The morning times., 1896-04-26

put little sunshine had entered into the LII,
| OF little Pierus Moore
lie dwelt ia mountain village mid wa
| between the counties OF Kilkenny and
Carluw-a village famous in those days FOL
| TIE strong nlcu-the mgnty runuers aue
buriers "Ihcii II prouuceu. indeed, through
| out the soulncasJ or lreianu Une parish o
| Conner hau ueConIe proyerpIal as Il nursing
| place oI giants. On the bills around, grouse
| power ana snipc found iIauuIs To their hiking
ana Tie Conner rivers IaIrIy Swarneu VIII
trout. Consequently the village atnleles
were likewise skilled hunters and kno wing
| fishermen.
How sad must it have been for Pierus
Moore-Plerus club foot WHO could nev er
hope TO share their daring sports, or win a
hdihe Tor blnselT in tie simple annals OF his
mountain kin.
Harder stlIl-Pierus' father had been in
mis- day the ackno wIedged champion OF the
VlilaSe-lndeed, OF the whole countryside.
NO one couid hufl weight, leap Il IeuCe
run, ride or wrestle with Lysaght Moore
But now that Lysaght was gro wing oid
his hair gray and his joints stiff, the
leadership IN sport had passed into younger
hands. 1t was 4 sore reflection Tor the
Old champion thathec could never hand 10 wn
his hard-won honors to this crippled only
cagh.' Old Lysaght did not mean TO be
cruel or harsh To his child, but III spite OF
himself and his natural affection for the
lau, lie could not help at times showing
PleruS the deep disa ppointme ut which his
lamencss caused. Then the boy would
Graz wi out TO the corn rick, behind the little
cottage and assuage his bitter grief IN
tears and silent lamentations.
here one night ConnelI Canavan, the stall
Of nt,run nI-.r hf
with tear stained face buried in the stra W,
and pityingly asked the cas-. of SO much
sorrow. sobbingiy Pierus Moore confessed
MS many woes. Never thing he said,
can L 90 lOr the parish. lHi us .rip!ess
as a broken winged grouse
You re young yet said big COnnell,
sootningiy. Time enough TO talk Of that
later on
Young!" moaned Pierus "Baccag gh."
sure there's many younger than me
mats dom line things already. Sndemus
Roman can beat any boy in the barony
at long jumps or foot race. Larry Ryan
is as good shot as a grown man; an
Mduricr Moore. my own cousin, eau ght
SIX throut last Friday afthernoon. Youngi
I'm old enough, barrin' for the bad foot
Conneli.''
Connell Canavan sighed sympatleticaliy.
he knew full! well that the boy only spoke
truth.
Council" said Pierus. gazing with wet
eyes at the tan yeoman, lis there nothln'
-nothin Ut ali-tnali can 10 TO make my
father tnink well o me, an the parisu say
tlat fIerus Baccagh is some kim u use:
Conneli looked puzzled. ''AFrah, put
them thoughts out o. yer head, aNick.'
he SAID. 'Go home, an thry 10 3e ha ppy.
lis little time well have for shuuUlur
sroase or runnln' races this many Il long
daya -. Did ye hear the news?''
Pierus had heard no news, and shook his
head accordingly.
wei, tLc reuellion began in Wexford
yesterday. The United Iris hmen are
risin' all over the country, an word came
TO me at peep oday To get the boys o
Conner IN readiness. . They'll have
mere serious uCr grouse snOotm'
soon, I'm thinkn'."
The rcbellion!'' cried Pierus Baccaeh,
his eyes bulging. The boys will be fightin
the English?'
"Aye-fightin' for freedom. We can send
a hundred good men across the Barrow into
Wexford. Even the boys will fight"
"All except me, all except me!' cried
Pierus, casting himself upon the grass in
agony at this new blow. They'll all
march out ana I'll be left behind
Big Connell Canayan strobe out of the
corn haggart with bowed head, leaving the
boy to mourn in solitude under the rick.
There was work to do-men, muskets and
pixies to be raised; for already
The beacon of rebellion was blazing
from Mount Brandon in the south 10 Sieve
Marcy in the north. and the United Irish
forces were rising thick and fast to fight
gainst English rule. Presently the village
street was noisy with footsteps and ca ger
voices. Lights Shone from every window; |
md in every kitchen groups were gos- |
'ippng while old weapons OF war and chase |
were Furnished and made ready.
Meanwhile in his hiding place, Pierus |
Baccagh'' lay sobbing his heart out, be- |
"a use he was a weak, useless cripple, |
who could not thrust pike or pull trigger |
'or his country. he could hear the eager |
Foces of the village lads-many of them |
than himself-shrilly discussing |
he rebellion, and plotting to take share |
In 1t.
Wen slip out after the men" cried Mau |
rice Moore. when we get across the !
they can't drive US back"
"Hurro for ould Ireland.'' Justify shout |
I'd another youngster. Every boy in |
Conner will fight, barrin' Pierus Club
Foot"
"Whistr' third speaker exclaimed. |
Pierus'll hear you. Sure, 'tisnt his fault, |
les got a club foot an can't fight"
Then they clattered off to forage for
,ikes or firearms. A s for Pierus Moore, |
le arose and limped white faced. but |
esolute, into his fathers house. That /
conversation had decided him.
lie would fight for Ireland someho w in spite
If club-foot and emaciated body combined.
Old Lysa ght was cleaning an antique
Get ye to bed, alannah,"
e said, as Pierus entered. "'Tis busy
II be this night. The dra goons ma Y be over
he hills afore mornin',"
Father said Pierus, lean I go out
o fight wild ye?''
Lysaght Moore shook his head angrily.
Arrah, what would the likes of You be
DIN In a fight?" he answered Then,
epenting of his severity. he added more
indy: go to bed. Pierus. There's plenty
lore to fight for Ireland besides you,
lannah."
And silently 10 bed. hut by no means
o sleep, crept Pierus Baccagh He had
o mother to console him. nor any sister |
r brother: only this rough, somewhat hard 7
ather. whose very kindness was some
mes itself a wound. In the stiffness of
he night Pierus arose, and from a corner
the cottage took an old pike-one of
nose stout, steel-ponted weapons which
ad done duty in the Rapparee wars. This
e hid beneath his straw mattress, and
len contentedly fell asleep.
Pierus did not awake until the sun
Tas high in the heavens. Wrt,tched, in
eed, was his grief when he discovered
lat during his prolonged sleep Caused by
le vigil and weeping of the night beforel
Is father and almost the strength Of the
llage had marched away to join the
ain body of the rebels across the River
arrow. Moreover, the boy population of
omer had also disappeared. and Pierus
card mother telling mother with pride.
pspite their faltering voices. that the
even had gone forth TO fight
,r Irish independence.
II was useless irving TO follow the
en- and boys al that late hour, even If
e road followed by them were known
Pierus. An that was left for him seemed