The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-28
BETSY'S SLIPPERS.

i Hft< Nr-lIILA A-tAf+--A At@~-- 7----C
friends. We were IN the southeastern
part Of the island and We're traversing
Connemara, the poorest part Of that
moor country. If anything can give &
horrible impression OF drought and
misery it certainly Is Connemara-
A profound dolor seems 10 rest upon
that corner of the earth Low plains
destitute Of verdure extend at the right
10 a chain Of mountains. which are bare,
as though they had beenravaged by IRE.
These immense spaces are without VII
lage. often without even a single dwell
ing.
The few which we pass at long inter-
vals consist only of four stone walls
piled up without cement, and with a
black roof. From the back of these
drearv cabins issues a thin thread OF
blue smoke.
In front of them one sees children
from five to twelve years old with naked
feet, sun scorched skins and ragged
clothing. They utter uncouth sounds
in a language which IS partly Irish,
partly English. They usually run after
the carriage for several miles. With a
supplicating hand they extend to you
some sort Of rude merchandise; it may
be roughly hewn wooden shoes; it may
be woolen stockings; it may be little
bunch of flowers plucked from the
mountain side. They run shouting,
hurrying, hustliDg each other.
Penny, pleased penny, pleasef they
repeat over and over. A penny is finally
cast to them
Immediately there Is brawling, strug.
Cling and fist pounding. The conquereI
deserts the ranks of our followers, but
the others still pursue the carriage.
One by one the small flock drop away.
First the youngest become exhausted
and stop. At last there are only three
then two-then only one, who in his
turn rolls in the dust raised by the
wheels, uttering a last Penny, please!'
with labored and painting breath.
About II O'Clock we arrived al
Ougterard, near Lake Corrib. This
lake Is said TO contain as many islands
and also as many inhabitants as there
are days in the year. Here we took
/ breakfast.
For long tine a little girl of about
twelve followed our carriage. She alone
had persisted Of FIVE OF six children, the
rest of whom had dropped away as We
passed along. Tall and slender for hel
age, she had charming face Of the
/ true Irish type Of beauty. Her com
plexiOn was darkly Drowned and she had
large blue eyes. Her long run had pui
roses into her cheeks; her parted lip:
showed her brilliant teeth. A ragged
brown linen waist and skirt composed
| her costume. Her naked feet, whicf
were remarkably small and pretty
seemed TO fly through the dust. Poor
/ little one! Our hearts ached to look al
her,
Suddenly she uttered a cry. extended
her arms and fell forward. We stopped
the carriage, but fortunately nothing
serious had befallen her. a projecting
stone had slightly cut her foot, which
bled little We asked her who sh,
was and from whence she came. She
called herself Betsy and said that sh'
/ lived at Ougterard. We told her K
climb into the carriage and we woulC
| carry her to her home. She looked a
US in bewilderment, as though she couiC
not understand what We were saying
We repeated our offer. She blusheC
with pleasure and gaveus look which
although full Of inquiry and wonder
was yet most grateful. She seemed Il
be Qverjoyed at riding in a carriage. i
was her first experience Of that kind.
Ten minutes later we were in Dug
terard, poor village Of forty houses
We gave two shillings to the child as
parting present. She looked at it a
though she could not believe her eyes
/ 1t occurred to me that the wound in hei
foot might be infamed by walk in th'
dust. 1 therefore entered a shoemaker
shop. the only one the place afforded
and bought pair of slippers for tbs
poor child.
Betsy watched this operation in pro
found perplexity. When l extended tn,
slippers toward her, saying they werD
for her, she was dumfounded, intox
icated, dazzled. She dared not TAX,
them.
Finally, as firmly insisted that tn,
slippers were for her and her alone, sh,
seized them and fed with bound o.
JOY, and without even saying g Thanl
you"
Little savageI' thought 1; ''she doe
not even know how TO thank anybody
Irejoined my companions, who wer,
already seated around the hotel dining
table, and we had soon finished oul
breakfast and were about to climb int,
cur carriage, when / felt little hand
within mine which sought TO detain me
Come, sir!' she said, "comer'
''And where do you wish to lead me-
''To our house. 1t is very near"
followed her. Ny companions wer,
not a little puzzled. She led me TO tn,
bottom Of a narrow street. There we
paused before a humble cottage. She
/ pushed the door open and we entered.
The interior consisted of a single room.
1t was without a floor and contained
/ scarcely any furniture. 1t was dimly
lighted by the feeble rays which entered
| through a paper covered window, neal
which sat an old woman spinning. She
was Betsy's Grandmother. At our en-.
trance three little black pigs scam2ered
under her bench grunting. In the cor.
ner stood the lowly bed of the grand
mother; at its side the little cot Of the
/ child. Just above her pillow Betsy
I showed me kind Of rough staging lean
/ IL &c-e-. - E-n IT, - In,
board covered witk . very white linen
cloth. beneath an image Of St. Patrick,
and between two lunches of white
flowers. l pcrceived-the little slippers.
The poor child looked at her shrine of
beauty with admiration and even with
religious awe, as upon a precious relic.
But you should put the slippers on
your feet. They are fer you 10 wear, "
Aid L could not help laughing to see
them set up as sacred objects of devo-
hon.
She appeared as;onished, almost an
cry. "Oh, neverr' she said earnestly.
They are too beautiful
We slipped some money into the
pocket Of the old grandma and babe
adieu to Betsy; but she coald not bear
10 leave US yet, and followed Us quite 20
the carriage, and looked after it with
eyes full Of tears as long as it could be
seen.
A month later we passed through the
same place on our return trip and made
q halt there as before. We did not see
Betsy. Before quitting that country, to
which | never expected TO return,