eff you say that again."
"Well, anyhow" says the boy, "make
the Sign OF tho cross on yourself, father, and
say the Lords Prayer"
Tho poor ould piper did 80, and at the
blessed words and the sign his pains left
him. There was no sight of the man of the
house on the spot then; maybe he was in
the lower room.
When the piper and his son woke the
next morning, they we're lying in the dry
moat OF an old rath that lay by the high
road. .4tsE
The conqueror Is regarded with awe,