The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28
As Good as the Arabian
Nights.
Collected In the Original Irish from the Lips
Of Irish Story Tellers.
~ JEREMIAH CURTIN.
ospyrishL 1892. bv jeremiah OSstN
PART Nv.

mud. Whom the hunt was over they returned
- the places where the first deer was started.
and began as was usual. to prepare the days
feast While preparing the feast they saw a
chip sailing into the harbor. with only one
Woman on board. The Fenians were greatly
surprised at the speed Of the vessel. and
Oyeermud said to Fin: " / will go and see who
y the woman coming in that vessel
"You have killed the first deer" answered
Din, and the honors OF the feast on this day
Ore yours. myself will 60 down and see who
No woman TO-"
The woman cast anchor. spranR ashore. and
oalutsd Fin when he zane to the strand. Fin
returned tho salute. and after . while she
asked: will you play . game Of chess for .
ssntence"
II will" swsrsd Fin.
They played and she won.
"What 10 your sentence on mef" asked Fin.
81 sentence you. under bonds Of heavy en-
shantms nt," said she. Ito take me for your
wife"
Fin had to marry the woman. After . time
she said: II must leave you now for a season"
Fin drove his sword then with one mighty
blow into . tree stump. and said: Call your
son Faolan little wolf). and mover send him to
M until he is able to draw the sword from
this stump"
She took the stump with her and sailed away
honsward. She nursed her son for only three
days. and preserved the rest OF tho milk for Q
different use. Tho boy was called Faolan. was
trained we'll In the use OF all arms. and when
10 years Of age he was skilled beyond any
master. One day there was . game Of hurley.
and Eaolan played alone against twenty-one
others. Tho rule OF that game was that Who
ever won was to get three blows Of his club
on each one who played against him. Faolan
gave three blows to each Of the twsnty-one
men: among them was one who was worry
much hurt BY tho blows and he began to say
harsh words to Faolan. and added: You do
not know your own father
Faolan was greatly offended atthis. He went
home to his mother in tears. and asked: Who
is my fathsr2 will never stop nor stay til I
nnd him."
Whist caused your vexation7" asked the
mother. why do you ask such . question at
this time"
Faolan told her the words Of the player. At
last she said:
your father il Fin MacCool. chief Of the
Fenians OF Erin. but you are not to be sent to
him till you can draw his sword from the tree
stump into which he drove 1t with one blow"
"show me the sword and the tree stump"
said Faolan.
She took him then to tho stump. With one
pull he drew out the sword.
Prepare mo food for the road" said Faolan.
II will 60 to my father"
The mother made ready three loaves OF
bread. kneaded them with the milk which she
had saved. and baked them.
my son." said she. do not refuse bread on
the journey to any one whom you meet: give it
from these loaves. even should you meet your
worst enemy"
She took down q sword then. gave It to him
and said:
This was your grandfathers sword: keep
It. and use it till y better one comes to you"
Faolan took a blessing Of his mother. set ont
on his journey. and was walking Away till
no came to q harbor whore no found q ship
hound for Erin. he went on board. and was
not sailing long when q venomous hound rose
up in the sea and cast such high waves at
the vessel as to throw 1t back a long distance.
Remembering his mothers advice about
sharing the bread. Faolan threw one loaf to
the hound. This seemed to sppease him. He
a not sailed much further when the hound
rose again. Faolan threw out tho second loaf.
and the boast disappeared for awhile. but rose
tho third time and drove back the vessel. Fao-
Ian threw the third loaf. and after disappear
ing tho third time tho hound rose the fourth
time. Having nothing to give. Faolan seized
. brasen ball which his mother had given him.
and hurting 1t at tho hound with good aim.
killed him on the spot A. soon as tho hound
foil, there rosa up a splendid youth. who came
on board. and. shaking Faolan's hand. said:
"Ithank you: you delivered me from en-
ehAntment. I am your mothers brother and
there was nothing to free me till ate three
loaves kneaded with your mothers milk and
Was then killed BY you with that brazen ball.
You are near ventry Strand now; among the
nrst men you meet will be your own father:
you will know him by his dress. and when you
meet him you are to kneel down and ask for
his blessing. As / have nothing else to give
you here Ia a ring which you are to wear on
your finger. and whenever you look at 1t you
will feel neither cold. thirst, nor hunger"
When they landed the uncle went his own
way and vanished. Faolan saw champions
playing on tho strand throwing q great
weighty sledge. Knowing Fin from his
mothers description he knott down at his feet
and asked for his blessing.
"If you are n son OF Nine" said Fin. you
are able to hurl this sledgs."
He is too young" said Dyeermud. " to
throw such a weight. and it is q shame for you
to ask him to throw it."
The youth then, growing angry. caught the
sledgs and hurled it sevon PAGES beyond the
best man OF the Fenians.
Fin shook hands with tho youth. and his
heart grew big at having such q son. Dyer
mud shook his hand also and swore that As
long as he lived he would be to him . true
cOmrada.
When dinner time came Fin babe Faolan sit
down at his right hand. whore Conan Maol.
son OF Norma. sat usually. Fin gave this place
to Conan to keep him in humor. Conan grow
enraged now and said: 1T is great impu-
dencs for a STRIPPING to sit In my place"
II know not who you are" said Faolan.
"but from what hear you must be Conan
Maol. who has never n good word for any man.
and ] would break your head on the wall. but
don't wish TO annoy people present
1t was a custom Of the Fenians in eating to
set aside every hone that had marrow for
Oscar. and as Faolan had a thick marrow bone
In his hand he began to pick out the marrow
and eat it. This eIraged Oscar. and he said:
You must put that bone aside as the others
put their bones: that is my due and l will
have it
"As the meat is NINE" said Faolan. so Is
the marrow"
Oscar snatched at the youth and caught the