The sun., 1893-04-02
FAIRY TALES OF IRELAND

Daniel Crowley aud the Ghosts.

farmer Of the nsighborhood. who. knew two
should hear them. m hence hone NE he Brought Brought in the
farmer. After sumo hesitation and protests
the d II
~ fresemblance with the .!Ghostly. Concert" 10
tale the dsmoniac leader of the ghost orches-
sht es 81 s veS tho only living 81 nD
present at the midnight rehearsal In this
Irish tale the ghost makes an instrument out
oil his own bodv-plRys on his ribs. There Ia
asplendld tale among the Western Indians OF
North America describing q, trial of skill IN a
by the lamprey eel lone OF the forms. OF water
greatest. musician in the world. The iampr
eel in the contest: using his own body US q
Rsnap s pysS e by s lf.. M Hp then
there are marks left on the body OF the lamp
rev. eel. Some Indians call water the LonGOne;
and water is certainly mighty muscian.l
There lived q man in Cork whose name was
Daniel Crowley. He was coffin maker by
trade and had deal OF collins laid by. 80 that
his apprentice might sell them when himself
was not home.
A messenger came to Daniel Crowley's shop
one day and told him that there was man
dead at the end OF tho town and to send up
coffin for him. or to make one.
Daniel Crowley took down a coffin. put It on
n donkey cart. drove to the wake house.
won't in and told the people Of the house that
the coffin was there for them. The corpse was
laid out on q table In q room next to the
kitchen. Five or six women were keeping
watch around It: many people were in the
kitchen. Daniel Crowley was ask ed to sit down
aud commence to shorten the night: that is.
to tell stories. amuse himself and others. A
tumbler OF punch was brought. and he prom
ised to do the best he could
He began to tell stories and shorten the
night. second glass Of punch was brought
to him. and hewent on telling tales There
was man at the wake who sang song: after
him another was found. and then another.
Then the people asked Daniel Crowley to sing.
and he did. The song that he sang was Of an
other nation. He sang about the good people.
the fairies The song pleased the company,
and they desired him to sing again. and he
did not refuse.
Daniel Crowley pleased the company SO
had three daughters wanted to make match
for one OF them and get Daniel Crowley as q
husband for her. Crowley was o bachelor,
we'll on in years. and had never thought Of
marrying.
The other spoke Of the match to woman
sitting next to her. The woman shook her
head. but the mother said:
If he takes one OF my daughters I'll be glad.
for he has money laid by. Do you go and speak
to him. but say nothing Of me at first"
The woman went to Daniel Crowley then
and told him that she had hne, beautiful
girl in view and that now was his time to get
good wife: he'd never have such chance again.
Crowley rose up In great anger. There isn't
q woman wearing clothes that I'd marry" said
he. There isn't n woman born that could bring
me to make two halves OF my loaf for her"
The mother was insulted now and forgot
herself She began to abuse Crowley
Bad luck to you you hairy little scound-el."
said she. you might be a grandfather to my
child. You are not At to clean the shoes on
her feet You have only dead people for COM
pany day and night: tits by them you make
your living"
"oh. then" said Daniel Crowley. "rd preior
the dead to the living any day il all the living
were like you. Besides. 1 have nothing against
the dead. I am getting employment by them
and not by the living. for tits the dead that
want collins"
bad luck to you. tits with the dead you
ought to be and not with the living: twould
be filter for you to 20 out OF this altogether
and 60 to your dead people"
I'D 60 II knew how to 60 to thsm." said
Crowley
"Why not invite them to supper 2" retorted
the woman.
He rose I'D then. went out. and called:
MEN. women. children. soldiers. sailors. all
that ever made coflns for. invite you 10 my
house tonight. and III spend what is needed
In giving feast"
The people who were watching the dead man
on tho table saw him smile when he heard the
invitation. They ran out OF the room. In a
fright and out OF the kitchen. and Daniel
Crowley hurried away to his shop as fast as he
could CO. On the way he came to a public
house and. going In. bought pint bottle OF
whiskey. put It In his pocket. and hurried on
The workshop was locked and the shutters
down when he left that evening. but when he
came near he saw that all the windows were
shining with light. and he was in dread that
the building was burning or that robbers were
in 1t. When right there Crowley slipped into
q corner OF the building opposite to know
could he see what was going on and soon he
saw crowds Of men. women. and children go
Ing toward his shop and going In: but none
Ha sna s Wan
'Tis a sha me 10 treat US thia way. Come ne now.
as he passed the threshold no saw a great
gathering OF people some were neighbors.
dancing, singing, amusing themselves. He
was not long looking on when a man came up
You seem not to know me. Daniel Crowley"
II don't know you." said Crowley. How
You might then. and you ought to know
me, for ] am the first man you made coffin
m:inaas for: and ,tTas gave you the first start in
Soon another came up. lame man: do YOU
knew me, Daniel Crowley"
II am your cousin. and it isn't long since I
died"
as now kneT s% gs for ye1 are a%s
WS"s hSw sm sims to g"t these people out this
'''fis early yet It's hardly l o'clock. man."
Crowley wondered that 1t was 80 early.
Receive them kindly" said tho cousin "be
good to them. make merriment as you can"
have no money with me to get food or
drink for them: 'tis night now and all places
are closrd.' answered Crowley.
We'll. do the best You can" said the cousin.
:, The fun nnd dancing went on. and while
Daniel Crowley was looking around eXaiuin-
ing everything he saw n woman In the far-ofr
corner. She took no part in the amusement.
but seemed very shy In herself
WHY is that woman so shy. she seems to he
afraid" asked ne OF tho cousin, and why
dfSsE. d1esn,t ,,he she dance and make merry like
ali ha dia nd