Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-16


supper and told him the strange tale. Father
Dan took the money and promised to say the
masses, encouraging league 10 hope that all
would be we'll with Mary
Come back an tell me il she appears TO
you again" said he
Some days later he had a second visit from
league.
"Well, my good man. he began, "did you
get any word from that poor soul 2"
81 did, your reverence / did"
AN how is II wi her now2'
Thanks be to your reverence an the
Lord she's got to her rest now It was in
the nighttime, an / was lyin on my bed wi
the blessed rosary in my hands, prsyin' con-
slant, when heard the Autterin O. wings at
the window, an then beautiful hymn, like
one o. them hymns that is sung in the chapel
on Easter day was sung, an 30 | knowed
Mary was going to heaven"
Did she speak, Teaguey'
'Feen a word. The hymn sounded faint
or an fainter, till it was like wee gentle
sough o. wind of the Lough an | was con
tent in my mind to think that Mary Was at
her rest"
The fax. mill on the Mulroy road was the
bCbnb OF huOtueT BuOblly appearance Inc
reader must transport himself in Imagination
across the ferry opposite the mill to the farms
lying beneath the hills, from whence there
was a good view of league and Mays house
and the wild range of mountains behind it,
Rose Dillon was the prettiest girl IN the
whole country, and she had many admirers
among the rich farmers, any one of whom
would have pleased her parents better than
the sutton she chose. James Majlton was
handsome young man, but he WAS not rich
he had only the fax mill aud a poor small
farm and three COWS. How vexatious il was
that Rose should set her affections upon him,
when she could have been mistress of q slated
house and fourteen COWS.
Father Dan was entreated to use his inhu
ence, and he did say word or two, repre-
senting the worldly advantages of Mike and
Sam, Teddy and John. But it was all to no
purpose. Rose blushed aud persisted in cling
ing to James.
Put your commands on her, your rever-
ence; she wilma go against the church, said
her father.
mo, no that's not to be done" replied
the priest flames is good boy, he pays
bis dues regular, an is diligent at his duty,
an obedient to his church. He deserves
good wife. Let Rose have him"
After that opposition ceased, of course, and
a day was fixed for the wedding Plenty of
oorned beef and cabbage, bacon and eggs,
tea and whisky were provided; two fddlers
were engaged the neighbors were invited to
the feast, and all going merry as a mar
riage bell, when James WAS suddenly taken
i'll. The priest was sent for and then mes
senger went across the ferry to summon
Rose. Alas there WAS no time to say fare
well. James was unconscious when Rose
reached his bedside. To describe her wild
grief would be impossible. Hanging over
the corpse, she let her tears rain upon his
placid face unheeding the grave reproofs of
the women.
why do you be cryin' that way, Rose Dill
Ion Sure you know that your amentin' will
keep him frae his rest"
They alluded to the belief of the poor Ro-
man Catholics that the inordinate grief of
survivors troubles the departed. soul, and
weighs it down 80 that it is unable to soar
toward heaven.
"Wsd ye keep the poor fellow Ayin' about
the world?" asked her grandmother, who had
been brought across the ferry to attend the
wake. 'Sure, sure ye wouldna be that cruel
to the poor boy that loved ye true Lay back
thon sheet, girl, an drap nae mair tears over
him. | ha' knowed it done"
And then followed a long list of examples,
the experience of close upon 30 years.
The wake house, as the mill was call
ed while James lay there holding his last
party, was quite full, and men and women
listened to Grannie Dillon respectfully shak-
ing their heads gravey and uttering many an
"Och, hoch and Alaise-a me !" the while.
There was good cheer at this last entertain
ment OF James's-his cousins had seen to
that Tea and bread and butter and whisky
were provided in abundance, and there were
plates of cut tobacco, bundles of clean pipes,
and supplies of snuff for all corners. The Wis
itora went Ona nv Oyer the had and
turning down the sheet, took a last look at
the corpse, using the formula in vogue on
these occasions: Dear, but he's very like
himself" and then anecdotes were related
respecting the departed and the company
gradually became cheerful-al but Rose.
James was laid to rest in the chapel grave
yard at the edge of Mulroy, and the plover
and curlew circled over his head, and the
work of the world went on as before.
The hax-mill was worked by his cousins,
and league Martin and the other farmers re-
paired to it with their loads Grannie Dillon
spun her yarn; her daughter-in-aw MIXED
and churned the farmer plowed his land
all settled down to their daily toll except
Rose. She continued to cry necessarily, re-
gardless of remonstrance or rebuke.
1t happened that her father followed her
down to the ferry one evening and found her
gazing at the f4x-mll so fixedly that she did
not near us IOOtblcpb.
'What i'd it you see there girl? 2" he asked.
"Oh, father, do you no see p
Matching ava, Rose"
ITS james that's standin' yonder on the
shore lookin' over at me, an whites he lifts
his hand an waves to me. He's there every
evenin', an l still come here to meet him.
It's the only tryst We can hold now"
There's naething there but the ould walls
O. the mill an the whin bushes an the boat
drawn up on the shore. Come ava to your,
work, girl, an help your poor mother that's
slavin' in the byre alRne."
Rose went back to her work that time +; but
she WAS always escaping to the ferry, and al
ways found gazing at something others could
not see. 1t soon became known in the coun-
try that James was a troubled soul, kept from
rest by his sweetheart's tears and Father
Dan himself was called upon to interfere.
What he said-what weighty arguments he
used, what commands he laid upon Rose
we're not known; but she listened and obey
ed and her tears were dried
But she faded away from that time and,
although James visited the mill no more, it
was believed he was reckoning to her. A
year had not passed before the crones, meet
ing one another, said
800 you know, what I'm Just done hear
ing? Rose DIllon's got to her rest !"
1t was true. The chspel-bell was knelling
for her; she was gone to meet James upon
the further shore.-AH the Year Round.