The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-31

these lines OF distinction through tho
interest awakened in tho personal en-.
jbyment Of a IIallow efcn iestiyity,
while wandering among the peasantry
OF Ireland.
II was nlehtfall ere my peasant.host
aud myself, who had been passing the
day among tho Donegal glcns aud noun
tains, reached the farmhouse, where
quite number Of country.ioll, were
already awaiting our arrival. The
house itaGli was somewhat larger Than
tho average Irish cabin. 1t contained
three very large sguarc rooms. Above
these were fairly spacious lofts, rather
close against tho tliatchcs, whore most
OF the scan;y stores were placed, and
where tho entire family were disposed
OF ut night In hunks not unlike sailors
In q VesIsPs forccastlc. But across the
road stood q mortar-wnlled barn rs
large again as the house; and this,
aweps clean and cot to rights, Sas also
ready for hospitable service. Both
houge and burn wore lighted brilliantly,
considering tho humble means OF the
host, with Tampa, candles, and even
here and there an Irish Splinter" or
long silver OF bog.wood coated with
tallow.
With MI thozo constantly arriving,
came mysterious little bundles which
werc secretly edged into the peasant
mothers hands, or dropped with great
effort at nonchalancc in some odd cor.
ner; making 1t easy enough TO see that
Whatever might be the bounty OF the
night, each one had been mindful OF
tho farmers small purse aud tho Assem-.
blagc's concrete mighty nccds--all much
after the manner OF our American conn
tryside "donation party" Within,
everything the home possessed shown
rs brightly rs the faces OF all who came.
The housewife seemed swelling and
bursting with CHEEKY furry and heat
over pots and kettles and the great fire.
place OF the room; and sundry Eavory
odors promised much for u later hour.
Tho kitchon Ind been given over to the
youngsters, who were already deep in
their IlRllow zen charms and games;
and becoming one Of them, like the old
man who feared not for the fal!,' in
Willis Saturday Afternoon" soon
won place and honor.
rNpoUSpEp MrRTn.
OF all brief periods OF Irish pleasure,
Hallow cen yields tho sweetest, be-
cause the most harmless and innocent,
delights. 1t is the night OF unbounded
mirth, witching charm and sinlcss
dream. 1t is then that tho tendorest
OF all supcrstition's ceric broods, the
kindly Irish fairies, mingle with HIT
man moods and wish, and weave their
friendly spells through all the warp
and wool OF thought, emotion, dream
and desire. And his is an insensate
heart that will not grow younger and
tendcrcr undor the influence OF these
mirthful revels. Where will one begin
and end IN telling them as he sees and
feels them?
Over every door to house, room, or
barn, an apple.parins was hanging, and
some maiden's eager eye was watching
for him who first passed beneath, Tor
that ono the fairies had charmed as her
beloved. Groups OF lands on all-iours
ducEed their heads in buckets OF water
and brought out small coin with their
teeth. l.asses were cutting out alpha
bets with which the fairies were to spell,
in wafer basins, socrctly-chcrishcd
names. Stolen herrings-which must
DO salt; must be broilcd withou. turn
ing; eaten with hot tongues: and
dreamed on, without dyink"-now
made their appearance. Then the "ban-
nock-baking" and its wild merriment.
Whoever turned the hammock on the
huge griddlc that hung from the crane
was to wed her whose nimblc fingers
kneake1 its oaton meal, salt, soda and
water together.
WITHDRAWING" and "snap.apple" were
going OH merrly at the hob. The hazla-
nut ashes in dainty packets beneath
the pillows were TO pield charmed
dreams; the burning "snap-apples" told
whether loving pairs would sputter or
meilowy age during welded lie Then
there was the "dumb-cakc' making for
fairy-aidcd dreams; the "charm.pics"
with their buttons toT CID bachelors,
thimbles for old maids, and rings for
the lucky ones who should we'd the
"candle-and-sweets," suspended and
whirl.ng between grinninS faces where
teeth snapped for bites, ond luckless
frowsy hair was singed; and an
hundred other innocent delights,
leading to the more serious allnirs OF
"postman's-knock" and "forieits," where
genuine old-iashion kissing was there
for the fighting; and the struggle Tor
your rights, with abouncing Irish lass
from the mouGtatns insured her hatred
Ii you did not overcome her, and sore
body or broken bones ii you did!--and
then, amid deaicning clattcr and chat
ter, the supper in the great room, piled
upon tables like fat stalls in a plethoric
market, various, smoking, awful; but
with the joll!est, hungriest crew you
ever broke bread with in your life. And,
oh, for room in which to tell the tales
here told, to give the songs here sung,
to reproduce with all their delicious
Torture the quips and jokes here per-
pctrhted; while oceans OF tea flowed
gurgingly, and tho poteen, rs clear as
rock-wator and as guilcss OF excise went
on its winding way.
Shortly after, wild hullabuloo arrest
cd our attention. The "byes" had plan
ned Grea. surprise. Sallying forth
when tho tales and songs were at their
height, they had descended upon anoth-
er Aallow cen party few miles distant,
and by main force had captured q fiddl.
or and brought him bodily away; the
whole crowd OF defeated friendly rivals
following after in prideiul acclamation.
And here they came with wild whoop
and hurroo, carrying their prize on their
shoulders lntothc great.room where the
procession was received with ringing
cheers. 1t was old Billy Drain, the
blind fiddler, here now above all hosts,
countryside guests, or strangers; hat
less, coatless, GREATNESS from tho old