The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-04-01

70 answer their countrye call, and
were 10 have stood side by side with
him in the gap OF danger when free
doms tocsin sounded the call 10 arms.
But ere their fond dream could be &C.
complished they were fated TO see
their hero claimed. first by a British
prison and then By death
AS | looked up 20 the Celtic cross
that was reared above the patriot S
grave | noticed some straws sticking
out from the circle which bound the
arms, and. climbing aloft 10 satisfy
myself, discovered that there black.
bird had built nest IN which two
lovely black-spotted. green eggs lay
innocently. IL touched me TO find that
the beautiful songster OF our glens
had reposed her fondest trust thus in
the arm OF the dead PATRIOTS cross
And instantly recalled, too that
charming incident in his most charm.
ing novel, where "Wattletoes" wheed.
les the slice Of plumcake from Willie
kearney by dangling before him the
prospect Of being shown "a finishes
nest with five young wans-feathered
an all, when Christmas SHOWS were
on the ground. The blackbird that
built her nest and laid her eggs above
Charles kickhams grave did him
greater honor even than the loved
ones who lifted over him the beautiful
cross.
was curiously reminded of our old
friend "Wattletoes," when a lady. who
spoke with affection OF Kickham and
of Mullinahone-a Kilkenny woman
told me an incident that happened in
her youth. A simple herd boy Of her
fathers, who hailed from Mullinahone.
presented himself for confirmation at
their parish chapel. but the poor boy
made such a hopelessly bad showing
when tested on his religious knowl-
edge that Father Mat, impatiently |
jumping from his seat cried out: lis |
there God at all In Mullinahone?
To which the poor boy. anxious TO be /
as accommodating as possible. meek |
ly and sincerely replied. NO your
reverence, there isn't any"
The reply would have done credit TO /
"Wattletoes. Apropos OF the same 4
subject-if may still Wander can.
not forbear setting down here a more /
recent confirmation story which n
then heard. and which was also truly
Nattletoes like:
Billy Kirwan." said Father Tom.
quoting a question from The Prin-
ciples OF Christian Doctrine. on which
he was examining the class. what is
the first thing you should do upon ris-
ing in the morning."
Tackle the donkey. father" replied
Billy. an drive 10 the craimery."
! strolled through the few streets
OF Mullinahone. a quiet. lovely. home
" village. where one might easily pic
ture all the fun and all the sympathy.
and all the warm-heartedness of Kick.
hams 'knocknagow" still aourishing
n the breasts of this kindly people
went through kickhams old house
low inhabited by Mr.. Norton. one Of
he evicted tenants referred TO. and
one who very kindly showed me about
md told me Of Kickham's haunts and
habits. ! sat by the freside where
he gentle poet and hot revolutionist
lad had his eyesight impaired. and far
more seriously. his hearing BY pow
Ter explosion: and I walked in the
garden where the novelist had walked
IS he thought out his plots: and !
at in the shady bower where ne had
iat while he penned them; and /
ourneyed 10 the three ash trees be
'ond the town TO which Kickham
ourneyed every evening" and sat
n the fork OF the trees where he was
won't TO sit in meditation
The white-haired tailor. who lived
opposite TO Charles Kickham's house.
fearing that an admirer OF Charles
lad come TO town. sent me pressing
messages to come and see him. all
inpatient TO talk of his old friend !
whom he loved and admired When !
listed him he particularly pressed
pom me in order that | might take a 7
opy from IL faded portrait Of the S
'atriot which had been presented TO r
i'm by the patriots brother. On his
eros shining qualities the old tailor v
ovingly dwelt, while the moist CLEAN i
4 sorrow shone in his eve I
To the poor of Mullinahone Charles
Iickham and all the Kickham family c
fere charitable in remarkable de e