The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-13

that poor coun-
try. If anything can give you Il horri-
bic Impression of drought and misery,
1t certainly is Connenara.
profound dolor seems To rest upon
that corner of the earth How plains
destitute of verdure extend at the right
OF Il chain of mountains. which are
bare, as though they had been ravageG
10y fire. These immense spaces are
without Il village. often without even q
single dwelling.
The few which we passed at inter
walls consist only of four stone walls
piled up without cement, and with q
black roof. From the back OF these
drcary cabins issues thin thread of
blue smoke.
in front OF them one secs 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 supplicating hand they extend
TO you Some sort of rude merchandise;
1T may he roughly-hewn wooden shoes;
it may bc wooden stockings; it may be
little bunch of flowers, pluclled from
the mountain side. They run shouting,
hurrying, hustling each other.
Penny, plcase penny, please they
repeat over and over. A penny is final ,
~ cast to them.
struggling and fist pounding The CON
queror deserts the ranks of our follow
ers, but the others still pursue the car
-. flt,., l,,, 4 H. II ~
away. First, the youngest become ex-
hausted and stop. AT last there are
only three, then two then only one,
who, in his turn. rolls i'll the dust raised
by the wheels, uttcring Il last penny,
pcasc!' with labored and painting
breath
About eleven o'clock we arrived at
Oug'herard, near Lake Correb This
lake is said to contain as many islands
and also us many inhabitants as there
arc days in the year. Here we should
breakfast.
For long time Il little girl of about
twelve followed our carriage. She
alone had persisted Of five or six chill
dren, the rest of whom had dropped
away rs we passed along. Tall and
slender for her age, she had charm
ing face of the true Irish type Of
beauty. Her complexion was darlly
Drowned, and she had large blue eyes.
Her long run had put roses into her
checks; her parted lips showed her
brilliant teeth. ragged brown
linen waist and skirt composed her
costume. Her naked feet, which were
remarkably small and pretty. seemed
TO fly through the dust. Poor little
one! Our hearts ached to look at her.
Suddenly she uttered {. cry, cxte ndcd
her arm, and fell forward. We stopped
the carriage, but fortunately nothing
serious had befallcn her. proiectin.,
stone had slightly cut her foot, which
bled Il little. We asked her who She
was and from whence she came. She
called herself "Betsey," and said that
she lived at Ougthcrard. We told her
to climb into the carriage, and we
would carry her to her home. She
looked at us in bewilderment, as
we were saying. We repeated our
offer. She blushed with pleasure, and
gave us a look, which, although full of
inquiry and wonder, was yet most
grateful. She seemed to be ovcrioyed
dt rlulIg Ill cdrTldPe. III was her flrS t
experience of that kind.
Ten minutes later we were in Ougth-
crgarl, u poor village of forty houses:
We gave two shillings to the child as a
parting present. She looked at it rs
though she could not believe her eyes.
1t occurred to me that the wound in
her foot might be inflamed by walk
in the dust. ! therefore entered shoe
makers shop, the only one the place
afforded, and bought q pair of slippers
for the poor child.
Betsey watched this operation in pro-
found pcrplexity. When extended the
slippers toward her, saying they were
for her, she was dumfounded, intoxi-
Gated, dazzlcd She dare not take
them.
Finally, rs firmly insisted that the
clippers were for her and her alone she
seized them and fled with bound of
JOY and without even saying: THANK
you'll"
Little savage" thought I. "She