Year: 1878

about this time.

 "When the conspirators learned they were suspected, a meeting of the princi- pal men was called, and counsel taken together whether they would surprise the English by commencing operations immediately, or wait until the time ap- pointed, ten days hence.

 Grandfather advocated surprising the enemy, but was overruled, and two days before the eventful morning daHned, he and number of the prime movers were arrested while training in his back parlor, and thrown into prison. Though the leaders were in durance vile the febellion was not immediately quelled, but amounted to very little, all falling into confusion, there being no head to guide the troops, which by this time amounted to about forty thousand men, scattered over different sections of the island

 My grandfather was the only one of the many insurgents captured at the time who escaped being hung, drawn and quartered, and he owed his good fortune to his wife, who was the niece of the commanding officer of the English troops then quartered at Dublin.

 Bypleadings, and an abundant supply of tears, his punishment was put at ban ishment for life but the Government proposed and he disposed, with the help of his faithful wife.

 "She obtained leave to visit him in his dungeon, and on some of these occasions contrived to bring him full suit of British uniform and long cloak One day, shortly after receiving these things, he donned them, and then over all put on his ordinary clothes; then desired the sentry guarding his cell to conduct him to the bathroom, as he wished to perform his morning ablutions. The door of the bathroom swung on a pivot, and one could enter on either side, and this was very convenient thing for him.

 "The soldier paced up and down out side, listening meanwhile to the conver- sation between grandfather and some one else, who, he did not trouble him. self to inquire, but if he had he would have seen his prisoner talking to himself in two different voices, to give the i'm pression two people were there, while rapidly diyesting him of his clothes, and looking every inch an English Cap tain, when he stepped to the door and walked boldly out, on the opposite side from which he entered, with his cloak thrown carelessly around him, so as rather to mutfle his face.

 "Our soldier presented arms to his superior officer, as he strede quickly out, and all along his path was he treated with the same marks ot respect and just so bravely did he walk until he turned @ corner, then away went dignity and rank, and he was once more the fugitive flying for his life, and none too soon, as the alarm drums were beaten, and men were on his track He ran into house of one of the rebels, and there was concealed until he could be removed to place of greater safety, somewhere in the interior, and from there leave the country. To effect this, one of the cap tains of his vessels was ordered to be at a certain part of the coast on a particular night, and he would find something. We'll, he was there, and found grand father in the water up to his neck, where he had been for some hours, being afraid to remain on land. This vessel carried him to Wales, where 8 brother was hv- ing, but he, too, was closely watched, the fact of his having brother an Irish rebel being enough to cause the Govern ment to suspect him. Nevertheless, grandfather managed to communicate with him, so that when he landed he was immediately hidden, and in the most unconceivable place, hollow stump of tree; and in this necessarily cramped place of refuge he remained six weeks. At last he was enabled to leave British territory, and be as free as air on the Continent, until he came to America and settled here.

 My grandmother, now that her hus- band was safe, was able to act for her self, and display the wonderful mind she had ; so she collected together all the vessels belonging to grandfather, and they made quite an imposing fleet.

 "The ships were freighted and ready to sail, even the chests of old family sill verware on board, and the only cause of delay was the absence of grandmother and her little son, my father, then but five years of age. They were unavoida- ply detained, and the fleet sailed without them, which proved very fortunate thing, as day or two after it's departure there was a terrible storm, which sur passed in fury anything known before o1 since, and in that storm the ill-fated vessels went down, family silver and all At last grandma left Ireland, and all seemed prosperous, when a sail was seen ship was bearing towards them and pirates was the thought, for in those days they were often to be seen, anG were dreaded above all things. All the gold on board, and some little silver be longing to my grandmother, were ther hidden in the we'll of the ship, and sup posed to be perfectly safe; but it wal forgotten then, as it often is now, Lit tie pitchers have big ears.'

 "The pursuing vessel proved to be al

 English cruiser, and no danger wal

 feared; but as the captain came over tn,

 side of grandmother's vessel, my fathe

 ran towards him and said, with childisl

 exultation T know where all the golc

 is hidden it's in the well ? After tn,

 company had gone" ;" concluded our host