The Irish standard., 1888-01-28

treme age. Now, how long generally
do the people in this country liye?'
'Troth. SIR said she with the 6gura-
tive drollery OF her country, I'VE live as
long as we like
'Well, that is no inconsiderable privi-
lege,' said /; but you, nevertheless,
must have married very younge:'
L was not much over sixteen, your
honor, when had my first child at my
breast
That was beginning early said I.
'Thrue for you, sir; and faith, Noreen
-(that's my daughter, sir,)-Noreen
herself lost no time either; ! suppose
she thought she had as good a right as
the mother before her-she was married
at seventeen. and likely couple herself
and her husband was. So you see, sir.
it was not long before I was granny.
Well, to make the saying good, as the
ould cock crows, the young bird cher
rups, and faiks, the whole breed. seed
ane generation TUX after the ovid
woman CHATS myself, sir;) and, SO, in
coorse OF time, l was not only grannv,
but CRATE granny; and by the same
token here comes my darling, Paudeen
Bawn, with what sent for
Here the fine little fellow I have
spoken of, with his long fair hair curl.
ing about his shoulders, descended into
the caye, bearing some faggots of bog
wood, wisp of straw, and lighted
sod of turf.
Now, your honor, it's what you'll
see the pigeon.hule to advantage.'
what pigeon--hole?' said I.
Here where We are,' she replied.
why is it SO ca}led?' I inquired.
Because, sir, the wild pigeons often
build in the bushes and the ivy that's
round the mouth of the cave and in
here, too, said she, pointing into the
gloomy depth Of the interior.
BLOW that turf, Paudeen;" and Pau
deem, with distended cheeks and COM
pressed lips. forthwith poured a few
vigorous blasts on tie sod Of turf,
which soon dlckered and blazeG, while
the kind old woman lighted her fagots
of bogwood at the fame.
Now, sir, follow me- said my con-
ductress.
I am sorry you have had SO much
trouble on my account, said l.
'Oh, no trouble in life, your honor,
but the greatest of pleasure and so
saying, she proceeded into the cave,
and followed, carefully choosing my
steps by the help of her torchllght,
along the Slippery path Of rock that
overhung the river. When she had
reached point of some little eleva-
tion, she held up her lighted pine
branches. and waving them to and fro,
asked me if I could see the top of the
cave.
The effect of her lire was very 6ne,
illumed as it was, in the midst of utter
darkness, by the red glare Of the blaz.
ing faggots; and as she wound them
round her head, and shook their flick
oring sparks about, it required no ex-
traordinary stretch of imagination to
suppose her, with her ample cloak of
dark drapery, and few struggling
tresses of gray hair escaping from the
folds of rather Eastern head dress,
some Sybil about to commence an aw-
fui rite, and evoke her ministering
spirit from the dark void, Or call some
water demon from the river, which
rushed unseen along, telling its wild
course by the tribulent dash of its
waters, which the reverberaticn Of the
cave rendered still more hollow
She shouted aloud, and the cavern
echoes answered to her summons.
'Look!' said she-as she lighted the
wisp of straw, and flung it on the
it doated rapidly away, blazing
in wild undu|ation over the peiturbed
surface of the river, and at length sud
denly disappeared altogether; the effect
was most picturesque and startling; it
was even awful; 1 might almost say
sublime
Our light having nearly expired we
our STEPS, and emerging from
the gloom, stood beside the river, in
the enlightened area have described.
NOW, SIR said the old woman. we
must try and see the White Throut;
and You never seen a throut O that
color yet warrant
; assented to the truth OF this.
They say it's fairy throut, your
honour, and tells mighty Quare stories |
about it,
What are they?' inquired.
''Troth it's myself doesn't know half
o. them-only partly; but sthrive and
see it before you go, sir; for there's
them that says it isn't lucky to come
into the cave, and lave it without seein'
the white throut; and if you'rea bache.
r. sir. and didn't get peep at it,
throth you'd never be married; and
shure that id be q murther!'
oh, said I, i hope the fairies would