Morning journal and courier., 1894-04-21
TALES OFTEN TRAVELLERS.
A Manx Phynnodderee
By EDGAR L. wAKEMAN.


Copyright, 1894. All rights reserved.l
On the northeastern coast of that stur-
dy little bit of sea girt land set in the Irish
ees which its natives lovingly call ELAN
vannin Veg vesn, or ''dear little Isle of
Man," stands the lofty and picturesque
promontory of Maughold Head.
Behind 1t toward the mountains and
glens are the ancient village and church of
st. Maughold. At either eide, ciroling to-
wards the cities of Douglas on the south
and Ramsey on the north, are tiny old
hamlets huddlipe snug and sleepily be-
hind the shipgle or the sands of the muir
murous shore.
Grave fisher folk, whose wives and chill
dren gather the hsrvests of the land and
whose husbands seek the hsrvests Of the
sea, live plain, patient, plodding lives In
these little hsmlets, content In their am
pie homes of stone and thateh; proud
only of their integrity and that they are
Msnxmen; knowing no change and few
| ambitions from birth to death; treasuring
with their endless piety the supsrstitions
of a Thousand year,; and touched and
thrilled in their whole lives by no differ
ent nor greater excitements than the cleo
tions of parish clerks, their hslf-pagsn
Christmas tide festivities, their weddings
and their funerals, and now and then by
the oft recurring dolor of wreck and death
at sea.
1t was but few years ago that the little
feet of herring boats, sailing out of Port
Mooar, on the southern aide of Maughold
Head, had scarcely got beyond sight In the
evening shadows, when all the craft were
overwhelmed by sudden storm. Few re-
turned in safety. Most were never seen
again. For many days heart broken
watchers lined the shore. straining theii
eyes for drifting wreck or floating dead.
Two of these were q bent old woman
and fair Mapx girl. Often both would
be seen together, silent as the dead they
sought. Then one would go away for Z
few hours, while the other would remain
One or the other ever stood dogged senti
mel along the beach for many days ane
nights.
One morning while they were thu
watching, the girl suddenly splapg from
the old womsn's side and plunged into th'
shallow surf She returned slowly, dag
giug behind her some floating object
Then old Granny Quillisn knew the worst
and quietly came to the waters edge snt
waited.
'sIt's fawther." were the only words th'
young girl spoke.
CAV, Densie Quillian, then us be lef
alone at last" said the old woman softly
coming to where the body lay.
Il l. -, Ark
know th' dessd can speyk no more;" an
swered Dsnsie, smoothing back the mattet
hair and tenderly stroking the seaweet
from the dead mans face and beard.
"HsJl ns'er spsyk more this side G
heaven, Dsnsiei"
Granny Quillian laid her wrinkled fac
| piteously against the face of her dead son
Densie meanwhile took one of his cold
wet hands in her own and rubbed 1t
horny palm and fingers for little, an,
| croodled them within her bosom, as thougl
she would warm them again to life.
Thus they remained for o little ume
| Dsnsie looking out upon the smiling oceal
In dumb, heart stilled wonder, as II b
probs the eternal mystery which gives +
| all Mapx folk such harvest of life an
such harvest of death from the kind an
| cruel sea.
Then the two women lifted the body be
| tween them and bore IL from the ehort
Fishers fixing the gear for their boats; VIC
men mending the nets; cottagers ct th
highway side; villagers o. the two wit
their burden neared their own home bt
| yond ST. kaughold; even the children 9
play, only lifted their eyes for a momer
ss they passed. reminded of time whe
. some other one was brought, like this ON
y now, up from that cruel shore, and the
J. resumed their toll or play; 30 common al
a scenes like this in the dear little Isle {
a Man.
But even the lowly dead Of Nan mui
> have handsome burial tfbox.n 30 Johr
ny Bill Cronk, the coffin maker at 8
4 Mauehold, had thriven.
. He loved to hear the tempest roar aboS
!. old Maugb,ld Head; for this was the SCUM
y | which called him up nights, and left b
K window and door sjar that wailing wido
. or bereft and breathless children migl
y easier bid him come with his lantern an
: ysrd-stick to measure dead Fisherman Bi
a " Nick, Bobby Loo, or Johnny Bilbao
= for his last strong jacket.
n Johnny Bill Cronk, the coffin maker sr
"a village carpenter of st. Manghold, was
n sordid miser, too. His helper, now
= young fellow In his twenties, had oft<
"a heard him mutter, fI'll be laird o. half
= Msughold parish afore diep'
a :. The two were now In the little she
"a where the helper worked and ate and slep
(. putting the finishing touches on Cal'
A. QuillIsn's "box
Il eIt's too bad,n whined the old mise
eunninRly regarding his helper. "that