The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1896-07-18
4 Limp FOR LIBER I.
By Gerald Brenan.

Baccagh," hey called him which
Is Irish for 'clubfoot" He had been
born lame; and though the good people
Of old Ireland are kindly to those in
affection, but little SUNSHINE had en-
tered into the life Of H.tle Pierus
Moore
. How sad il must have been for Pie
rus Moore-Pierus "clubfOOt'-who
could never hope to share their daring
sports or win a name for himself IN
the simple annals OF his mountain
kin
Harder still-PierIls' father had been
In his day the acknowledged cham
pion OF the village-indeed, OF the
whole countryside. No one could hurl
weight. leap a fence, run, ride or
wrestle with Lysaght Moore. But now
that Lysaght was growing old, his
hair gray and his joints stiff. the lead
ership in sport had passed into young
er hands Ii was a sore reflection for
the old champion that he could never
hand down his hardwon honors TO
this crippled only son OF his-this
poor. puny Pierus "Baccagh." Old
Lysaght did not mean to be cruel, or
harsh TO his child. but in spite Of him.
self and his natural affection for the
lad. he could not help at times showing
Pierus the deep disappointment which |
the lameness caused. Then the boy |
would crawl out TO the corn-rack, be- |
hind the little cottage and assuage his |
bitter grief in tears and silent lamen-
tations.
Here one night Connell Caravan the
stalwart yeoman of Glenbracken,
found him with tear-stained face bur
led in the straw. and pityingly asked
The cause of so much sorrow. Sob
bingly Pierus Moore confessed his
many woes Never a thing" be said,
can l do for the parish. I'm as help
ess as a broken-winged grouse"
You're young yet" said big Hn1-
hell, sOothinGly. Time enough 20
ak of that later on"
Young" moaned Pierus "Baccagn."
sure there's many younger than me,
mats dom fine things already. Shae-
nus Roman can beat any boy In the
'arony at long jumps or foot race
AIRY Ryan is as good a shot as a
TOWN man; an Maurice Moore, nv
wn cousin, caught six trout last Fri
ay afternoon. Young! I'm old enough,
arr1n' for the bad foot, Connell."
Connell Caravan sighed sympathet-
ally. He knew full well that the boy
My spoke truth.
P1erus sense of his own uselessness
'as redoubled when the rebellion ..
roke out. The men, and ONE Of the ,
der boys, even, went off to fight for :
leir native land, but the poor club
)oted fellow could only stay behind
18th the women, the girls and the old
ZEN. One afternoon he was sitting
cottage door lost in a sad revery.
hen a roar as il OF distant thunder =
'oke upon his ear. followed by an :
her, and yet another. He rose and =
ent TO the window. The day WAS
'ol and clear-there were no signs of
thunder storm apparent. What could
e booming noise portend?
Not long was Pierus left In ignor- =,
Ice A series Of shrieks from the I
rect caused him to open the half door a
I'd hobble forth. The women were III
Iddled together near the church yard
te. gazing up the hillside to where Q
e Barrow road curved into sight d
I'm behind a wood of larches. Shad- n
his eyes, Pierus looked In the .
me direction and. to his horror and I
nsternatlon, saw the men of Conner -
reatlng toward the village, many -
them staggering under the weight u
slain or wounded comrades. Then =,
significance of the thundCrous -
lnds heard not long before was W
me upon him. They were the "
ICES of the English cannon.
he Irish insurgents scattered IRON
village in all directions. but formed
hin beyond it evidently according sc
settled plan. Towards Nigh tail ey
approach of the English was her =
ed. The English artillery came "n
1bering over the hilltop, and the tee
Is were planted along the heathery w
pc commanding the village. But no col
ng was done that night. as dark ay
s set In rapidly; and soon the an