The record-union., 1894-05-12

were not averse to little jog in the crisp
/ evening air.
Never in Kerry had wedding or wake
brought so excited company together.
Tim Kinsella's cabin quickly grew too
small for the multitude. The mountain
boreen beside it was soon filled. Up and
down before the simple folk the Widow
Neny was sympathetically passed, while
reciting as best she might tho unaccount-
able appearance and conduct of the
| O'Donoghue in the cabin. She had not
tasted a drop, as scores could testify,
since the last fair at kenmare. 1t was all
a blessed portent for the people, and the
more that could lay eyes on the gentle
wrath of the lakes the more bountiiul
! the harvest and the greater the gifts OF
plenty and happiness which were certain
to be bestowed upon the valley folk.
| In silence they passed down the noun
tain side. They crept like wraiths of the
night through copses and bogs OF the val
ley. They crossed the Owenreach like a
host of silent shadows above the turbu-
lent stream. For time they were al
most lost in the great masses of coll, or
hazel, which line its western bank, where
they broke handfuls of the tender twigs
and budding leaves OF this almost sacred
shrub and bore them solemnly away.
Then they picked their noiseless course,
| lucky Widow Neny and bold Tim Kin
sella at the head, among the rocks and
brambles leading up toward the great
! highway from the sea, coming at last
near To Widow Neny's cabin, which
stood white and ghost-Iike in the moon
light, with now and then pale flush OF
rosy light fiaring from the snoldering
! peat embers against its tiny panes.
Not a loud word was spoken. Those
who wore shoes removed them. Behind
the hut they formed in single file, when
they took up their slow, measured and
silent march around the little cabin.
Each one on coming opposite the open
| door, for SO beneticent fairy as the Don
oghue had no need of shutting out so
harmless thing as the Killarney night
| air, gazed for a moment in rapt transport
upon the figures of the old man, sleeping
there as peacefully as a babe, and with a
whispered, heartfelt 'Cead mile failte''
! GA thousand times weicome'o! would
| toss a sprig OF hazel upon his form or
couch and pass into the darkness be-
yond.
Nine times was the cabin thus encir-
! cled, and nine times did each of the lowly
throng give welcome and toss sprig OF
hazel upon the recumbent figure, when,
with fervent thanks to Widow Neny for
! the great opportunity of casting mortal
eyes upon the blessed arraght, they
/ sought their humble mountain homes to
dream innocent dreams OF the pishogues
and charms innumerabla. few only OF
the boldest remaining with Widow Neny
! in the near hedge to await the develop
mentS of the morn.
asleep. bnt were suddenly awakened by
the excited Tim Klnsella, who, nudging
! the hedge sleeperS about him, calculated
under his breath,
by the five Grasses, there it is thin!"
The O'Donoghue was standing in the
cabin doorway yawning, stretching HIM
sell and shaking the hazel leaves and
twigs from his tine white hair and gar
ments.
''Bless the old cabin and all Killarney"
! heartily exclaimed the figure in the cabin
/ doorway.
1.-The same to you again, siventy times
siven" was the whispered rejoinder
| from all the party in the hedge.
IL haven't had such a sleep in forty
years." continued the o. Donoghue drink
ing in the morning air radiantly.
Poor craythur." said Mrs. DAILY com
miseratingly TO her companions in the
hedge. .pll go bail that slapin' under
wather's sorra rest!"
And what pleasant dreams," contin-
ued the arraght joyously. Il saw the
! faces of scores of the old Killarney folk
pass by this very door. every one with a
kindly look of welcome and word o1
blessing!'
"Whistr' whispered Larry Toler in
alarm, ''or he'll be afther spyin' us in th'
hedge, am th' charnl'll tly away wild it,"
"Ah, go an thin, Larry" retorted
Mother Hennessy wisely, cant he see
all Ger County Kerry widout half an eye
in his head? Sure an he knows livery
wan that tossed coll or said blissing th'
nightv
And who will dare to assert that there
are no fairies in dear old Ireland after
this" cried the old man triumphantly
as lie gathered huge pile of the hazel
! buds and twigs in his arms.
STEAMERS that wudp' True for you,
O'Donoghue." and bliss him for thin
same words!" were instant and almost
unguarded rejoinders from the synpa-
ihetic souls in the hedge.
Here the O'Donoghue tossed his arm
load TO the Widow Neny's already grum-
bling pigs. which thankfully began
munching them, while be pushed his
hands deep into his pockets.
And now for the Widow Nenyl"
That parsonage gave a little suppressed
shrek as her name was mentioned, but
was so vigorously repressed by her
friends in the hedge that no outcry fol-
lowed.
.Now for the Widow Neny!n repeated
the old man heartily. II almost ought
TO take her away with me for all her
kindness!"
The hedge was visibly agitated.
.'But no, she probably would not like to
90 so far on short notice, and the climate
might not agree with her either.'
"Howly mother o. Moses. But you
wor nigh a goner that time, Mishtress
Nenyr' gasped Tim Kinsella comfort
ingly.
II would not be an O'Douoghue,
though, if did not remember her hand
somely."
Here the old man began counting some
coin and the agitation in the hedge in
creased.
This yellow one.' and sovereign
glittered in the morning sunlight. ''shall
half sovereign shall be for Widow Neny's
clinked musically from one of the old
| falry's hands to another, shall be for the
Widow Neny's friends-the good people
/ of the night
With this the O'Donoghue stepped into
! the cabin. laid the coin upon the old deal
table, and. with parting look of pleas
ure. turned with strong, firm stride
around the hedge of rock which hid tile
| hut from the highway.
No sooner had he disappeared than the
half score of watchers in the hedge sprang
! towards the cabin. Before entering its
door they stopped as if by common inn
pulse. They turned, ciambered upon
] the ledge and burst forth in shrill cho-
rus of thanks and blessings. The O'Don-
oghue, now well upon his way up the
| little boreen, halted, smiled and waved