The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-06
THE SCOTCH GIANT.
Story of is Defeat by Finn MeCoul, as
Told BY Father Healy.


NEARLY every reader of The Irish
Packet suppose writes Mac,
knows the story of how Finn McCoul
bate the big, enormous Scotch Giant
though few have had, us l had, the
pleasure of hearing the story told at
pleasant dinner party by Father
Healy, of Bray. to Scotchman. If l
attempted to summarize the story here,
it is with no ambitious hope of convey
ing even the faintest notion OF the
humor of Father Healy's telling of it,
but only to bring in Il neat summary
of the situation by one of the guests
on the occasion. 1t seems the big,
enormous giant got the wind of the
word beyond in Scotland of the great
name that Finn was making for HIM
self in this country. The Scotch giant
was mad all out at the talk that was
going around, and nothing in the world
would place him but to come over and
fight Finn. SO over he comes on the
Giants Causeway up in the North,
all as one, of ourselves would
cross the river on stepping stones, and
the water nowhere above his knees.
When Finn heard Of his coming, he
was a good deal disturbed in his mind,
for the Scotch giant was five or six
times bigger than what he was him.
self I'm Off for the day. he says one
morning, bright and early, to his Wife
-All, then, what would be bringing you
out in the wet that way?' said his
Wife. We'll, hear tell there is IL big
omadhaun of il Scotch giant coming
over to fight me, and I'd be afraid I'd
hurt the cratur, seeing as what he is
weak in the head by all accounts
The wife guessed on the MORTAL min
ute what was up With him, but she
never let on. Would it place We,
ashore, to brighten him back again to
Scotland all the way, and no one the
worst of it?' Gould it be done?' sez
Finn. If you'll be said be me- sez
the wife, it's aisy to do When Finn
agreed to her scheme, she dressed him
up in the baby's clothes, and put him
sleeping in the bed for baby. Then
she made two big griddle cakes, and
set them to bake be the fire, and an
iron griddle within in the middle of
one of them. She had hardly done her
work. when who comes up the hill but
walking like an earthquake, and big
tree in his fist that he had pulled up
for a walking stick. When he put
his head in at the half door, it dark
ened all the place. God save all here
SEE he. for he'd learned that much
manners anyways since he come to
Ireland. God save you kindly seq
Firms wife, and won't you step in.
me good man.? is the master of the
house within? SEE the Scotch giant.
Then he's not says Firms wife; but
if you'll come in and wait for him,
he won't be very long now.' I'm come
over from Scotland to fight him. sez
the other, very determined. FAX
then it's welcome you are SEE Firms
wife, lettin' on it's delighted she was
with the news. Draw down the
child's stool then and have an air of
the fire while you're waitin'. Himself
will be delighted to meet you. We had
word Of your comm, and it was only
yesterday he was sayin' to me he'd
sooner he baitin' you, than attn the
best dinner that was cooked The
Scotch giant wasn't greatly pleased at
that; but Finn in the cradle within be-
gan laughin' fit to break his sides.
WHAT'S that? WHAT'S that?' SEE the
Scotch giant, jumping at the quare
sound. That sez Firms wife, as she
med for the cradle, sure that's the
baby cryin', and me hearts scalded
tryin' to Place him. He's a fine
grown child SEE the Scotch giant
when he seen the big head of Finn
sticllin' out from under the blankets.
Fine enough sez Firms wife. 'Nlusha
so long out Of that with you, sure it's
humbuggin me you are to call that
little %row-badly the like. Sure Tom
Thumb is the name that Finn has on
the weeshy, pernickety little Great
| ereen.' Bedad this took terrible rise
out of the Scotch giant, thinking to
| himself what the father must be like
ut ALL at all. He jumped up all at once
from his stool. II must be goin', seq
he. Then Why? seq She I'm in Il
| hurry sez he. Wait till your hurry
| is over seq she. Il can't sez he.
You'll excuse me to your husband,
ma'am,' seq he, as polite as you PLACE.
| You'll have a bit and sup seZ she,
after your long walk Il haven't the
time sez he. Sure you wouldn't bring
the curse of the house on you going off
that ways. The cake is ready there
| be the fire, and it's time to feed the
boy anyways With that she took up
the two griddle cakes that We're bakin'
be the fire, and she gave one of them
to Finn in the cradle, who began
munchin' it out of a face, and the
| other with the iron griddle in it she
gave to the Scotch giant. The Scotch
giant thought it was quare food for Il