The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-13

cloths are made, the colors being got from
heather, and MOSES. and lichens, and
leaves, and barks of various trees. From
the shearing of the VOL off the sheep
back, on the hills, till The presenting of
the finished cloth in the market, every
necessary process is done within the fam
lily. The Donegal homespuns are, perhaps,
the finest in Ireland.
At Night in the Cottage.
At night the fire is often the only light
in the cottage. And with the aid of fir
blocks it makes a light both effective and
CHEEKY, a light that plays meTily with the
glinting delf and tints upon the dresser,
and makes the big shadows leap up the
walls and CULVER over the cupp,ers in the
roof. For use in particular occasions, oil
is now coming into general use, but not
long since the old man nightly cut and
seasoned long, slight. fir Spails for cas-
ual use. He cut and dressed the spails
as he sat in the corner giving his remiuls-
cences or telling tale to the eager group
that knitted or carded wool, or rested
from a hard days work, around the fire.
And afterwards, by the spails aid, he read
for them from the weekly paper the ex-
citing news of the week before last. The
fr-spail is still in use to some extent-but
It's one-time contemporaries, the rush-lght
(made by dipping a peeled rush in melted
crease, and the home made resin candle
have passed away.
The parish beggar is a familiar figure in
the nightly fireside group. With his staff
and bundles cast behind him, he monopo-
Lies the warmest corner of the hearth
and comforts him like any princely auto
erat. For every cottage in Donegal well
comes the POOR and the homeless: they
come and they go unquestioned. When
night threatens to fall on the beggarman,
he bends his steps for the "Warmest'
hOUS4a he oh nj oil
in, unbucl1les his bags and lays them aside
with his staff, in token that he deigns 10
favor the house by supping with the fam
lily and stopping there for the night Ask
ing permission to stop is unknown and
would be looked upon as irony or insult;
for everyone, good and bad in Donegal rec
ognizes the unbeatable right ''of them Col
has left homeless to the shelter of your
roof and seat at your table And the
beggarmau acts the part of a despot who
faVors rather than a guest who is favored
He dictates TO the household and, if neces-
sary, harangues and reprimands if due re-
spect is not paid to his words.
If he is one who makes profession Of a
school education, he may occupy leisure
hour by examining the chtldren-'puttn'
them through their facin SIN spelling
and calculating; and then lecture their IA
Their and mother with scathing severity for
not keeping more closely at school such
OlSClGI4tttbit CdiCuldtOiS. Anu uudilY4 MIGfl
he considers it time. he orders the house
hold on their knees whilst he leads them in
the Long Rosary-and when it is finished
dismisses them to bed, after which ne
smokes at his leisure, rakes the fire when
he chooses, and stretches him on his own
shakedown (made of an armful of clean
oat-straw) by the Preside, at his leisure.
In every Donegal cottage, on every
night around the year, the mother provid-
ed, OF course, there is no tyrannical beg
garman to supersede her), leads the fam
lily in the Rosary before retiring 10 bed;
and at the end Of the Rosary prays for all
dead relatives and friends; for the boys
and girls in America, mentioning each by
name, and beseeching God TO guard and
guide them amonst the stranger, and
bring them safely home again; and for all
who die in war or at sea, and have none
to pray for them.
Afterward she rakes the fire, that is.
completely covers the Goals with pile of
ashes (Which preserves them alive till
morning., sweeps the hearth, cuts the sign
of the cross on it with the tongs, and lays
the tongs lengthwise by it, 10 ward off
evil things and then retireS to peaceful
slumbers Seumas MacManus.