The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-12-25
A CHRISTMAS EVE IN IRELAND.

Christmas eve in the mountains Of
Ballycolman, in the County Cork, Ire.
land. A blazing turf fire on the hearth
stone. In the chimney corner sat Daniel
Donovan, 70 years old. who could talk
nothing but Gaelic. He was twisting .
little wooden wheel which connected by
o passage under the hearthstone with
the middle Of the fire, which hickered
and hAred a. the current Of air swept
through. Next to the old man sat
Biddy, aged 20, with her hair brushed
smoothly back from her forehead and
tied in Roman knot at the back Of her
head. Close to Biddy sat Mary, who had
never seen black man or o Chinaman.
Sandwiched between Mrs. Donovan
and Mary sat the American visitor. The
old woman was smoking and grooming,
and little grandchild with cheeks like
ipe peaches stood with her golden head
resting on her grAndmother's knee.
The freight danced and CLEANED over
the little group as the December wind
came down the wide mouthed chimney.
The scene was 30 suggestive Of peace
and rest that for fifteen minutes no one
poke. Then Mrs. Donovan said:
"And mebbe the Yankee gintlemAn II
sing Us q songT
He would indeed have been an un-
grateful fellow who should refuse such
Q request under circumstances at once
% homely and 90 hospitable. And In
that grateful atmosphere he felt some Of
the old time sweetness come into his
voice rs he sang Of the harp that once
the soul Of music shed in Taras halls,
and told in song the story Of how two
eyes Of Irish blue looked up at Pat NAL
10y. And as he sang look Of rapt won
der and admiration came into the face Of
his homely listeners. he forgot that his
audience was q few Irish peasants, and
standing upright he clasped the back Of
his chair and poured out into the lowly
thatched cottage that wonderful aria by
Moligue, ''Pour Out Thy Heart Before
the Lord" BE had sung 1t before in
massive cathedral accompanied by
great organ, and had heard the tones Of
his voice go ringing down the echoing
nave, but never had he felt the sweet
ness and beauty Of 1t as on that Christ
mas eve in the lowly little cabin in the
mountains. And when he had finished
the aria and resumed his seat, Mrs.. Dono-
van suggested:
"Mebbe the gintleman will sing us
song about homeI"
Almost before he knew 1t the visitor
had begun, "Do They Mis- Ne at Homey
He reached the third line, ''To know at
this moment some loved Une were say
ing, i wish he were here,'" when he be-
gan to choke. The memory Of his own
home in far of America came to him.
What was the baby doing2 Did the
children have tho usual Christmas
treeP Was everybody In good healthl
Was any one wishing for the absent
one1 And before the Lines were out Of
his mouth he went al 10 pieces like q
ship on the ROCKS. He was Q strong
man who prided himsGlf on his cynicism
and mateFialim. he could not remem-
Der the time when his eyes had been wet
before. But sitting there upon Q chair
with Q seat made Of straw rope, and sur
rounded BY a. simple and dingenuous peo-
pie - the sun ever lhone upon, hsplaced
his hands over his face, and the tears
ran through his 1nges and feIl upon the
hearthstone. An ewestruck silence fen
upon the little group, BROKEN by the
moaning Of the wind In the chimney.
Mn. Donovan, her face shining with
sympathy, gently tapped the stranger
on he shoulder and whiPsred IN hil