The Irish standard., 1886-12-04
rrHE IRISH 'sTANDARD: SATURDAY, DECEMBER z, 1856.

it awakened, before he returned an ans
wer. The aetails Of the conversation
which followed the interruption may 'be
rnore briefly and conveniently given to
the reader in our own words.
A sturdy-looking, black haired, black
eyed little boy about nine or ten years
Of age, and clothed in q miserable shred
| of coarse frieze, was observed, lat the
blush of fine summer dawn. trotting
atfull speed along crooked and broken
up avenue, or borheen, leading to the
farmhouse of Isaac Segur, a comfortable
PaIatine landholder in the nei9;;h'borhood
of the village which we have before
mentioned. From the anxious and hes
stating expression which was mingled
with the natural boldness and darkness
Of his eountenance, it woslld have APP
peared to stranger that the child was
conscious Of possessing no apology OF
authority for the intrusion which he
contemplated, and he east cautious and
wavedng glanees on all sides before he
yentured to Chamber over the stile
which brought him on the neat green
plot before the cottage door. The
windows were still closed, and every
thing around bore the appearance OF
perfect repose, insomuch that the ad-
yenturer paused, and remained seated
on the stile for few moments, with the
air of one who has q purpose to accom-
| plisi. and sees thousand terrors and
difficulties between him and its fruition.
A light curling smoke from one Of the
chimneys at length canghc his eye, and
having once assured himself Oh the pre-
patory Indication within, he bounded
from the hedge upon the little lawn, dis
turbed by his sudden and fay-like de-
scent the yet slumbering animals who
composed the stock of the Industrious
and we'll appointed proprietor Of the
place. A. flock of geese, goslings and
ganders few with oatstretched necks
and loud Kisses of unwelcome from be-
meath the hedge, and then nlarshalle1
themselves in battle array between him
and the house, the male bird bird march
ing like field officer up and down the
lines, and warning him, by most war
like cackling, of the dangers Of an as
sault Some newly-shorn wethers
bounded in disn1ay to the furthest limit
OF the area, aud there huddled themsel-
YES together in q corner, as if in expec-
ton Of instant annihilation. A stagger-
ing bony calf threw up its hind legs,
whisked it's tail, cuta few strange capers,
and followed their example. The little
fellow did not appear much daunted by
the confusion he had occasioned or the
formidable host of enemies who seemed
prepared to oppose his progress, and he
was about to advance with great spirit;
but his cheek grew pale, and his. quick,
jet-blacd eye began to assume more
expanded and wattery appearance, when
che deep thunder OF huge mastif watch
Joined in terrific diapason with the
cachling Of the geese, the bleating of
sheep, the quacking Of ducks, the
grrnting of pigs, and the clatter of
hundred different species of domestic
fowl; Nevertheless, the invader stood
manfully to his ground, and stopped
forward in the vain hope Of making an
efeect,1al struggle with the excited ami
NAL, Oh whom his eyes We're fixed. when
one of the front windows was thrown
open, and friendly voice interrupted
its onset in good time.
'Faust, down! down. ser! back here
agen-- back!''
The countermand was given by a fe-
male who leaned half-dressed out of the
window, while the young stranger,
flushing with renewed courage, advanced
to the door Of the cottage, the dog Faust
following, and snuhing inquisitively
about him as they proceeded
"Well, an who are you, my little fell
low?''
The s'little fellow raised his hand to
his brow, and plucked himself by the
forelock "a black and shining curly, in
token Of courtesy as he replied
s'Dinny Mac, thin
'sAn' what brought you here, Dinny
Mac, Mt this hour in the morning?'
Wisha, I dun know
"Where do you hve-or who are you
at all?''
80 then, T. dun know, ma'aul-only
my mother, westwards, married another
husband about month sence, and
couldn't stand her at all after for batting
me without any raison; and the man she
took to was as bad as her, and they both
TUX am turned me out o. doores Esther
day, without sayen q word only batting
me the two of them, wit the broomstick
49,