The broad ax., 1896-07-18
A LIMP FOB LTBER I.
By Gerald Brenan.

Baccagh," hey called him which
Is Irish for ''clubfoot" He had beer
born lame; and though the good people
OF old Ireland are kindly to those In
atf1iction, 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-Pierus' father had been
In his day the acknowledged cham
pion OF the village-indeed, OF the
whole countryside. No one could hurl
a 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. 1t 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 Canavan 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" he said,
can do for the parish. I'm as help
less as a brOken-winged grouse"
You're young yet" said big 3~7-
nell, sOOthingly. Time enough 20
talk of that later on"
Young" mOaned Pierus "Baccagh."
Sure there's many younger than me,
that's doin' fine things already. Shae-
mus Roman can beat any boy In the
barony at long jumps or foot race.
Larry Ryan is as good a shot as a
grown man; an Maurice Moore, nv
'wn cousin, caught six trout last Fri
lay afternoon. loungi I'm old enough,
Iarrin' for the bad foot, Connell."
Connell Caravan sighed sympathet-
cally. He knew full we'll that the boy
My spoke truth.
P1erus sense of his own uselessness
vas redOubled when the rebellion
'roke out. The men, and ONE Of the
lder boys, even, went of to fight for
heir native land, but the poor club
Dotted fellow could only stay behind
nth the women, the girls and the old
len. One afternoon he was sitting
cottage door lost In a sad reyery.
hen a roar as if of distant thunder
roke upon his ear, followed by all
ther, and yet another. He rose and {,
'ent to the window. The day was
Dol and clear-there were no signs of
thunder storm apparent. What could
he booming noise portend?
Not long was PiernS left in ignor-
nee. A series OF shrieks from the
rect caused him to open the half door q
no Mobile forth. The women were
lddled together near the church yard
tie, gazing up the hillside to where :
e Barrow road curved into sight q
ON behind a wood of larches. Shad- u
z his eyes, Pierus looked in the :
me direction, and. to his horror and
nsternation, saw the men of Conner II
treating toward the village. many !;
them staggering under the weight u
slain or wounded comrades. Then 4.
g significance of the thundCrous :,
unds heard not long before was v
me upon him. They were the u
Ices of the English cannon.
The Irish insurgents scattered irum
village in all directions. but formed
ain beyond it evidently according SC
settled plan Towards nigh tail ey
approach of the English was her
led. The English artillery came III
over the hilltop, and the te
rs were planted along the heathery W
pc commanding the village. But no 60
ng was done that night. as dark nv
IS set In rapidly; and soon the an