The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-04-22

swallowed them with his meat So now
he has three kittens inside of him, and
is dying of agony, and can never be
cured until he drinks three draughts OF
the water of the Baptist we'll"
So when Darby heard the cats talk,
he sprang up, and went and got three
bottles full of the water of Baptist well.
So off he went to Dublin. And all the
doctors in Ireland were around the lord,
but none of them could tell what allied
him or how to cure him. $685.
Then Darby came in and said: 81
will cure him"
So they gave him entertainment and
lodging, and when he was refreshed he
gave Of the well water three draughts to
his lordship, when out jumped the three
kittens. And there was great rejoicing.
and they treated Darby like a prince.
But all the same he could not get the
ring from the lords daughter. So he
set off home again quite disheartened,
and thought to himself .'if could only
meet with the man again that gave me
the ring, who knows what luck / might
haveP And he sat down to rest in the
wood, and saw there, not far off, three
boys fighting under an oak tree.
''Shame on We to fight so," he said.
"What is the fight aboutP'
Then they told him. .'Our father;''
they said, ''before he died, buried under
this oak tree a ring by which you can
be in any place in two minutes if you
only wish it; goblet that is always full
when standing and empty only when
on its side; and a harp that plays any
tune of itself that you name or wish for "
II want to divide the things" said
the youngest boy, land let us go and
seek our fortune as we can"
But / have right to the whole, "
said the eldest.
And they went on fighting, till at
length Darby said:
'.rll tell you how to settle the matter.
All of you be here tomorrow, and I'll
think over the matter tonight, and I'll
engage you will have nothing more to
quarrel about when you come in the
morning"
So the boys promised to keep good
friends till they met in the morning, and
went away.
When Darby saw them clear off be
dug up the ring, the goblet and the
harp; and in two minutes he was in the
great hall where the lords and ladies
were just sitting down to dinner; and
the harp played the sweetest music, and
they were all delighted; and he drank
out of the goblet, which was never
empty, and then when his head began
to grow little light, sit is enough, he
said, and putting his arm around the
waist of the lords daughter he took his
harp and goblet in the other hand and
nNrmuring-'1 wish we were at the old
fort the side of the wood'-in two
minutes they were both at the desired
spot. But his head was heavy with the
wine, and he laid down the harp beside
him and fell asleep. And when she
saw him asleep she took the ring off his
finger, and the harp and goblet from the
ground and was back home in her
fathers castle before two minutes passed
by.
When Darby awoke and found his
prize gone, he was mad, indeed, and
roamed about the country till he came
to an orchard, where he saw tree
covered with bright rosy apples. Being
hungry and thirsty he plucked one and
ate it, but no sooner had he done so
than horns began TO sprout from his
forehead. and grew larger and longer
till he knew he looked like a goat, and
all he could do they would not come off
Now, indeed, he was driven out of his
mind, and thought how all the neigh
bors would laugh at him, and as he
roared and ragged with shame, he spied
another tree with apples, still brighter,
of ruddy gold.
IF l were to have fifty pairs of horns
| must have one of those" he said. and
seizing one, he had no sooner tasted it
than the horns fell of. and he felt that
he was looking stronger and hand
somer than ever.
''Now | have her at last" he ex-
claimed. 81 will put horns on them all,
and will never take them off until they
give her to me as my bride before the
whole court"
Without further delay he set off to the
lords palace, carrying with him as
many of the apples as he could bring off
the two trees. And when they saw the
beauty of the fruit they longed for it,
and he gave them to all, SO that at last
there was not head to be seen without
horns in the whole dining room. Then
they cried out and prayed to have the
horns taken of, but Darby said: mo;
there they shall be until have the
lords daughter given to me for my
bride, and my two rings, and my COB
let, and my harp all restored to me.n
And this was done before the face of
all the lords and ladies, and his treas
ures were restored to him, and the lord
placed his daughters hand in the hand
of Darby, saying:
'Take her, she is your wife; only free
me from the horns"
Then Darby brought forth the golden
apples, and they all ate, and the horns
fell off; and he took his bride and his
treasures and was in the act of carrying
them home, when his mother called
out: Darby, what are you doing there
asleep with the sun high in the heavens,
and the COWS breaking into the cabbage
garden?" Darby rolled himself over,
rubbed his eyes and looked up greatly
disappointed.
Mother" said Darby, what day is
thisP''
ut is the 1st of April, of all the days
in the year." said his mother.
"Well, well," said Darby, IF you'd
only waited for a few minutes longer,
you would have had me home, gentle
man, with great lady for my wife.
and now, with your cabbage garden
and your cows, you have broke my
luck, and here am. and / suppose al
ways will be an April fool.
Rubin in Catholic Home.
Is To- ON KavxT