The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-07-09

said Clan.
ats little use your head would BIZ
to me- said the Gobhan. Keep It
yourself and swear true you will
travel and travel and travel till you
reach Balor's country, and that you
win not leave it without the halter
of the cow"
q swear IT," said Clan. II will no.
come back to Ireland without the
halter of the cow"
Clan set out and travelled and
travelled till he came to the dark
waters. He crossed them, and travel
led and travelled till he came to
Ralor's Court like a poor man look
ing for work.
what brings you here?" said
Balor.
'The wish to get work" said Clan.
why would take stranger"
said Balor, when I have plenty OF
men of my own?"
Maybe could do what none OF
your men can dol"
whats that?" said Balor.
MAKE trees and grass grow in your
country that never had green thing
since first the wind travelled over
it."
you're the man want" said Ba-
lor. Make apple trees grow, and
when see apples on them I'll give
you your own asking of reward"
I'll name my asking now" said
~ hn ho1
Of the Gobhan's cow"
81 will give you THAT" said Balor,
without deceit
Clan set to the making of the
trees, and hard work he found it. for
every leaf and twig that grew for
him in the daytime was withered up
by Balor's breath at night. At last
he made crystal wall round the
garth of apple trees, and the breath
Of Balor could not touch them.
They grew then and blcssomed, and
when the news of that got out every
one in Balor's country came begging
for branch with blossoms. Clan
denied it to them; he was every day
denying 1t till beggnr-woman came.
what makes you think you will
get the branch?" said Clan. when
would not break it for gold aud
jewels and the wealth of Balor's king
dom, why should break it for your"
Because" said the woman, II
have dreamed of your country" She
took the cloak from her face then,
and Clan saw she was as, good to
look at as any woman of Erin. He
broke off branch and gave it To
her. Like to like" he said. She
took the branch and went away. and
Clan saw the people staring as she
passed and bowling themselves. who
is that woman?" he asked, and the
folk about said: sit is Balor's one
daughter. She has the face Of
foreigner, and it is said she will bring
ill-luck on Balor."
Apples came on the trees after
that, and Balor's crooked mind began
ITO twist itself. He took the halter
and hid 1t under seven knots Of mag
ic and cunning. No one but himself
or his daughter could undo the knots.
When the apples were ripe Clan came
to ask for his reward.
my Grief and my TROUBLED" said
Balor, "the halter is gone from me.
and there is not a hand or an eye
belonging to me that is not searching
for it this moment" That was true
enough, for every one in Balor's
house was hunting for the halter.
while he stood outside wringing his
hands.
Balor's daughter looked out of the
window. She had the halter in her
hand. MAKE an end of your lamen-
taticns," said she, ''for the halter is
found" Throw it here to mel" said
Balor. Now Balor stood to the left
of her and Clan to her right. She
made crooked cast of her hand and
threw the halter to Clan.
IT'S good daughter have!" said
Balor.
"Sure," said the daughter, "if you
were as wise as you think yourself
you would know that a woman can
never throw anything straight. If you
told me to throw the halter to Clan,
maybe it's yourself would have got
It'll"
Well, that was the end. Clan had
the halter, and he went back to Ire
land. Balor put all his locks On the
COW, but the minute Clan put the
halter into the hands of the Cob.
han Saor the COW made bound and
landed in Ireland. 1t was then Clan
got grip on his champion-sword,
and all the good times that used 70
be came back again.-By Ella YOUNG.
in the Manchester, (England) Guar,
dian