Year: 1878

icu uuIilB tue PCAiuh hBit9ttp!b
with which the whole Of ireland
was disturbed some years ago. Ny
husband was agent to Lord Rymer,
and as his property was very extern
sive it took a considerable time to
collect the rents from the numerous
tenants. always felt nervous
while my husband was away for this
purpose, but more than usually so at
that time, because, in all directions
around, bands of them were going
about making raids on houses for
arms sometimes, but very seldom
demanding money, and altogether
causing great terror and excitement.


The place where we lived was
about seven miles from town. The
house was a large one and there was
a nice lawn in front, and at the back
a flower garden beyond which was a
shubbery leading down to bOreen
that joined the high road about q
mile farther down.


On account of the disturbed state
of the country the former tenant had
had every window shutter lined with
strong iron plates, and extra strong
bolts and locks put upon all the
doors which were also protected by
thick sheets of iron. My father and
mother lived near the town, and be-
fore my husband and l came to Ash
grove we had a very pretty place
near them; so 1 used to feel very
lonely some times at being so far
away, and wished from my heart
that | could establish telegraph COM
munication from one house to the
other, so that we could send messages
to and fro, for messengers were scarce
in our neighborhood. However, at
last thought of plan. We had
splendid Newfoundland dog, most
intelligent creature; he could be
taught anything and understood al
most everything we said to him. /
would teach Rory to carry note for
me and bring back the answer
Very quickly he learned his lesson,
and greatly delighted my mother
and sisters we're when they saw him
coming up the garden path, know
ing that he had a note from me tied
round his neck, hidden in his curly
black hair. In the same way he
would take a message to my hus.
bands Office and, if William was out
he would wait for him-but he nev.
er dreamed of coming back without
an answer.


1t was near The end of September,
and the half years rents had to be
collected. William usually went by
himself, but, as there had been fire.
quent robberies lately, l entreated
him to take Jerry the coachman
with him. He refused at first, but,
on seeing how nervous l was about
it, he at length consented to do so,
l asked him to try to be home before
dark if possible, but he told me not
to expect him before ten o'clock. l
felt very uneasy all day, as of course
it was known to many that he would
have a large sum of money with him
on his return, and l feared that he
might be waylaid and robbed, the
road he had to come by being very
lonely one,


AS ten o'clock drew near could
not rest, and every FIVE minutes l
ran to the door, to try if could hear
the horses coming up the avenue.
l heard them at last; and, oh! how
thankful was that William was
safe at home again!


"Had you any adventures on your
way?' ! asked.


"No, indeed, Bella, except that
about three miles down the road,
just in the turn, Jcrry's horse came
near falling over something; it was
too dark to see what it was, but Cap.
tain must have seen it, for he gave
a sudden spring, and jumped clear
over whatever was there"


"Doed, ma'am," said Jerry, "it war
something vary strange, and l
heerd q quare kind o noise like in
the hedge alongside of US. "Ride on
sir, as fast as ye can," l ses to the
masthur, land may the holy virgin
be between US and all harm"


The horses were taken to the sta.
bic and put up for the night, and we