The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-11-30
THE STAR
OF THE
BOG OF .ANNEN.

BY JAMES RILEY.

crown, and, putting it in his pocket,
thought again OF the drink. For now
had he not the money to buy it?
1t was well known to Michael-his
mother had told him of it when he
was learning to walk-that the FAIRIES
never did anything that was wrong;
that the name given them long ago,
"the good people," was given in
"airnist, and no one ever yet was
hurt, or led astray or to do wrong
act by fairy.
So now, when he felt himself helped
up on the cart and the reins put into
his hands, and the horse was moving
slowly along to the road without
word from him-when he saw all this
he felt that tho fairies were doing il
for good purpose.
Why the horse should go 80 easy
over the bog surprised him, until he
looked back and saw that there were,
perhaps, q hundred little men push.
ing at the cart--the first against til,
cart and the rest against him. At tn.
IOuu u NOlCo Culuo Oub VI tuO bulChOl
which said: "Turn him to rights,
Nobbs" Then as the horse went uI
the bill, the little chaps would jumI
on to the spokes of the wheels wher
they came up over the center, an6
ride down on them, thus helping the
horse.
Michael was growing more thirsty
every minute, and he was glad when
he reached the top Of the hill,
and again the horse stopped before
the door OF Martin Haney's.
The publican was alone wheI
Michael entered; but he did not wan
to show his surprise to see Mr..
o Neil, the model man of the parish
who never drank, coming into hii
place. so he stepped back to wait or
his customer. As he did so Michael
lay down on the counter the bright
new crown. It's light was so bright
that the drink merchant stepped up te
it before getting the dram, only te
find he could not lift it from where il
was.
"What do ye mane," he said, look.
ing up with frown, putin money
on me counther that 1 can't take up
from it?"
"It's good money" answered
Michael, at the same time turning his
eyes to the coin and noticing that in.
stead of the queens head upon it was
that of the fairy king.
cts not it's counterfeit" replied
the man, with anger. "Sure, that's
not the queens head at all, at all!'
"Well, it's all the money have,'
answered Michael.
"Well, then, you'll get no liquor
here without ye bring the queens
coinl"
All this time Michael was stepping
back, and he now heard the door open
behind him, aud knew it was the fairies
telling him to get away.
He would have done so without the
hint, for he saw that only his money
was wanted where he was. As he
turned around, the coin was lighting
up the whole place, while "Nobbs,"
the fairy that drove the horse, was
blowing out the lamps. At this he ran
for his cart as quickly as he could, for
something told him he could not be
too quick; and jumping on the load Of
turf-the horse was already turned
toward home-he dashed down the hill
at an awful rate.
And he was none too soon; for he
had hardly reached the corner, where
lived Lord Darcy's gamekeeper, when
there was an explosion behind that
shook all Ireland. A bright light,
and the same star shooting back up
into the heavens, showed out the hill
behind, the public house OF Martin
Haney blown to atoms, aud around il
the fairies and fairy king were march.
ing, the latter waving his sword, and
shouting at Michael: "Hurry homel
hurry homel"
And SO he did; and what was his
surprise and Joy to find his Oldest son,
whom he thought had died in Aus
tralia, back again and rich man. But
more than this, was letter from
Thomas, in America, writing his scr
row for the wrong he had done his
father.
1t was always a mystery to the peo-
pie around the bog of Amen what be-
came Oh Martin Haney. The next
l.. III
wrecked as if by an earthquake, was
seen on the hill; but that was all. But
Michael 0'Neil, although he said moth
ing, and had no desire again in life
for drink, while he remembered the
good fairies, yet thinking something
dark might have happened to Martin
Haney, never forgot to pray for the
poor mans soul.-New York indie
pendent.