The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-17
THE DAILY STAR
AN IRISH IDYL.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE QUEEN OF CON-
NAUGHT."

work was over and the faint glimmerlng
of dawn appeared in the east, we turned
our boats bow toward the shore and
pulled swiftly homeward. There
lay the group of curraghs still upon
the scene of their labor, Loaded
with phosphorescent fish ana
dripping nets, and manned with crews of
shiyering, weary men. The sea, which
during the night had been throbbing
convulsively, was calm and bright as a
polished mirror, while the gaunt gray
cliffs were family shadowed forth by the
lustrous light of the moon,
Wearied with my nights labor, | lay
istlessly in the stern of the boat, listen
ing dreamily to the measured splash,
splash of the oars, and drinking IN OF 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 faint
" across the water and mingled softly
with the monotonous splashing OF the
oars and the weary washing of the sea.
as it IA mermaid singing?" | asked
sleepily. "The village maidens are all
dreaming of their lovers at this hour, but
the INDIAN Maras sing of theirs. Oh,
yes. it must be mermaid, for hark! the
sound is issuing from the shore yonder
and surely no human being possessed
voice half so beautiful"
To my question no one vouchsafed
reply, 50 lay still half-sleepily and lis
tened to the plaintive waiiing OF the
voice, which every moment grew stronger
1t came across the water like low swee
sound of an Nolian harp touched by the
summer breeze; and as the boat glldet
swiftly on, bringing it ever nearer, th'
whole scene around seemed suddenly tC
brighten as if from the touch Of q magi
cal hand Above me sailed the moon
scattering pale ytreous lightaround her
and touching with her COOL white han'
the mellow thatched cabins, lying so Sc
cluded ON the hill, the long stretch o
Ihimmering sand, and fringe of foam upol
the shingle, the peaks of the hills silhou
cited against the pale gray sky.
A white owl passing across the boatan(
almost brushing my cheek with its wins
aroused me at length from my torpor
The sound of the voice had ceased
Above my head a flock of sea-gull
screamed, and. as they sailed away,
heard the whistle of the curlew; littl'
puffins were floating thick as bees arounc
US. while rock-doves flew swiftly from th
caverns, and beyond above the cormo
rants blackened the weed-covered rocks
The splash of our oars had for a momen
created acommotion; presentlyall calme'
down again. and again heard the plant
i've wailipg of the mermaid's voice. Th
voice. more musical than ever, was a
last so distinct as to bring with it tn
words,of the song:
NY Owen Bawlt's hair is of thread gold spun;
OF gold in the shgdow, of light in the sum-
All cured in a coOlun the bright tresses are
They make his head radiant with beams Ike
star
MyOwen Rawns mantle is long and is wide.
70 wrap me up safe from the storm by his Slde;
And I'd rather face snoW-drilt and winter win
Than be among daisies and sunshine elsewhere.
Ny Owen Rawn Con is a bold fisherman,
He spears the strong salmon in the midst OF til
And rocked in the tempest OF stormy Loug
Neagh,
Draws up the red trout through the bursting
spray.
The voice suddenly ceased, and as
did so | saw that the singer was youn
girl who. with her hands clasped behin
her, and her face turned to the moonl
sky, walked along the shore. Student
she paused, and while the sea kissed he
bare feet, and the moon laid tremulou
hands upon her head, began to sin
again:
have called my love, but he still sleeps on,
And his lips are cold as clay;
have kissed them DER and o er again
have pressed his cheek W tn my burning brON
And have watched DER him all :he day:
Is it then true that no more thou shalt smile
On MONA"
Art thou then lost TO thy Toina?
Ionce had lamb my love gave me,
As the mountain snow twas white;
Oh how loved il nobody knows
] decked it each morning with the myrtle rose
With forget -me-not nj nl%ht.
My lover they slew and they tore my lamb
From Mona.
They pierced the hearts core oi poor Moina
As the last words fell from her tren
bling lips, and the echoes of the swec
voice faded far away across the sea, I'll
boat gliding gently on ran her bow int
the sand, and |, leaping out, came SUE
denly face to face with the loveliest vi
ion | had ever beheld
ais it mermaid" | asked myse
again, for surely thought no human b
ing could be half 50 lovely.
saw pale madonna-like face set in
Nreath of golden hair, on which Il
moonlight frightened and darkened Ill
the shadows on wind-swept sea. Larg
lustrous eyes, which gazcd earnestly Sc
ward, then fIlcd with a strange, fart
look, as they turned to my face. A youl
girl, clad in peasant dress, with her ba
feet washed reverently by the signing sc
her half-parted lips kissed by the bree
which travelled slowly shoreward; h
cheeks and neck were pale as alabaste
30 were the little hands which were st
clasped half nervously behind her. and
she stood, with her eyes wandering re
Iessly first to my face, then to the d
line of the horizon, the moon, brighteni
with suddpn snlendor Wrannpd her fro