Morning journal and courier., 1888-11-17

walls nearly a thousand feet high on either side, their escarpments hidden by masses of copses in which mingle the ash, beach and alder, forming velvety sward over which one could seemingly safely tread. The burn of G1enlaok tupnbles six hundred feet within mile from the 1ough, and opposite the tor. rent of Derrybeg is hurled over 8 precipiee of thousand feet to reach the still waters in this mystic Valley of the Deer. Beyond this the tough winds as but Q thread of sil- yer between the denser shadows of Mullan- gore, and, through gorge and glen between cliff and mountain, then creeps silently upon it's later river way to the mighty northern sea. If the mere outlining of this enchant- ed spot so inadequately fails all power of de- scription, what inspired pen could htly linn it's ever changing formings, seemings and huesa A myriad tiny verdure clad islands repose along the valley. Glittering peak, blanched cliff and threatening precipice burst through the heather and sea green sod. Away among the heights the golden eagle wheels above the gorges, or calls to the echoing peaks for companionship in it's soli- tudes. Tumblirg burns quiver and Hash, or show cascades like far dscks of lace from within the shadows. And over all the song of rivulet, burn and river, over covert and copse and glen, over islet, bog and tarn, heods the October sunshine, painting in un- found dyes; where the silences are as unbro- ken by human voice as in the vaulted skies above. Grand Glen Veaghl Noblest of all Erin's wpndrous wondrous valleys, because grandest one fashioned by the hand of the Artifcer, and as yet unsmirched by the de- filing hand of gain.
 The entire day passed as an hour ia Glen Veagh and it was nightfall ere we reached the farm house, where quite a number of country folk were already awaiting our arri- val The house itself was somewhat larger than the average Irish cabin. IL contained f,,--. 1or A hnVa thAaa were fairly spacious lofts, rather close against the thatches, where most of the scanty stores were placed and where the entire family were disposed of at night in hunks not un- like sailors in vessels forecastle. But across the road stood morter walled barn as large again as the house; and this, swept clean and set to rights, was also ready for the hospitable service Both house and barn were lighted brilliantly, considering the pow erty of the host-whose singular name for an Irishman, John Rutherford Walker. might have had to do with the latter fact-with lamps, candles and even here and there an Irish "splinter," or long silver of bog wood coated with tallow. With those already there, and with those constantly arriving, came mysterious little bundles, which were secretly edged into the peasant mothers hands, or dropped with great effort at non chalance in some odd corner; making 1t easy enough to see that whatever might be the bounty of the night. each one had been mindful of the farmers small purse and the assem blage's concrete mighty needs-all much after the manner of our American countryside 'sdonatien party" Within eve r7thing the home possessed shone as bright ly as the faces of all who came. The house. wife seemed swelling and bursting with cheery furry and heat over pots and kettles at the great fireplace of the greater room; and sundry savory odors promised much for later hour. The kitchen had been given over to the youngsters, who were already deep in their Halloween charms and games; and becoming one of them, like the good old man who feared not for the fall, in Willis' Saturday Afternoon" soon won place and honor.
 Of all brief periods of Irish pleasure, Halloween yields the sweetest, because the most harmless and innocent, delights. It is | the night of unbounded mirth, witehing charm and sinless dream. It is then that the tenderest of all of superstition's eerie | broods, the kindly Irish fairies, mingls with human moods and wish, and weave their | friendly spells through all the warp and wool of thought, emotiod, dream and desire | And his is an insensate heart that will mol 1 grow younger and tenderer under the in. l duence of these mirthful revels. Where will one begin and end in telling them aE | he sees and feels them? Over every door to house, room or barn an apple pairing WAS ! hanging, and some maiden's eager eye was watching for him who first passed beneath l for that one the fairies had charmed as her l beloved Groups of lads on all fours ducked their heads in buckets of water and brought out small coin with their teeth. LRsses were busy cutting out alphabets with which the fairies were to spell, in water basins, secretly cherished names Stolen herrings-which must be salt; must be broiled without turn ing; eaten with hot tongs; and dreamed on, sfwithout drink"-now made their appear ance. Then the fbannock baking" and it's wild merriment. Whoever turned the ban mock on the huge griddle that hung from the crane was to wed her whose nimble fingers kneaded it's oaten meal, salt, soda and water l together ''Nut burning" and ''snap apple" were going on merrily at the hob. The hszslnut ashes in dainty packets beneath the pillows yield charmed dreams; the burning | s'snap apples" tell whether loving pairs will sputter or mellowly age during welded life. Then there was the f'dumb cake" making for fairy aided dreams; the "charm pies" with their buttons for old bachelors, thimbles for old maids and rings for the lucky ones who | should wed; the ''candle and sweets," sus- pended and whirling between Rrinning faces where teeth snapped for bites and luckless | frowsy hair WAS singed; and an hundred oth- CT innocent delights, leading to the more se- rious affairs ot "postman's knock" and 'for- ] feits," where genuine old fashioned kissing was there for the fighting; and the struggle | for your "rights" with bouncing Irish lass | from the mountains insured her hatred if you did not overcome her, and sore body ol | broken bones if you didi-and then amid 1 deafening chatter and chatter the supper ir | the great room, piled upon tables like hai | stalls in & pIethoric market, various, smok | ing, awful; but with the jolliest. hungriest | crew you ever broke bread with in all you1 | life. And, oh, for room in which to tell tht | tales here told, to give the songs here sung | to reproduce with all their delicious foriturt | the ouips and jokes here perpetrated; while | oceans of tea flowed gurgingly, and the DO | teen, clear as rock water and as guileless o | excise, went on it's winding" way.
 | One soul was here with natty attire, and 6 l smart kippen (switch) as token of authority 1 who to degree was the life of the joyoui | rustic board. Hated and dreaded, he ye | had wit and spirit that overrode the under current of i'll hnmor his "spying" presence created, and kept by sheer force of superio
 canniness the occasionally restless heart about him. This was the national schoo l teacher, the hated government drill borer; | an Irish nglish-Scotch mixture of frank | ness, brutality and cunning; that being wht for better worse has supplsnted him o blessed memory, the Irish 'hedge school
 master" In the language of hoarse bu convivial cartman, he twas the life of tn avenin'. whin not its death" His lovin, eye was upon all his neighbors and scholars his evil one upon the stranger who onl,
 wished ail we'll. Stories, jests and song
 had gone around, and I had done my bes
 with the rest. Finally, if to settle hi
 claims to superiority forever at one effort, ol
 asking for pipe and none being at his ser
 vice. he rose to his feet and, with twink of triumph at me, extemporaneously deliv
 cred these luminous lines to the host:
 Jobn Rutherford Walker,
 I'm not much Of @ Ialker.-
 GA voice: "The aisiest in three kingdomsP0- 1 But mind these true words that say:
 When OCT your days labsr,
 Have pipe for your neighbor,
 l If only pipe of poor clay;-
 For your soWl he ever will prayi
 fsI have ye there, me fine sundown!
 beamed from his face as he resumed his sea
 amid much applsuse; and all eyes conveye | to me consciousness of his mortal challenge Sore1y pressed for temporary expedient, t
 reach beneath the fifth rib of the pedagogue told them this brief tale of Scottish valol
 for the truth of which tradition, if not his
 tory, will vouch:
 | l..