The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-15
THE SON OF THE FISHERMAN.
A Strange legend Told at the Fire.
sides of Ireland.
From the Philadelphia Times.

were very poor, ana supported themselves
by the fish that they were able to catch
from the rivers and the lochs about. The
son was not very bright, and daily the old
fisherman instructed him in the art by
which he was to gain his livelihood.
But the boy sat dreaming half the time
of gallant knights and fine ladies and
beautiful pranoing horses, such as he had
heard of from an old woman in the viii
lage. This day, while he gazed idly out
over the waters, he saw dark speck
moving, which, gradually drawing near,
proved to be a boat, in the stern of which
man was sitting.
The beach, where the two sat, being
very smooth the man drew his boat di-
rectly towards them, and jumping into
the sand pulled the craft high and dry on
the bank. The boy gazed at the stranger
with wonder and awe, for here seemed
the realization of one of his dreams. The
man appeared to be of high degree being
clothed in richest splendor, and carrying
himself with the air and grace suited to
prince or king.
Fisherman" the stranger said, adj
dressing the old man, "let me take your
son away with me for a year and day,
and I shall bring him back to you, here,
a wise man."
May" said the father, my son is dear
to me- though he Is not overnight, and
my old woman could not well part with
him."
Let the woman be!' the stranger said
roughly. ''They know not what is best
for their own. 1 am Gruagach, the mas
ter of tricks. Let me have the boy and
you will not regret it,"
After much persuasion, in which the
youth Joined, the father consented. So the
stranger and the boy went into the boat.
and the fisherman watched them disap-
pear; then he went to his hut, and told his
wife what he had done.
Again on a clear, bright morning, a year
and day later, the old fisherman sat by
the loch, straining his weary eyes out over
the water. Suddenly he saw a dark spot,
tar out, and as it drew near he perceived
1t to be boat in which sat two men. When
1t reached the strand, the elder jumped
out and called to the fisherman:
"Old man, what see We here?"
Alas, SIR" the father answered, ut is
year and day since man came and
took away my son, promising to bring
him back to-day"
otis well remembered" the stranger
SAID, land see, here is your son Is he not
a wise mann"
The father caught his long-absent one
to his heart, and wept for joy. But again
the stranger interrupted:
Let me take your son again, and I will
make him a wise man. beyond his years!'
The father protested, but the stranger
begged and pleaded, and the two again
parted. But in his grief the father forgot
to exact a promise from the Gruagach. He
| soon realized his misfortune, however for
when the boat was out from the land the
Gruagach called in:
II kept my word, and brought your son
to you, within a year and day. But now
1 have given you no promise. Say good-by
to the boy. for I shall keep him forever,
| and you shall see him no more"
With bowed head and heavy heart the
old fisherman sought his home; but when
he told his wife of their loss, she rebuked
| him, nor could either of them rest.
The old man at last set out to find his
child. and said to his wife:
And so. day after day, an old man might
have been seen, on a weary pilgrimage
| He rested but one night in any of the
| houses on his way and he soon was foot
sore and weary. But still he pressed on.
| One night he came to a hut where sat
an old crone over dying fire. When she
| saw his sad plight she asked him what
| trouble brought him to such sad traits
When she had heard his story she said:
| ALAS, alas, I fear your son is gone for
ever I, too, had a son in the long years
ago, and the Gruagach took him away. 1
will never see him again."
In the morning the old woman pointed
| to a road and said:
There lies your path. Seek your son,
| and luck attend you'll"
SO the father journeyed all day, and by
| night he reached the castle of the Grua-
gach where he was received with warmth
| by the master himself.
Eat and drink and rest tonight" he
said to the weary traveller, land to-mor-
row l will let you see your son, though you
may not known him. 1 will blow upon my
| silver whistle, and all the birds Of the air
will come at my call. Among them will
| be twelve doves. / will throw handful
of wheat to them and they will eat it.
While they do that you must pick out from
| them your son. If you, do not, you must
leave my palace forever and seek him no
| more"
That night. when all the palace slept.
the old father was awakened by a gentle
touch and there before him was his son.
Father" he said, Tomorrow you will
not know me unless you hearken to what
1 say. When come in as one of the doves
l will stay to the last. Then l will make
a circle about my comrades, Tapping my
wings and pecking at their beaks. AS ]
raise my wings you will see beneath one
Of them a mark which / always bore under
my arm. Keep your eyes upon me, and
choose me, and all will be well. Remember
my father, all that have said.'
In the morning the father arose and
breakfasted. All morning the Gruagach
showed him the wonders and the beauties
of his castle, but the old man kept think
ing all the time of his sons words.
AT noon the two went out into the court
yard. Here most beautiful treasures did
the old man see; strange flowers and
plants, and vines trailing over golden ar
bors. Beautiful columns of silver and ala
baster supported the wide portals leading
into the castle on four sides The sun flash.
ed down into this wide space, and the foun-
tain, playing in the middle, became ra-
diant with the diffused light. breaking il
up into its prismatic colors, and carrying
it in its spray high into the air, like vapors
of gold and green and violet.
Standing beside the magic fountain, the
Gruagach blew a soft blast upon his sill.
yer whistle Immediately there was q
whirring of wings, and flock upon flock OF
birds lowered over the wide courtyard
Among them were twelve snow-white
doves, each one so like the other that one
could not tell them apart These twelve
came near to the Gruagach, who threw
from his hand some wheat, which they
| Immediately began to eat.