Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-17
OWNEY
THE PEDDLER.
A Story OF lrish Coun-
try Life.

A gray colt came over the road draw
| ing a cart behind him, with a man and
woman sitting on the crossboard Of
It The sun was white upon the road.
Rushy pastures, speckled over with
the snowballs of the bog cotton, were
on each side. Above were mounds and
hillocks covered with screens Of pine
and larch. There was moss as green
as emeralds under the larches, and
threads Of streams dwindied through
1t, and brown rabbits leaped over It.
| Between 1t and the lower bolghs black
birds flew with q whir of wings and a
chatter Of golden tongues.
| We're up against the house of the
smith," said the girl In the cart. She
put into the mans hands the reins she
had been holding. She crncked the
colt with a sharp cutting stick. He
broke into a great gallop. The ker-
chief few from the girls head. The
yellow Of her hair shamed the sun.
The whiteness of the lily was on her
cheek. The red of the rose was the
color OF her mouth.
The forge was by the side of the
lnne, near the corner where the gap
between the hiilocks opened out upon
the bog. High mountains were beyond
one end Of the gap. The bog was out.
side the other.
Get down, Shamusr' said the girl
to the man who was with her i'm the
cart. Tell the smith ye want a shoe
to the horse. Say that the Dublin
road is hard road for horse to cov-
er. I'll put a word in then. Watch
him an he putin on the shoe. Bid him
be quick, an then soy there's no hurry
upon ye."
They stopped at the smithy, that was
like a witch's cavern with the murk
dark that was in 1t. The broad wheel
shaped stone was set In the ground by
the door. Hard at hand was the pond
for cooling the redhot iron. The gal
loping horse drew up OF a sudden. The
smith and his son came out OF the dark
cavern. The smith looked at the colt.
The son looked at the girl.
More power to ye, good man" said
the smith to the driver.
I'VE want n shoe OH the beast" said
Shamus, getting down out of the cart.
The girl got down after him. He let
her do 1t without help. The smiths
son said within himself that the stran-
ger must be either the girls brother or
her husband. He felt his heartstrings
tighten when he thought of a husband.
He had taken two steps forward to
help the girl to alight. He took them
backward and remained leaning
against the doorpost under the Intel.
The smith led the colt from between
the shafts.
"'Tis long road to cover, that road
to Dublin" said Shamus, pointing
down the road. His hand trembied as
ne held 1t out.
He ground his teeth In his head.
"'Twould be long road II one was
goin IT," said the girl. Owney Joyce,
the son OF the smith, fixed his eyes
upon the girl.
| The color Of the rose went from her
lips to her cheek. She turned her head
away.
The colt was walked into the forge.
Owney followed. He went to the fur
mace bellows. He blew the furnace into
fire and molten gold. The smith red
dened the iron. He hammered 1t into
shape. He did to 1t all that was neces-
sary. He was careful and slow at his
work.
"Ye'd be a good messenger to send
for Death" said Shamus. beating his
hand against the doorpost.
The girl sat on the bank by the road
outside. There were primroses on the
bank, and humming bees went about II
and red ladybirds. The girl was look
Ing at them, and the tears began to run
down her cheeks. Owen Joyce won
dered why the sight of the primroses
and the bees and the pretty ladybirds
should make the girl cry.
1.-THE oak that takes longest to grow
takes longest TO fall" said the smith.
But IL yere In hurry I'll do my best
to meet ye."
There's no hurry upon me-" said
Shamus, turning toward the girl sitting
ON the sunny hank.
Except to get to our grandfathers
funeral" said the girl.
The colt was shod and brought back
10 the cart and harnessed under 1t.
"Y'ought let me put clamp Of iron
there upon the shaft" said the smith.
"That's dangerous crack In it."
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