Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-10
NORAH'S DFSOBEDIENCE.
Origin of the Lakes of Killarney.

There was once upon time, near
the western coast of Ireland, q ro-
mantle valley inhabited by few peas
ants, whose rude cabins were surround
ed by the most luXuriant trees, and
sheltered by mountains arising almost
perpendicularly on every side. Ireland
has still many beautiful green wales,
but there is not one so deeply, so Sc
cretly nestled among the hills as the
one of which | speak. Add the depth
of the deepest.of these lakes to the
height of the loftiest mountain that
towers above us, and you may form
some idea of the deep seclusion of this
forgotten valley.
Norah was the prettiest girl in the
little village. She was the pride of her
old father and mother and the admira-
ton of every youth who beheld her.
The cottage of her parents was the
neatest in the neighborhood. Norah
knew how to make the homeliest cham
ber look cheerful, and the honeysuckle
round the easement was taught by her
hand to twine more gracefully than
elsewhere.
There was but one spring of water
in this valley; it was a little well of the
brightest and clearest water ever seen,
which bubbled from the golden sands
as they lay calmly sleeping in q basin
of the whitest marble. From this basin
there did not appear to be any outlet;
the water ran into it incessantly, but
no one could detect that any part of it
escaped again. 1t was fairy well.
In those days there were fairies, so
says the legend, and so says Croftin
Croker, that inimitable historian of
the little people of Ireland in the olden
time.
The fairy well was held in great ven-
GRAFTON by the inhabitants of the val
ley.
There was tradition concerning it
which had time out of mind been hand
ed down from parent to child. 1t was
covered with huge stone, which,
though apparently very heavy, could
be removed with ease by the hand of
the most delicate female; and it was
said to be the will of the fairy who
presided over it, that all the young
girls of the village should 60 thither
every evening after sunset, remove the
stone, and take from the marble basin
as much water as would be sufficient
for the use of each family during the
ensuing day; above all, it was under
stood to be the fairy's strict injunction
that each young maiden, when she had
filled her pitcher, should carefully re-
place the stone; if at any time this was
to be neglected, the careless maiden
would bring ruin on herself, and all
ba ipb hitoy, +c IF hn lo
morning sun ever shone on the water,
inevitable destruction would follow.
Often did Norah trip lightly to the
well with her pitcher in her hand, sing
ing the wild melodies of her country,
with her beautiful hair decorated with
the bright red berries of the mountain
ash, or the ripe fruit of the arbutus
tree, and leaning over the bubbling
spring, fill her pitcher, carefully re-
place the stone, and return to her
parents without one sad thought to
drive away sleep from her pillow.
This could not last forever Norah
was formed to be beloved, and soon
stranger youth came to the valley-a
soldier-one who had seen the world.
He was clad in armor, and he talked
VI VI AlCI SCGAcS-du. COulu luCIc D6
q brighter scene than that lone valley?
He dazzled the poor girls eyes, and he
won her heart; and when she went at
sunset to fetch water from the fairy
well, Coolin was always at her side.
Her old parents could not approve of
such an attachment. The young SOL
dier's stories of camps and courts pos
sessed no charms for them, and
when they saw that Norah loved to
listen to him, they reproved their child
for the first time in their lives, and for
hade her in the future to meet the
stranger. She wept, but promised to
obey them, and, that she might avoid
meeting with her lover, she went that
evening to the we'll by different path
to that which she had been accustom-
ed to take.
She removed the stone, and having
filled the pitcher, she sat down by the
side of the well and wept bitterly. She
needed not the hour; twilight was fast
fading in the darkness of the night,
and the bright stars which studded the
heavens directly over her head were
reflected in the crystal fountain at her
feet.
Her lover stood before her.
"Oh! come not here" she cried.
Come not here. l have promised not
to meet you; had l returned home
when my task was done, we never
should have met! have been disobe-
dient; oh! why did ever see you? you
have taught me how to weep!'
''Say not so, dearest Norah, replied
the young soldier; "come with me-"
Never! never!" she emphatically
exclaimed, as she hastily arose and ad-
yanced from the well.
81, who never broke my word, have
broken it tonight! l said would not
meet you, and we have met!" She ut
tered this in an agony of tears, walk
ing wildly forward, while Coolin, with
her hand clasped in both of his, walk
ed by her side endeavoring to pacify
hog.
"Your fault, if it be one," said he
kindly. ''was involuntary; your pa.
rents will forgive you when they know
how tenderly love you, they will nc
longer reject me as their son. You
say you can not leave them. Very