The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-06

Three aigs, is it2" roared tho gian
fisherman, taking his Wite's little heal
in his Two huge hands-hands so BIZ
there was no place left on her glowing
tace TO kiss. ''Three aigs! Phats ID ret
aigs to empty craythurs like ourselves
suillish maehreeP
The big head descended to the LITTLE
head with almost alarming caresses.
"Sure Imply sacks can't stand. II
rubbing erase TO a fat pig to say II, bu
yez might drink wild this stranger in
coal.hole, wild yer eyes to TIL slack
Make It seaman slewsther (ksi
OF fondness) 4 villish (my sweet)."
Not one, but many 'slewsthers" werC
showered upon tho blushing and pro
testing matron now.
'An' two-eyed beefsteak Ia herring
for tn aich Nv us; an a tine miscaun Z
cone OF butter) from Misthress O'NeIll'.
or TIL crag; an a gawlioge large meas
ure) o. milk; an tn heartsomest tayst
In Kerry ENTIRELY wild bauaght DheE
orriu, ershl misha! (with Gods bless
ing on us, say I!)"
It was all that, in the pleasant cabin
and then came the problem Of my OWE
housing for the time l should remain
among the fishermen Of the region.
Tho cabin, like all others Of its class
had but one room below and little loft
above. There surely no place for me
in these. But in q little shed at the
end, dry and clean, where all the boat
and fishing gear was stored, We soon
had fne couch made on well.folded
seine, uud though clearly defined
aroma Of fish, tar and oakum pervaded
the place, as one little window showed
some sweet fern.covered cliffs behind,
and another gave superb view OF Va
fencia Island, the sublime promonotory
Of Bray Head, and OF the mighty sea be.
yond, only churlish traveller could
have found else than congratulation in
the sunny and winsome spot.
And yet how little served these quaint
folk fully!
There was not a chair within the
cabin. Two stone strangers seats. y
ono at either side Of the chimney, and
o few rude stools answered in good
stead. A bunk against the wall was
the bod OF the fisherman and his vile.
The bouchaleens and girshas (boys aud
girle) slept upon the floor Of the loft
above. Their only mirrors we're each
others eyes. One table OF heavy deal
stood beneath the window. One cup.
board, formed by little recess in the
wall, and another Of ancient Irish oak,
easily held all the households scant
though precious belongings. One or
two case-kuives, several fish-kntves
used in cleaning fish and in all seatar-
ing work, two or three earthen bowls, a
pewter mug for the rare treat OF sugar,
ono modern tin pan, huge pewter
basin and two or three saucers COM
prised all the ware for the table the
fisher family possessed.
Besides these there were few OF
those rare old Irish methers or square
drinking cups carved out OF solid wood,
precisely the same as those used in Erin
twenty centuries ago. A strong bot, or
tub, had its place beneath the table. a
schrahag, or fat osier basket, with mar
row sides, always held the boiled pota-
toes at the meal. And the cooking uten.
sils were the same, and as few, as have
been used by the peasantry since there
were such in Ireland.
There was a great iron pot for tho
stirabout, the potatoes and for boiling
cabbage leaves and other delicacies for
the pig: smaller iron kettle in which
an egg might be boiled or the "tay
wetted;" aud a great, round fiat iron
griddle in which black bread the schow-
ders and all extraordinary goodies were
baked, either hanging from the crane
above the fire, or set at an angle against
1t and turned as necessity required.
The schowder, next to potatoes, being
here the great staff OF life, really de.
serves mention. 1t is made OF a thick
batter OF oaten meal, seasoned with salt,
aud, on festive occasions, with the drip
pings from fried pork. Strictly speak.
ing, it is only the schowder when, as the
oaten cake baked on the great hanging
grlddle. it is additionally toasted or
roasted on the muddha arrap before the
greeshaugh or embers.
This muddha arran Ia tho only other
utensil OF the fireplace OF these fisher
men, or OF the Western peasantry at
large. It Is an iron-forked stick with
three legs, on which tho schowder or
fish, or any bit OF meat good luck may
send, are toasted or broiled; 1t is one OF
tho most ancient cooking utensils re-
naming in Ireland; and I mention all
these simple things minutoly, because
without John L. Shea's real environ
ment, tho strong, brave mold in which
his fine and humble nature was cast,
could not stand forth so clear aud lofty
in its sturdy aud noble worth.
III.
In comparison, wondrously sweet
and happy as seemed this little home.
nest beside tho lovely Kerry shores.
within it already lurked the demon OF
unrest.
Dumb and voiceIess as it might DO
and was, a pitiful heart-tragedy was
enacting here within one silent breast
10 me, its recognition saddcned every
happy hour; gave frowning seeming to
crag, headland aud lonely islet, dark
and baro; lent a shuddering dread to
the magic OF the son; and swept thrill!
Of potent through all the whisperings OF
the breczes along tho somber coast.
Not until the first evening did | see
Eileen. She was the fishorman's eldest
daughter. She crept into the cabin
hesitantIy, domurely, but not without a
certain hint of unconqucrablc deter
miuation and power ia her stature,
poise and movement, and with light
OF strange inquiry in hor great blue eyes
as they rested upon the stranger ditti'
IDENTIFY.
Her father greeted her fondly enough,
but more like q rough companion and
sharer Of toll than loved child, !
thought, and still with shade OF
anxiety In his honest, rugged face.
She stood for little leaning against
1 ~ At t,. at,n SsaHdu