Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22

| jaunty braidoens when tho ilddles put
the mischief in their own and the Con-
nanght lads nimble heels.
"Bo uisy, mother dear" came sooth-
ingly from Nora; sits but tn frost and
tn wind playin' tn lcprachaun abovc.n
whats altman what's doues"
came from Maureen, last to gain her
footing upon tho cabin floor.
Its not what's done, darlints dear"
said the old woman mournfully, "its
what's doin.' Its tn great harm that's
comm Och, murthorl LUX Mt tn stonel"
She pointed with trembling fingers to
the rock upon the tueking table. Upon
one side was the word "Gauger" painted
in black. Friendly as was the warning,
mother Dreen was beside herself with
fear. She sank into the corner by the
fireplace, rocking and moaning piteously,
while the girls, comforting her as best
they could, set to mending the broken
tiles, and then to pounding the cloth
upon the table as assiduously as though
though their hands never knew other
employment.
Ellie soon returned. She was painting
from running and clombering, and her
face was full Of foreboding which
could not be hidden by her all f0rgiyable
tales to soothe the dear old mother there.
II ran y tn peak, but not sight nor
sound did / get. Sure, mother dear, it's
only joke by wan O. tn byesW
"Manim Yea agus wurrah y my
soul to God and the Virgin y she moaned
and muttered, shaking her poor old head
ruefully.
"och, thin, we're all born but not
buried, mother DEAR" pleaded Ellie
coaxingly.
Willelu l-willelu It's twice now
I've heard tn banshee's wailin' cry.
Whin TIL third wan comes, ayicl1s, its
TIL great sorrow'll come after; sorrow
like Inc poor Phadric loppin' DER tn
curragh slde-swate, bad luck t. tn
blackmouth gauger min An me a
lone shinadhree thin, weakened body
an me back bnt double wild toll an
dunnus (mischieyous misfortune). Och,
an wlllelul"
"There, there, mother, dear, don't be
fretlin' above tn day We nlver saw +"
persisted the tender-hearted Ellie, kiss
Ing and patting the troubled face caress-
ingly,
! The poor old body would not be com.
forted at once, and gave way TO the
|
tons, while the girls worked vigorously,
in time gradually shamming and sooth-
ing her out Of her grief; but Ellie, after
many grave and warning wink at her
sisters, descended into the cavern with
Nora, and there, while busying herself
about the brew, confessed with tears
and misgivings that her eyes had really
seen figure skulking cautiously down
| NIL Ratl Nf A,t., ts.s.s a,,l
Roundstone and the sea.
II the cabin above was a curious
place, 1t was y still stranger place in
which Ellie and Nora were now toiling,
while exchanging their saddening sur
misses and fears. Some CONFUSION of
nature had opened large flssure in the
solid rock, forming cone-shaped apart.
ment, perhaps 20 feet broad at the base.
The floor of the tuck-mill above was
reached by ladder to the edge of the
hole beneath the tucking table, which
opening was neatly fitted with thin
piece Of tagging. Light came in and
smoke went out through an opening at
the side of the cliff above the Tough.
Over this the little rill fell in such a
J yelling spray as to render detection of
the cavern, or Of smoke Issuing from 1t,
wholly impossible.
J Two clumsy caldron kettles with tin
covers, sealed with clay, were SGT on
J boulders above smolderlng fires of peat,
Tin pipes led from the caldrons to the
! still-worms, which were coiled in huge
tubs Of ice.cold water; and from the
mouth Of the worms white and spark
ling potheen trickled into little half
} gallon jugs beneath; while in dark
corner were tiny kegs filled with the
coloress but powerful spirit and sacks OF
barley and Of oats.
All.the folk of this wild region are
"agin the law" This to them legalizes
poiheen-making with all its dangers and
its breads. Besides, how could mar
riage, a birth, christening, or q wake,
be celebrated, a friend welcomed OF
, given speed, or any grief or joy be
drowned or lifted,n without drop OF
,, the blessed potheen, the lrishman's right
since long before tho flood? Militia,
murtherl the heart that cannot soften
to the wretched needs and shifts of such
as these, deserves no gladdening joy OF
tender sorrow Of its own
"Ah, Nora dear, it's sorra life we're
leadin' here !" sighed Ellie, pressing tho
clay between the cover and the steam
ing caldron.
0Its all that, Ellie DEAR" replied Nora,
replacing jug beneath the trlckling
worm. "What's got DER tn divil's backs
sure Z 60 off under 1t, thin u
! "fTrue for ye, Nora; but we must kape
grief from TIL ould mothers heart, as
long as liver we can. Oh, wurra, wurra
,, wild livin' at all But Nora dear, what
wud we do il tn gaugers do not be
comm, thin ?"
"Ph' gaugers comm 7" Morals eyes
were flashing now. "Hhim divll's
gaugers come here, T. kill us all wild
! fareer gairh overwhelmingly misfor-
! tune) entirely"
The excited girl led Ellie to the aper-
: ture beneath the tiny waterfall, aud
pointed downward, 1t was five hundred
feet to the dark waters OF the Tough be.
low.
IN OLD GALWAY.
/ Down through the very centre of old
. Galway PUSHES the river Corrib to the
| sea. from the weird, castle-lined, noun
: tain-hemmed lake Corrib above. On
either side are ancient mills, now
crumbling and deserted, full of arches
! and dark recesses like dank cloisters in
4 old abbey ruins, where tho water thai
: once moved the tlreless wheels frets
q and scolds among the shadowy silences
as If moaningly calling the dead actiyi.
ties to reawakened life.
' Deep in the ancient city's narrow
| | wynds are arch gigantic, corbel huge
A and gargoyled and balconied lattice.
| unrlr na LIMIT and uracaful nc thnu pb