Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-02-02

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many in Germany.
There are many old people IN Ire
land who have the reputation Of hav-
ing associated, bodily with the fairies.
In the south q Ireland, where was
educated, / new one man, Familiarity
called Syl O'Conncr (his baptismal
name was Sylvestsr.) who far from
denying '-the soft impeachment" was
proud Of it.
Before I mention his particular ex-
perienc@ ID il necessary that I mem
ton some Of the habits Of the fairies,
or good people" % they were re-
spectfully called. First and foremost
they have the credit Of being neat and
Clearly IN their ways. sAd much OPP
posed to sla.tsznly housewives and
servants.
They expect. it Is said, that every
good housewife viii sweep the kitchen
floor before she goes 70 bed; and it
j. believed that Il aAs happened to
leave the dust thus collected behind
the door at night, this anst or sweep
inga viii have the power Of opening
the door to the fairies, should they
come that way.
Further, it il . point Of popular
faith that IL the broom should be left
behind the door, without being placed
standing on iss handle, the fairies can
get into the house. Also that IL the
water in which any Of the family had
washed his pr her feet, before going to
bed, be left in the vessel on the
kitchen-AOor, without having a coal
Of FIRE put intoit. If not thrown out
in the yard, the fairies may enter if
they please.
As Syl 0'Connor told the story, he
was returning home from q fair, one
night, when, as he was crossing one Of
the bridges over the Blackwater, a
famous salmon river in the county Of
Cork, he heard murmuring sound,
as Of many persons talking all at once,
and in minute or two. found him
self surrounded by crowd of little
creatures, who did not appear to see
him.
One and ell. they exclaimed, Where
is my horse? Give me my horse r. and
getting sastride Of reed, or coarse
grass, that grew close to the water,
each scared aloft. Syl did the same,
and found his seat easy enough. One
of the party went ahead, calling at
farmhouse after farmhouse, but ex-
claiming at each, mo entrance here.
The floor-dust lies not behind the
door,"
AT last they reached mansion of
some pretension, in the suburbs of
large town, and the fairy envoy, paus-
ing at the door gave notice, 1--WE can
enter here" The house had been
made up in a slOyenly manner, that
night, and the door few open as if by
enchantment.
Immediately the whole party, fair
les and mortal, glided into the wine-
cellar, through the key-hold, and the
heads Of many bottles were knocked
of. In fact, there was a carouse, and
song and mirth abounded. All this
time, Syl G'Connor had never wetted
his lips.
So, addressing a rather agreeable
fairy, who, apparently making no noise;
was fully enjoying himself, he said,
con6dentially, at is mertal thirsty
that am" The fairy replied, After
the next round, I shall give you my
goblet, and you can get as much as
you want"
What is more, he kept his word,
handing the silver cup to the stranger.
! just as Syl was about to drink, the
clock struck one, and the word for de-
parture was spoken. Of they dashed,
ON their unsubstantial steeds, back
10 their ssarting-pOint, ut the old
bridge, where the fairies danced and
sang for q short time. and then de-
parted.
Syl OConnor got home somehow
about day-break, but suffered rheuma-
tics for months from his night excur.
sion, and narrowly escaped being bed
ridden for life. However, he had
brought the silver goblet home with
him, and from sheer necessity had to
put it into pawn to raise a little mon
ey.
Of course he was unable to redeem
it, and the man Of three balls put it
in his window, on sale, an a forfeited
pledge. 1t was seen there and recog-
nized by its owner, who had found
his cellar in terrible confusion after
the fairies visit, and traced back to
poor Sylvester 0'Connor.
Educated and intelligent people Of
that locality wholly disbelieved the
story, which grew into a wonderous
romance, in its successive variations
by O'Connor. However, the silver
goblet was restored to its legitimate
owner, who gave constant employ
ment, ever after, to the fortunate man
who had accidentally stolen the valued
piece Of old family plate.
AL this happened, or was said to
have happened, many years ago, when
! was boy, but can bear personal
testimony that 0'Connor's adventure
with the fairies was duly credited,
even by many well-to-do farmers, who
ought not have been SO oredulous.
Such legends hoa. around the rural
parts Of ireland t0.this day.-sSatsr-