Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-11-04
A Fairy THORN.

alone either, for before his son sailed
DC Ind sent home very small boy,
gay1ne in q brief note that the little
fellows name was also Shaun and that
II his father did not want to keep
him he should send him back. Young
Shaun would wait two weeks to re-
coive him. If the youngster did not
appear within that time his father
would understand that his GRANDPA Lher
meant to keep him and would emigrate
without further delay. The boys
mother was dead. From these srate-
ments it will be inferred that the old
man and his son were not ION terms"
in fact there had been n quarrel, but
that had nothing more to do with this
story. The grandfather did not send
the boy back and no more was heard
OF young Shaun for fifteen years.
Shaun, the youngest. grew up duti-
1ully, at his grandfather'S knee. He
was spirited, but he had none Of his
fathers wildness. and the old man
and he were, like Pip and Joe Gargery,
sever the best Of friends
The old Shaun talked to him often
cbout his father, and naturally the boy
Thought much of the father he had
never seen. He was thinking of him
one morning in the course of one of
his habltual strolls about the neigh
bOrhOod when his meditations were
broken in upon by hearty voice hail
Ing him from across the dyke. He
looked up to see a tall, sturdy man,
dressed in what seemed to young
Shaun very fine clothes indeed; and
sporting q brilliant gold watch chain
across the somewhat broad eXpanse of
his waistcoat. Shaun liked the man
Hnstinctivcly. He had an honest, good
humored face, and his eyes twinkled
merrily under their twin thatcheS of
bushy hair.
God save YOU" said the stranger,
to which young Shaun answered i'll the
quaint delightful Irish fashion, "God
save We kindly
Then The stranger asked for old
Shaun, and, on being told that he was
mt the fair, stepped over the dyke and
engaged the Lad in conversation. He
was a most entertaining man, this gOr-
geOuSly dressed wayfarer; and, almost
before he knew it young Shaun was
eagerly cOnfidlng in him all his small
trials and tribulations. The big man
laughed peculiarly over the longing of
Gis hoy friend to explore the valley;
but he looked grave enough when told
OF old Shaun's sorrow, and how the
aged farmer pined for his lost son.
Presently he smiled again and asked
Lhe boy why his grandfather had never
visited the "Tree of the Lost Chill
urcn."
Young Shaun started. He had never
heard of any Tree of the Lost Chill
dren."
"Whatw exclaimed the stranger.
"And you Slievecarney boy! Never
heard tell Of the famous tree!"
Young Shaun shook his head. Tell
me about it," he whispered eagerly
why" said his new friend, sitting
beside the listening lad, Its an old,
old story. &" The tree is q fairy
blackthorn; and it stands on the very
top of The hills beyond, where the
FAIRY rath is. They say that Saint
Patrick blessed it, and promised that
if ever son or daughter came to be car
Tied off 20 FaiIyland, or leave their
parents roof tree hat tree should be
their trySting place. For. if the sor-
rowing father or mother should make
a voyage 70 the tree at the full of the
moon and call three times upon the
missing child the lost would straight
way be found.
In old times many and many
n lost child was found at the fairy
blacktEorn; but people are getting for
Fgctful in Ireland nowadays, and l sup
pose even your grandfather has forgot
zen the Tree of the Lost Children
Il will tell him." cried young Shaun.
"I'Il make him go there when he comes
back-this very night hell go there"
"Ayc, avick; do So" said the stran-
ger; and it was noticeable that the
more he talked the more his accents
lost the polish of travel and became
instinct with the brogue of Ireland.
Young Shaun insisted upon having
full particulars regarding the exact po-
sition of the fairy tree, and would
doubtless have kept his kindly inform
ant by the dyke-side all the afternoon
had not the latter's keen eyes discern
cd the figure Of a man toiling up the
hill road.
'IS not that your grandfatherT' he
asked, and young Shaun, recognizing
the bent back and blue coat, answered
that it was. Then the stranger rose
saving that he must perforce continue
his Journey, and left the lame boy in
n condition half of joy and half of
doubt
No Sooner were he and his grand
father seated over their dinner than
young Shaun plunged into the great
news Of the day.
"Gran'dad," he asked, "have We ever
heard tell O. the Tree o. the Lost Chill
dren?"
The old man started slightly. AYE"
he mumbled. "'Tis an Ould wifes
story. l had forgot. I'm thinkin.' p"
There was a gentleman here to-day,
then" continued young Shaun, volu-
bly,, that knew all about it.
He tould me to tell you that if you
went there and called out my dads
name three times, the lost would be
found, an dad would come back to us
again"
Old Shaun had risen and was trem-
bling, his lack-luster eyes fixed upon
the boy.
''Will We go to the fairy tree, gram
dadT' demanded the boy.
For a minute the farmers face
seemed to light up; then the old gloom
resettled upon it, and he sank back
upon the oaken settee.
''Tis an ould wife's tale, avick," he
said. Q. Yer father is gone for.
ever, Pm afeared.'
Young Shaun stumped across to the
eettee and put one arm around the
6unburncd neck.
''Sure, an tits worth thryin', at any
rate" he cried. Say ven thry it,
grandad."
At first old Shaun could not be per-
ETiaded; but the boys simple faith
HDaDy conquered, and it was finally