The record-union., 1894-05-12
Glengariff to the lakes has ever since

been almost shrine in consequence.
She had just returned from the noun
tain side of Carrantuohill with basket
of last years beech nuts for her two fat
pigs, mot for the rising of the heart that
was in them sure" as she truly re-
marked, ''bnt for the shamin' of attn in
them, TIL the rint day WAS o'er," and
was just about to requite their clamorous
appeals, when she was confronted at her
own door by the figure of a portly old
man with bland and smiling face.
1.-The O'Donoghue,' exclaimed Widow
Neny, hastily making the sign.
''None other" replied the old man
proudly. ATTEND first to the poor beasts, !"
he continued with kindly smile. "We'll
see if the pigs can't have more heartsome
food on the morrow"
''Indade an its little fat that'll go on
their ribs wild these,' answered Widow
Neny, blessing the day of her great luck.
but eyeing the portly figure furtively-
II used to gather them myself when a
lad," said the O'Donoghue in a plaintive
and runinative tone, as he picked few
basket, along under Eagles Nest, over
there, Mrs. -"
Mrs. Neny," said the widow with a
curtesy, wondering what next the O'Don-
oghue might have to offer.
'But that's long, long time ago, Mrs.
Neny."
us it now, your highness?" The
Widow Neny said this much aloud, but
she muttered to herself by the elevens,
twas fully a thousand years, If day"
$50 long ago Mrs. Neny, that Pve al
most forgotten how the inside OF an
Irish cabin looks. Might l step in a mo-
ment?"
The old woman began all manner of
excuses for the appearance of the cabin.
which, in truth, was remarkably tidy for
the region, and quaveringly bade the
blessed arraght enter, for no worse mis-
fortune can come to any lowly soul in
Ireland than to show tho slightest in
civility to one OF the visiting good peo-
ple."
The O'Donoghue stepped at once into
the cabin. In his elation he seized the
wheezy hand bellows and began upon
the smoldering embers. He piled few
blocks of peat upon it, and soon had the
shadowy old fireplace glowing ruddily.
"Ah, but that's poem out of the past,
Mrs. Neny! It's an age since l smelled
the odor of burning peat. In my coun-
try the fires are entirely different"
Poor Widow Neny believed him liter
ally, and behind bis back made the sign
again and again.
There's the little loft, just like the
one into which | climbed a thousand
times when lad! The stone strangers S
seat too. Here is the honest dead table,"
He raped it stoutly with his ghostly
knuckles. There is the cupboard, the
little recess in the wall; the old fireplace,
too. Nothing has ever tasted the same to
me since i drank from it; and those old
methers carved out of solid wood-the
same as those used in Erin twenty centu-
1es ago, Mrs. Neny."
True for ye. your highness, the
same," responded the old woman with a
little start.
''And that schrahag for the boiled po-
tatoes. How natural the old osier basket
kettle Tor Wetting the tay' aud that great
iron pot for the stirabout, the potatoes
and Tor boiling the cabbage leaves and
other delicacies ior the pigs! Why, Mrs.
Neny,o he continued enthusiastically,
sit makes me ravenously hungry, and
I've come long distance this day be-
sides.n
''Divil doubt the distance, your high
ness!n replied Widow Neny limorously,
''but in regards of attn an drinkin' Pm
towld ye have little need OF ayther where
you're from?''
Nobody wants there, Mrs. Neny, but
it's SO long since was here that the sight
of all these dear old familiar objects over
come me quite. Pd like to take this very
cabin home with me when L go. Indeed
/ would!'
Here the Widow Neny began a great
wailing at the prospective loss Of her lit
tie home, pigs and all. but the UDono-
ghue comtorted her with the merry pledge
that he would not whisk away the cabln u
at this visit, though he did insist upon
having a bite OF supper then and there,
which filled the heart of the lone woman
with an almst equal terror.
In a jitfy the white horses were gall
lopin'" above the .praties'' in the pot.
the .'tay was wetted by the fire." schow-
ders (oaten cakes) were set on edge
against the Goals for fresh toasting, a
fish from the lake was broiled. ana three
aigs' were roasted brown within the
Goals, all of which were swallowed by the
O,Douoghue with u wonderfully mortal
relish, while the Widow Neny 0epIored
the fact tnat she had no drop of "the
rale right sorto to offer her ghostly
guest.
..There is only one thing" ventured
the % Donoghue with sigh of the great
est satisfaction as he concluded his hearty
meal. (which would now make my pleas
ure complete. That would be TO pass the
night right here i'll this old cabin 10 hear
the roarings OF the stream and the sigh
ings OF the wind through the mountains
lust as l did when lad, long, long ago.
Can't YOU lind shelter with some OF your
neigh hbors, Mrs. Neny? Let me lease
the cabin for the night. You will lind
everything as you left it in the morn
ing"
highness.' gaspeu the atfrighted woman.
" An may ye Shape sweet rings round yer
head the night"
you'll fud a trifie upon the table for
your trouble in the morning. cheerily
called out the O'Donoghue after the dis
appearing Widow Neny, as the strange
guest began Ieisurely dlvesting himself
of his apparel and looking about the old
cabin with an almost boyish eagernesS
for a comfortable bunk in which to pass
The night.
Almost as swiftly as when iD the olden
DAYS sped the signal of alarm or rejoicing
from the hill tops among the helots and
the herus, WAS carried the winged word
of the Donoghue's return. for the Widow
Neny, white as a ghost, was soon after
inside the cottage OF Tim kinsella. Tim
kinsella's boy. Dan, was sent for Mother
Hennessy by The Crag. On her way she
looked In at the Glinn cabin in the Glen
Dennis Harty's family came over the
Owenreach in tumble, half of them wet
in the stream from the scramble. Jerry
Gloghlan, from Tomiesside, noticing the
unusual glitter of lights up the valley
came over with the Macnys, the Stritches,
the Wogans and the Tomans, while Larry
ToIer the underkeeper OF Muckros Abb
bey, being out for an evening at the Mo-
gilans, thought Tim Beohy's folks might
be glad for a bit of news, and they kindly
favored the Clancys. from Purple Noun
tain Gap, with cali on their way, while
the Clancys met Mrs. Daily and her