Year: 1877




For more than twenty years it has
been my custom to recruit myself
every autumn with a walking tour
of over a months duration. By this
means | have seen more of these Is
lands than any one of my acquaint
ance, and have had peeps into the
inner life of the people such as few
tourists obtain.


In doing this l never overstrained
myself, as is now too often the fash
ion. l walked just so far as l pleas
ed, aud rested when nature or incli-
nation gave me the hint. Some
times my journeys were made in the
cool of the evening, sometimes IN
the early morning; | often slept in
the CABIN of some laborer, and not
once or twice, but a dozen time, have
been forced to make my lodging un-
der the lee of some friendly hay
rick.


One of these autumns, not less
than ten, nor more than twenty years
ago. ] made the west of Ireland the
field of operations. Starting from
Galway, in a little less than three
weeks time l beheld the broad wa
ters of the Corib, Mask and Conn
had lost myself in the wilderness
under the shadow of Croag Patrick,
and looked with awe at the head
lands of Mayo, against which the
restless Atlantic beats with a cease
less roar.


By the evening of the twenty
first day l found myself at Ballina,
my mind full of indecisions as to how
l should occupy the week or ten
days l had yet to spare. To go back
over the same ground | looked on as
loss of time; to plunge inland was to
doom. myself to days of weary
trudging through rather uninterest-
ing country. After deliberation, l
decided to head for Sligo, feeling
sure that the beatuies of Lough Gill
would repay me for my long walk
thither.


Next morning was up early, and
knapsack on back and stick in baud,
started off on my journey.


FOrsthe first mile or two, the road
was level and easy; but presently its
character changed, and the country
grew wild and poor. 1t seemed land
drenched with constant showers, and
beat upon by constant gales. There
was nothing to charm me in any
thing saw, so l hurried on.


After ten hours almost constant
walking, the country began to i'm
prove, and presently found myself
in the little village of Ballysadare.
Here l halted, for, as may be expect
ed, | was both tired aud hungry.


A good dinner, however, soon
made wonderful change in me for
the better. There were still couple
of hours to pass before dark, and
how better could employ them than
by attempting to cover in an easy
way the five miles between me and
Sligo? Once there, | could make up
by days idleness for this day of
extra exertion. So, after a short
rest, l shouIdered my knapsack,
grasPed my stick, and started on
again.


Once clear of the village, the eoun-
try began rapidly to improve, and
its scenery at one or two spots was
so pleasant, was half tempted to
loiter. was not more than half the
way, when l suddenly awakened to
the fact that nIghtwas beginning to
fall about me fast.


81 cannot reach Sligo now before
dark, that's certain" | muttered, as
| hoisted my knapsack an inch or
two higher, and began to cover the
ground at my best rate. "However,
the sooner | get there the better"


Presently l met a spot where four
roads met, and while | stood doubt
full which to take, a gig driven by
some one singing in loud key ,over-
took me. At sight of my lonely fig
ure the gig was halted suddenly, and
the driver ceased his song.


"Ah, thin, may l ask, is your hon.
or going my way?" said full, round
voice. otis myself that's mighty
fond of company of nights about
here"


81 don't know what your way may
be-" then replied. 81 wish to go to
Sligo"


@Ah. thin. an it's that same Sligo,