The record-union., 1894-10-06

" y " GI6 dIOuR SOME pldi IL
ana nearly food was soon at hand, and
before the light had entirely faded from
the upper peaks of knocknadober, myself
ana my shaggy companion were sleeping
peacefully upon a bit of fresh straw
IN the secure, if not spacious, loft of
an ever hospitable Irish cabin ''she-
BEEN"
Although I slept heavily several times
during the night / heard soft knocks at
the door of our tiny cabin. a regular and
interesting odOr OF events, distinguishes
Die only by sounds, followed each OF these
series of rappings.
Our host would stumble to the door,
open little wicket within it, and then,
as II in great effort to adjure extraordina-
ry silence, give vent to ''sh-h-h-h" that
could easily have been heard for q good
quarter OF a mile.
Tear an ages" he would growl. "an'
VINO are yez, ye spalpeen, that'd sphlit
the mountain side intirely wild yer crash
in av th' durer'
Arragh, ye ouId shamer. it's meself,
Jenny DOoley, from beyant th' Caragh
tor Tim Duffy, av tn Dingle side, or
Jerry Cooney av Drung Hill, or Paddy
Doran aY Coomasharn), an it's feathers
weight o th' rale right sort I'd be havin,
swate bad luck to YET"
Dlvjl drop ye'lI get hare ye black
mouth .gauger! But Pll not be uncivil to
= S<-s CL IOuI % ul8uIs 11ON'S Gl6 woman
that owns yez? Sh-h-h-hr'
Better nor th' diviPs luck penny in
yer own purse!. pll go bail to that same
by the eIevens!'
''Sh-h-h!"
Then, as by this time the night traveller
had entered, came a dim light from
splinter set atlame in the smOldering
peat OF The fireplace and wedged in an
open Granny in the chimney angle.
IllS WAS invariably tpltOUyaa hu ba
sound OF soft and musical gurgling of
hquld from some heavy vessel and the
slIyery wimple of the same into a recep-
tacle or lesser capacity.
linen heavy clinking of coin like that
OF copper pence, suggesting a commercial
transaction OF well established character,
would be heard, and after this, guIp
and hearty smack, from the parting
cup" with the mu1ned toast, ''Shuid-
urth lhere's TO YOU &" when JENNY.
Jimmy, Jerry or Paddy would depart
down the b0reen humming soft strains
OF satisfaction and cheer, at which our
host would listen and growl for a bit,
when the light would disappear and our
potheen merchant would tumble heavily
into his bunk near the flickering peat
embers beneath the hob.
1hese incidents, growing more fre-
quent as the morning neared finally so
thoroughly awakened me that for some
time L laid listening to a distant rumb-
ling and roaring for which could in no.
wise account, and as there was a ladder
leading from the loft to the thatch of the
cabin byre, and thence into the little pad
dock below, l silently stole from my
companlon's side and gained the cliffs
oVernanglng the main highway, as the
hrSt tremuIous grays OF dawn began
throbbIng over the dark heather-sweeps
OF the mountain above,
a strange confusion of sounds arose
from the gorge below.
At first l could but dimly see down
there ghostly tumble Of moving things.
sometimes massed and ACCOMPANIED bv
BabbeIic medley OF voices, or again sep
arated into struggling objects making at
pest only sleepy anu silent progress to-
ward the hamlet Of Cahirsiveen.
But as the low-lying tog lifted. and the
morning light flooded in upon the wide
stone road, the nature of the ail-night in
trusions at the shebeen and the cavalcade
below me, was clearly revealed.
1t was Saturday morning-mOrning of
the faIr and market day at the old seaport
town, and all the quaint folk from the
wllds OF Iveragh, as was their immemo-
rial custom. were .'trundling to the fair
afore the break o. day"
And what queer, kindly lot they
were
Here was group of ''th' byes," wrig-
Cling along face to face, settling questions
OF mountain honor in tremendous though
friendly harangue and dispute. Then
followed cart, driven by the "ould
man." III which were the 'ould woman
an chIlder, slapln' rings 'round their
swate selves" Many carts there were
with pigs snorting violent protests anu
surprise, with geese craning their necks
in viciOusly- Missed defiance and interro-
CATION, and with sheep bleating pIte-
ously.
All these were interspersed with. or
followed by, old women with braideeu-
covered baskets; young women with
packages Of yarn or flannel: Iasses thum-
ping donkeys laden with creels, or guild
ing rec2icItrant goats and kids, but every
lass or woman knitting away vigorously
in time to step ana gossip; old men
bumped and severe, pegging along with
thump or stick and puff of pipe; and all
full OF whimsical importance and gosth-
ering, whether they had 10 sell or the
wherewithal to buy; and, of course, a
squad of constabulary TO remind them of
their serfdom, tagging attheir heels or oc-
caSionally charging at gallop through
the motley cayalcade.
Ny shaggy companion was shortly
ready for our own morning march. We
descended the mountain boreeu and
mingled with the fair-going people.
Walking thus to C2hirsiYeen we fingered
a moment at the ruins of the birthplace
of great Daniel O'Connell at Carhan
bridge; loitered for time among the
market day scenes beyond-where I saw
face | cannot forget until the moment of
all forgettulness shall come-and by mid
day we were among the fishermen of the
southwest coast. ut the tiny fishing ham
let Of Port Magee.