St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-02-16
aIYis, darlin';; I'll make hay while

bAlG cuA E1ldSss % =
3But if the good people should
make a prisoner o Vein the noun
tains for life what's to become o
Ime?"
s'Don't be afeerd, Grace, darlin';;
before ye are three days older you'll
see me again, and even if I don't hap
pen to find the gift o. music, my heart,
like your own, viii still bein theright
place, n1avourneen.o
On the evening Of that day Jack
Purcell set out for the mountains of
slieve-naMon, having previously
provided himself with a torch and
taking with him for company his
friend, Billy Donovan. The hour
was now little past twilight. The.
sun had just gone down. II about ar
hour, however, after much difficulty,
they succeeded IN reaching the fairy
cave Tie entrance was thiekly over
grown with bTiars and bushes.
Having cleared away every obstacle,
they soon discovered an opening in
the mystic.eave. and, after Lighting the
torch, Jack Purcell and his friend
proceeded on their way, often stop
ping toadmire the beauty Of the land
seape that presented itself to their
view as they advanced. Inthe far dis
tance rose the outlines of a hill whose
green and sloping base melted inte
the moonlit bosom of smooth lake.
Sometimes they were compelled to
creep on their hands and knees
through the narroWest passes until
they arrived at the margin Of the
lake.
Beside the lake was green fairy
ring, into which as Purcell inadver-
tently stepped he was struck to the!
earth and instantly deprived Of all
Consciousness.
He was awakened by the sounds Of
5softsmusic, and, opening his eyes, be-
s,eld surrounding him a large COM
pany of little people playing on mu-
steal instruments, who, the moment
they saw that he was awake, desired
him to follow them, and touching him
with their wands they immediately
flew across the lake.
Jack having become as aerial as
any Of them, alighted on an island
which, tlleyinformed him, was named
'sthe isle Of Music Through this
happy island flowed river of such
clearness that Purcell could plainly
distinguish the cleaning of the pre-
eious gems which studded its bed.
Purcell was conducted by the fairies
into the presence Of ayvenerable leman
with a long white beard, descending
to his chest. This was the bard Of
the isle of Music.
Mortal, whence come you?Y de-
manded the bard, as he looked with
stern eye upon the trembling Jack
Purcell. ~
From Mullinahone, your mighty
hardship, replied Jack.
"What is your name"
/ AGshter John Purcel, at your roy
al saryiee.''
aAnd whyar you here, trespassing
on our dominions :@.,.s.s...-.~-.s. e.
81 KEN here, your majesty. to see
If I could borry a bit q the gift o nu-
sic before 7 begin to learn the bag
pipes"
20, you wish to become a piper?"
eyes, your hardship; the best in
ireland, if it's plain to ye
Know ye not, said the bard, Sethat
the gift Of music seldom bestoWs hap
piness on its possessor
Il know, your majesty, that the
same gift would make me the hap
piest man alive, for its then I'd be
able to marry my Grace.
Jack then told the whole Of his
sorrows and how his love for Grace
had occasioned his visit to the Fairy
cave. The bard was touched by Pur-
cells devotion to his betrothed.
"Well, Jack" he exclaimed, Syou
shall have your wish. =
So saying, he ordered one Of his
attendants to pick him a bagpipe off
the nearest tree, and then, command
ing silence, played that sweetest and
most sorrowful of all the melodies,
the Irish air Of "shnil Agra, " with
such pathos that the tears ran down
the visage Of Jack Purcell, the dying
eadences. being softly echoed By the
coughing of the trees and the melodi-
Gus whispers of the flowers
BY the powers o delight = cried
Purcell, 'if / was the owner q them
pipes I'd feel prouder than a king this
mint. | only wish they wer mine
it's then I'd bring the JOY to the sor-
rowful hearts o the poor"