The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-08-19

with desolation. I like these dreary
meadows, these bleak stretches of mel
ancholy moorland, these wild lakes
and lagoons.
cat the present moment l am en-
camped in a spot where, in all proba-
bility, shall remain for days. came
upon it quite by accident about mid
day yesterday, when on my way to the
market town of Pencroes; or, rather,
when l imagined that I was going
thither, while had, in reality, after
hesitating at three crossroads, taken
the road which led exactly in the OPP
posite direction. The way was DESC
late and dreary beyond measure
every side, occasionally rising into
heathery knobs or hillocks, or strewed
with huge pieces OF stone like the
moors of Cornwall. Presently the open
noorland ended, and we entered re-
gion OF sandy hillocks, sparsely orna-
mented here and there with long, harsh
grass, If one could imagine the waves
Of the ocean, at some moment of wild
agitation. suddenly frozen to stiffness,
and retaining intact these tempestuous
forms, it would give some idea of the
hillocks I am describing. They rose
on every side Of the road, completely
shutting out the view. and their pale,
livid yellowness, scarcely relieved with
a glimpse of greenness, was wearisome
| and lonely in the extreme. AS we ad-
vanced among them, the road we were
pursuing grew worse and worse, till it
became so choked aud covered with
drift and sand as to be scarcely recog-
nizable, and need hardly say that it
the caravan along; more than once, in
deed, the wheels fairly stuck, and Tim
and l had to pull with might and main
to get them free
''We had proceeded in this manner
for some miles, and was beginning to
realize the fact that we were out of
our reckoning, when, suddenly emerg-
ing from between two sand hills, l saw
wide stretch of green meadow land,
and beyond it a glorified piece of
water. The sun was shining brightly,
the water sparkled like mirror, calm
as glass, and without breath. AS we
appeared large heron rose from the
spot on the waterside where he had
been standing
"Still as stone, without sound,
Above his dim blue shade
and sailed leisurely away. Around the
lake, which was about a mile in cir
conference, the road ran winding till
it reached the further side, where more
L. hut hot
sand hills caught a sparkling glimpse
of more water, and guided to my con-
clusion by the red sail of fishing
smack just glimmering on the horizon
line) knew that further water was
the sea.
'sThe spot had all the attraction of
complete desolation, combined with
the charm which always, to my mind,
pertains to lakes and lagoons. Eager
as boy or a loosencd retriever I ran
across the meadow and found the
grass long and green, and sown with
innumerable crowsfoot flowers; under
meath the green was sand again, but
here it glimmered like gold-dust. AS I
reached the sedges on the lakeside a
teal rose, in full summer plumage,
wheeled swiftly round the lake, then
returning splashed down boldly and
swan within stones throw of the
shore; when, peering through the
rushes, caught glimpse of his mate,
padding andously along with eight
little tufts of down behind her. Then,
just outside the sedges, saw the
golden shield of water broken by the
circles of rising trout. It was too
much. I hastened back to the cara
van and informed Tim that l had no
intentionsof going any further-that
day, ct least