The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-02
HALLOWEEN IN IRELAND.


One wild, clustering afternoon of the
last day of October l made my way as
best / could across stretch of hilly
moorland, vainly hoping that l might
meet with some one able to direct me TO
my destination. Looking round, per-
ceived man waving his arm to me,
and as l approached him noticed that
he was piper-a fact of which he soon
informed me himself, adding that he
was on the way to Mr.. Connolly's farm
to provide the music for the dancing
that was sure to follow the regular
Halloween festivities. 1t was well he
deserted me on the moor, for if | had
proceeded further in the direction | had
been following l would have probably
found myself tloundering in the huge
and treacherous bog called in the
neighborhood Red Mikes Rest. On the
way Larry O'Hara-for SO | learned
was the piper's name-gave me much
curious information about the customs
of Hallowmas Eve in that part of Ire
land, and as his account of how the
great bog from which had narrowly
escaped got its name is germane to my
subject, will give it here.
"Red Mike, your honor, was the only
son of Widow O'Flaherty. He was a
queer one from his birth, an no Won
der, for he first saw the light atween
dusk an dark O. a Haliowmas Eve.
Hereabouts the people say that if a
babby be born on this night. it rims a
moighty good chance o bein' possessed
by some sproite or other; it may or may
not be true, oi'm sure it's beyont the
likes O. me to say whether soch things
are possible or not, but OF aOtN say that
Mike O'Flaherty was different 10 other
men from the first. He wor always up
to some game, he wor. an niyver for
good-leastways | nivver heard O. amy
good he iver did. He lied and broke
his troth to man an woman. an got
into bad odor with priest an magistrate,
for nigh upon twelve years arter he
came 10 manhood. until the judgment o
God came upon him. One Haliow Eve
he was at the house O. the FIannigans,
up bv Glen Creachan. He was courtin'
Mary Flanagan. though livery one on
us knew she didn't care two straws for
| Red Mike, but was all aglow wi love
for Larry O'Rourke. the Limerick car
rier. It's the custom in these parts for
the childer to run into the cabbage yard
| afore the evenin' fun begins, an to
pick out number O. cabbage stalks,
an name them arter any seven O. the
folk they have anything to do with;
then, having finished wi the choosin'
they dance around the place.
Flannigan's childer, havin' finished
their song, ran into the house an asked
all the folk to come out an see their
sowLs Ould Flanagan pulled his cab
bage stalk. and Mrs. Flanagan hers,
an young Tim Flanagan his, an Mrs.
Tim hers, an purity Mary Flannigan
hers, and Larry o Rourke his, until it
stalks of all the others had been quite
clean an white, but when Red Mike
pulled up his. it was all black and foul
wi worms an slugs, an wi a real bad
smell ahint it. Larry o Rourke laughed,
an Mary Flannigan giggled. an the
others all looked moighty consarned.
Mike glared about him for moment,
more like mad bull or II haythin Turk
nor a Christian. Then he up an says:
'Ye may laugh, Larry O'Rourke, but
yell no be laughin' long; ay. ye may
snigger, Mary. but yell be cryin' for
nanny day, whan yer lovers below
the sod, as he will be before the year S
out. AS for you, ould Flanagan, you
an your son an all that belong to We
will have cause to curse the day when
We Knocked Red Mike, as ye call me. Ye
forget was born Oh Hallow Eve! Pvc
the gift o the sight, l have, and on this
day my curse can blast whatever
choose What more Red Mike would
have said | don't know, but at that mo.
ment Father O'Connor came up tC
where all were stan'in'. Curses come
home to roost,' says he to O'FIsherty. in
a starn voice, AN it's you that'll suffer,
Mike OFlaherty. an no one here. Get
ye gone at once. or I'll put the word on
ye.' III go whan | choose. Father
O'Connor,' says Red Mike. surlily. The
next moment the priest drew crucitix
from his breast, saying to O'Flaherty
that even if he wor in league wi tn,
devil, he could not withstand that
Mike gave a howl jist loike wilC
baste an thin turned an ran down tn,
glen as fast as he could. Ould Thad,
King, the piper (now dead, God rest hi
sowlD wor crossing this moor that night
an who should he see but Red Mike
dancin' an shoutin' like mad. an
screamin' in mortal fear. Mike! Mike!
OuIe usiuy Cilou, DuG ~ CldueTly pdlt
no attintion to him, but kept on scream
in, an sometimes shoutin' out. M,
time is up! my time is upr Suddenly
he bent forrard an ran like the wind
took one great leap, an disappeared il
the ground as if he had jumped into the
sea. Nothin' more wor ever seen O
Red Mike, iedStUiSe as u man. An
that's why the great bog yonder il
called Red Mikes Rest. t."-Hm Sharp,
IN Harper'S Magazine.