The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-04-01
In kickham's Country

Copyright 1893 by W G. Chapman,
The loyeliest. most beloved OF Iris
I writers-the one that best knew on
( people, and felt for. and felt with on
people. and who accordingly foun,
their hearts-was undoubtedly Charlie
kickham; and his beautiful novel O
homely Irish life. "Knocknagow, o
the Homes OF Tipperary." is the mos
dearly priced story in Ireland.
Finding myself in the south OF Ire
land | must needs make pilgrimage e
the kickham country And that wai
why. on a beautiful Sunday Afternoon
" May. ! bowled along a road, pass
Ing half-acre field which is popu
larry supposed TO be in no county
though three counties run up TO II:
/ three fences. The sight OF big. bare
gaunt building. with roof broken and
windowless. grinning like a deaths
head at the passer-by. soon afterwards
arrested my career
What is it?" ! asked OF a country
boy
Tis house, sir. that was built by
a chap from America fve-and twenty
years ago"
And did he desert it,"
Faith, he had to-"
Why"
We'll. he built the house upon gen
tie fairy ground. and from the day
the roof went on IL. IL was crammed
full o thin lads" He accompanied
the reference to thin lads" with a
jerk of his thumb over shoulder. An
they neither give him PAIGE, night nor
day"
And he went back TO America
again."
No. then-he vent TO the divil."
Mullinahone. quiet. ut-of-the-world
village where Charles Hickman spent
almost all his life was entered by a
street that presented the appearance
of having had all haunted houses. for
most OF them were roofess. and all
OF them windowless. presenting a
most melancholy appearance
All the house owners on this street
] found. later. had been evicted al
most quarter OF a century ago. be-
cause. in the Land league days, max
ing bold stand for the sake of other
than themselves. they gave their ad
herence TO the no Rent" manifesto.
adopting the plan OF campaign, they
were summarily bundled out by the
landlord and their houses wrecked. /
spoke 70 one OF them who. fortune ia
voring, had managed to acquire a
shop in another part OF the village
and to prosper again. lie told me that
almost all OF the evicted tenants were
still living. or trying TO live. in or
around Mullinahone. and were expect
ing soon TO be reinstated in their
property, and TO resume the happy
life they had known ere for principles /
sake, they were cast upon the world. /
These brave fellows. and many an
other band like them in other parts OF /
Ireland. are crippled heroes OF the !
and war. II was their readiness TO I
sacrifice themselves. and their actual /
sacrifice. which, an object lesson to
he landlords of Ireland, showed them \
What the Irish tenants were prepared I
o do-brought landlords TO their \
knees. and saved tens Of thousands. \
I'VE. hundreds of thousands OF their 4
ackrented fellows throughout the \
and IL was their action. too. that
orced from the British government
resi- land acts and left their happier
elbows in easier and cheaper posses
ion OF the land. These evicted ten
of whom are 10 be found
n various part Of Ireland-nobly
taxed their all in defense OF the cause
and lost. Yet they suffered, and
in silence like the brave men
hey were. and il was their triumph
o see that though they lost. all Ire
and won
rs IL do know Charlie Kick" said
young man upon the street to whom
put a question. Well" refiectively.
With a loving shake OF his head. Il
blink | did. It's manys the time
when ! was a little bare-footed gor.
Don. meself an the other little lads.
When We were playing hide-and seek.
would go in and out under the table
Ie was writin' on in the garden" His
We kindled when he heard from nv
Ups the name beloved And observed
he same when ! mentioned Kick.
am's name to any other OF the vii
ayers. Howsoever indifferent they
night be in answering questions on
ther subjects. ! had but 10 mention
and they opened their hearts
q me-
When ! went to the chapel-yard 10
isit the grave OF the poet and novel
81 ] was followed by a few Of his old
'enian comrades and disciples who
ad got wind that stranger. much
Interested in Charlie Kick, had ar
ived In the village They shook me
Tarmly by the hand. and one OF them
hose head was frosted by 20 win.
FRS and more, but who was still OF
rect carriage and bright eve. showed
lainly that his heart glowed. since
had journeyed from afar 10 nav
omage TO the memory OF his hero
nd leader. These men took of their
ats and knelt by the graveside with
lie and prayed still another PRAYER
Or him whom they had honored and
'ved-him who. his hopes for Ireland
his yearnings unsatisfied.
Is long and trying struggle uncrown. Z
] with success. at length laid his I