Year: 1870

Saint Patrick had servant name,
Duan the Slender; the duty of this ser
want was to supply fuel for the home
stead of the Saint. Cne chilly winte
day he went with his ak into the forest t.
cut timber, and, on arriving at a weirC
and lonely glade, he saw an aged rowan
tree, or mountain ash, upon its border
He Immediately commenced to cut i
down; but his AK was very blunt from
constan. use, and his work, therefore
progressed very slowly. The morning
wore away, and noon came; but as yet
he had scarcely cut half dozen inches
into the stubborn trunk of the tree; so he
sat down at length beside it, weary and
sad, and began to complain, rather
loudly, of the poverty that prevented him
from buying new and sharper ak. AS
he sat thus, voice behind him called
out, "Duan the Slender!' three times.
\ Duan the Slender turned quickly
round, and beheld, standing near two
young and handsome men of rather
diminutive stature. They had long,
flowing, lustrous hair, and dark, piercing
eyes, that seemed to penetrate to the
very soul of Duan the Slender, and were
clad in luminous green garments. Duan
arose, and looked upon them wonder
inglyi .,
Have you called me2' he said at
length, half afraid, on account of their
strange looks and apparel.


Yes, answered one; :" we have called
you, that we may do you service if you
are willing. Your ak is very blunt, and
your labor is heavy


1t is, answered Duan, catching up
his ak, and looking disdainfully at its
edge:


1--WE will give you new ole, that will
cut down the whole forest in day, if
You comply with our request said the
young man.


/ will do anything" answered Duan,
to get rid of this useless and ancient
ak, and get new and sharp one
II is well, returned the young man.
Here is our request. After the mass,
when Saint Patrick turns round to bless
the people, ask him who are they that
can never share in the light of the Cos
Iel, that can never go to heaven" :"


j will do it, said Duan the Slender.
And now give me the ak; for must
finish my work and begonc.'


They went into the forest, and returned
with sharp AK of cleaning blue steel.
This they gave to Duan, saying that they
would meet him in the same place on
the morrow for his answer. They then
departed and Duan the Slender cut
down the tree without trouble, and took
some of its dryest branches home


Early next morning, when the Saint,
after celebrating the holy mass, turned
round to bless the people, Duan the
Slender arose, and called out in loud
voice: who are they in this land that
shall never enter heaven?"


" DUNE Airiachs, or the people of air, "
answered the Saint But, o Duan the
Slenderl why have you asked me this
question, that will bring sure and sudden
destruction upon youY


Duan waited till mass was quite over,
and the Saint had entered his dwelling.
He then told ST. Patrick what had hap
pened, and the promise he had made to
the two strange young men. 1t IS,
fear, fatal promise for you, said the
Saint; for when they hear the woful
answer from your lips, you will surely be



one plan by which you may escape their
fury, You may perform your promise;
but when you go out into the forest-glade,
dig grave and place yourself in it, with
the mattock and shovel placed over you
in the shape Of our holy symbol, the
cross. Thas await their coming, give
them their answer; and with the blessed |
sign above you, they cannot do any
harm.


Duan the Slender took his mattock ,
and shovel, went out to the weird glade I
in the forest, and did exactly as the I
Saint had directed He had scarcely
lain himself down in the grave, with the
mattock and shovel placed crosswise
above him, when he heard the patter of
feet, sounding through the
forest, and, on looking up, beheld his
place of refuge surrounded by count
less crowd Of the same beings he had
seen on the previous day. The two
younz men who had given him the ak
stood on the edge Of the grave, and
after gazing on him for sometime asked
him for his answer.


Il asked the Saint, exclaimed Duan
The Slender; "and he said that the Dune
Airiachs were they that should never
snter the Kingdom Of Heaven"


Immediately a wild yell Of fury and
sorrow arose from the great crowd.
They pressed closer round, and attempted
% drag Duan from the grave; but the
blessed sign prevented them At length,
when they found their vehement efforts
they turned, and, with an ,
,ther shrill and wailing cry Of sorrow
md bafEled anger disappeared amid the
onely reecsses Of the forest. Duan the
slender lell his place Of refuge, and
vent safely back to his holy master, but
,ver since tho people Of Ireland, at the !
,urial Of their friends, make with mat {
ock and shovel ST. Patrick cross above {
he grave





IL T., =.