The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-12


that poor coun-
try. If anything can give you horri-
BILE impression of drought and misery,
it certainly is Connemara
A profound dolor seems to rest upon
that corner of the earth. How plains
destitute of verdure extend at the right
of chain of mountains, which are
bare, as though they had been ravaged
by fire. These immense spaces are
without village, often without even
single dwelling.
The few which we passed at inter-
walls consist only of four stone walls
piled up without cement, and with
black roof. From the back of these
dreary 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;
~ w ipbSh NcONNh oiiCCSs
1t may be wooden stockings; it may be
little bunch of flowers, plucked from
the mountain side. They run shouting,
hurrying, hustling each other.
Penny, please! penny, please!' they
repeat over and over. A penny is final
ly cast to them.
Immediately there is a brawling,
struggling and fist pounding The con-
queror deserts the ranks of our follow
ers, but the others still pursue the car
riage. One by one the small flock drop
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 in the dust raised
by the Wheels uttering last penny,
pleaser' with labored and painting
breath.
About eleven o'clock we arrived at
Ougtherard, near Lake Correb. This
lake is said to contain as many islands
and also as many inhabitants as there
are days in the year. Here we should
breakfast.
For a long time 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 as we passed along. Tall and
slender for her age, she had charm
ing face of the true Irish type of
beauty. Her complexion was darlxly
Drowned, and she had large blue eyes.
Her long run had put roses into her
checks; her parted lips showed her
brilliant teeth. A 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 ut her!
Suddenly she uttered cry, extended
her arm, 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 she
was and from whence she came. She
called herself "Betsey," and said that
she lived at ougtherard. We told her
to climb Into the carriage, and we
would carry her to her home. She
looked at us in bewiderment, as
though she could not understand what
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 10 be overioyed
at riding in carriage. 1t was her first
experience of that kind.
Ten minutes later we were in Ougth-
ergar6, a poor village of forty houses.
We gave two shillings to the child as a
parting present. She looked at it as
though she could rot believe her eyes.
1t occurred to me that the wound in
her foot might be infiamed by a walk
in the dust. therefore entered shoe
makers shop, the only one the place
afforded, and bought a pair of slippers
FOR the poor child.
Betsey watched this operation in pro-
found perpleXity. When / extended the
slippers toward her, saying they were
for her, she was dumfounded, intoxi-
Gated, dazzled. She dare not take
them
Finally, as firmly insisted that the
slippers were for her and her alone she
seized them and fed with a bound of
Joy and without even saying: Thank
you"
Little savage" thought l. She