The Irish standard., 1892-06-25

Happy SURPRISES AAoAo 0A0 WV
II sading through it, one at foot OF eac
range, and about half mile apart, bu
connected at various intervals by cross
roads. We will take the one commonl.
called the "Lower Road" which rum
close to the river Aherlow. Rising her
and there from the gilded waves OF rip
pling river are islets like graceful bas
jkets of verdure, with dew sparkling OF
the fringing willows like showers OF pale
diamonds Now our way is through
orchards laden with fruit or flowers, till
ing the air with aroma, now by grassy
meadows with cattle feeding, goats
browsing, kids skipping, and troops o1
wild deer careering across the plain
Tnen through groves Of mingled beauty
skirting the mountains, and throwing out
their branches, tier above tier. in every
variety of outline and coloring till they
are lost against the azure vault in q
pleasing confusion of tints that mock at
portrayal. The golden green vistas, as
we pass along, reveal pictures the essence
of beauty which angels might enjoy.
Reared up in majesty against the blue
ceru]ean vault are the rocks and peaks
of the Galtees, draped in aerial blue or
emerald green, with clouds Of violets of
the richest tint or delicate rose floating
like flowers over the silvery lakes, that
sparkle like pearls in a casket cn the YER
dant summit. Adown the mountain
slopes run thousand tinkling streams
now gentle as the lambs that sport on
| their Aowery banks-now roaring in vol
umed cataracts over dreadful precipices,
oft mingling with the whirlwind in
clouds of spray, to seek again their
mountain home, or lose themselves in
the tangled greenwood.
Perched, as if by magic, on the sum-
NIT of the mountain overhanging the
glen are four beautiful lakes. One OF
these, now called Bel Shade or Mus
kerry, is of considerable extent and sup
posed to be unfathomable. This is how
it got it's name: Coerbar, daughter of the
Queen Of Connaught, had one hundred
and fifty maideus who, MUM v year,
were transformed into as many birds,
but for the other years turned into their
natural shape. When as birds they
lived ON Lorgh Crotta Cliach. (Crotta
Ciach-the old name of the Galtees).
They were chained..in couples with silver
chains. One of them was the most beau-
tiful bird in the world, and wore red
gold necklace with three times fifty
chains suspended from it, each terminal
ing in a gold ball. SO the people
saw the bird every other day near the
outlet, called the lake Lough Beul Slad,
or the Lake of the Jewel Mouth-now
Bel Shade.
Nor is the sight the only sense that is
ravished as we pass along, for there. too,
are heard sounds sweet as the eolian
harp when the morning breeze plays
upon it's strings. The tinkling Of the
streams, the falling of unseen waters, the
bleating OF the aocks from the hills and
the kids from tho rocks, the lowing of
the kline from the pasture, the song of
the milkmaid from the bawn, the re-
sponse of the swain from the upland, the
wailing flute of the shepherd from the
hills, mingling with the piping and
thrilling of myriads of birds Of the "gen-
tie beak" from the oak and elm, form a
harmony that would have sent Handel
into ecstaoy.
Before reaching the village of Lisver-
name, which is as pretty hamlet as could
be found throughout the length and
breadth Of this down-trodden land of
ours, we pass by Ballinacourty the resi-
dence Of "Brave Massey Dawson" "a
gentleman worthy to reign in this little
terrestrial paradise. His demesne beg
gars description, and we must not be
presumptuous. Immediately beyond the
village OF. Stagdale is the old family resi-
dence of the Masseys. Amongst its
many beauties of nature and art is an
avenue lined with beeches- 80 tall that
the rocks on their branches seem to be
cawing in another region, and which for
their beauty and loveliness were, towards
the close Of the last century, as now, the
admiration OF the country.
At distance OF about two miles far
ther up the glen, and near the little
thriving town of Galbally, at the point
where the road crosses the river, is a
grand old ruin, laden with memories
beautiful as they are sacred, and death
less as they are melancholy. Like num-
bers of others throughout Ireland, this
monastery, once the home of piety and
learning, the centre from which radiated
the widespread usefulness OF knowledge
and the blessings of religion, whore
prayer and supplication rose up unceas-
inrly before the throne Of the Eternal,
Is now fast falling into decay q decay as
fill nf hAantv ae Of sadness.