The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-04-02

to answer their country's cel1, and
were to have stood side by side with
him in the gap OF danger when free
dom's tocsin sounded the call to arms.
6ut ere their fond dream could be ac-
complished they were fated to see
their hero claimed, first by British
prison and then by death.
AS | looked up TO the Celtic cross
that was reared above the patriots
grave | noticed some straws sticking
out from the circle which bound the
arms, and, climbing aloft to satisfy
myself, discovered that there black
bird had built a nest in which two
lovely black-spotted, green eggs lay
innocently. II touched me to find that
the beautiful Songster of our glens
had repoSed her fondest trust thus in
the arm of the desd 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 befor. him the
prospect of being shown "a finishes
nest with five young wans-fc& thered
an all, when Christmas SHOWS were
on the ground. The blackbird THAT
built her nest and laid her eggs an&ye
Charles Kickhams grave did him
greater honor even than the loyen
ones who lifted over him the beautiful
cross
| was curiOusly reminded of our old
! friend "Wattletoes,' when a lady, who
spoke with affection of Hickman 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 hOpelessly bad showing
when tested on his religious knowl-
! edge that Father Mat, impatiently
! jumping from his seat cried out is
| there God al 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
'Nattletoes. Apropos of the same
| subject-if / may still wander-I can
! not forbear setting down here more
| recent confirmation story which
| then heard and which was also truly
| Wattletoes like:
Billy Kirwan," said Father Tom,
quoting a question from The Prn-
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 to the craimery."
| | strolled through he few streets
of Mullinahone, a quiet, lovely, home
! ~ village, where one might easily pic
| ture all the fun and all the Sym" j.,
and all the warm-heartedness g. Kick
| hams "KnOcknagow' still nourishine
| in the breasts of this kindly peo.le.
| went through Kickhams ola house,
now inhabited by a Mr.. Norton, one of
| the eyicted tenants referred to, and
one who very kindly showed me about
| and told me of KiCkham's haunts and
! habits. sat by the Preside where
! The gentle poet and hot revolutionist
! had had his eyeSight impaired, and far
| more seriously. his hearing, by pow.
| der explosion; and | walked in the
! garden where the novelist had walked
! as he thought out his plots; and
/ sat in the shady bower where he had
| sat While he penned them; and
! iouneyed to the three ash trees be
| yond the town to which Hickman
| journeyed every evening; and | sat
in the fork of the trees where he was
wont to sit in meditation.
The white-haired tailor, who lived
! opposite to Charles Kickhams house.
! hearing that an admirer of Charles
! had come to town, sent me pressing
messages to come and see him, all
/ impatient to talk of his old friend
whom he loved and admired When |
/ visited him he particularly pressed
upon me in order that | might take
! copy from 1t faded portrait of the
patriot which had been presented to
| him by the patriots brother. On his
hero's shining qualities the old tailor
lovingly dwelt, while the moist CLEAN
Of sorrow shoue in his eye.
To the poor of Mullinahone Charles
I Hickman and all the Kickham family
were charitable in remarkable de