Mary Hazelton Blanchard Wade

“ America showed herself a kind friend in that sad time. It was some of the very food she sent to Ireland that saved the life of Norah's grandmother. She and her brothers were nearly starving when the help came. They lived on the seashore and had been trying to keep themselves alive by eating seaweed and moss. Those were dreadful times, indeed.
Mrs. O'Neil stopped to pat Norah's head, which was in her apron. The child was crying softly.
"There, there, those hard days are over now, my child," said her mother, tenderly. "The sky is brighter for Ireland than it has been these many years. ”

“ Norah crept close to her mother's side as she listened to the story. Her big blue eyes were full of tears.
This dreadful famine happened before Mrs. O'Neil was born, for Norah's grandmother was herself a child at the time.
The potato crop had been poor for several years, and many were the families who were obliged to beg from those who were a little better off than themselves. But at last there came a season when all the crops failed. It was the dreadful year of 1847, when the blight fell upon every part of Ireland. ”

“ It is just the night for them," begged Katie.
Her father liked nothing better. He began at once to tell of a battle between two bands of fairies. It was in the night-time, and not far from the very place where they were living.
Norah's father had seen with his own eyes the man who told the story of the strange battle.
The fairies were no more than nine inches tall, but there were millions of them. They marched along in rows just like any other soldiers. The men of one army were in green coats, and the men of the other in red ones. ”

“ It would be hard to find any spot in the world more beautiful than the Lakes of Killarney.
As the horse started up once more, they passed high stone walls covered with moss and ferns and ivy. The branches of tall trees met together over their heads, with vines wound lovingly about their trunks. The whole view was so beautiful that even the children became quiet. No one felt like talking.
"We will not spend any time in Killarney town," said Mollie's father. "This is going [60] to be a day outdoors, childer. We'll have a rale picnic."
Mollie and Norah clapped their hands. ”

“ FAIRIES
"Wake up, me darlint. You have been dozing by the fire long enough," said Norah's father.
It was a cold evening in winter. Patsy was sound asleep in his bed. The good mother sat knitting socks for her husband; Mike was whittling a hockey stick to play with the next day. Little Katie was singing her rag doll to sleep, while Norah lay on the floor by the fireplace with eyes shut tight and breathing softly. ”

“ The gentleman laughed, and said, "If you go to America when you grow up, you will find that two of our miles will almost make one of yours."
The car passed on, and the children stood watching the travellers out of sight.
"Isn't it grand to be travelling like that, Katie?" said her sister. "A jaunting-car is one of the finest things in the world." ”

“ When they reached the car, they jumped in, and all started at once for Muckross Abbey, at the other end of the lake.
It had once been a great place of learning, but it was now in ruins. Ah! but such beautiful ruins, covered with mosses and creeping vines. How the ivy seemed to love the old stone walls!
Some of Ireland's greatest men were buried here. Poets and soldiers and wise men lie in their tombs. Norah and Mollie stepped [68] softly and spoke in low tones as they walked among them, half-buried in moss and ivy. ”

“ Norah's pet chicken was going to see the sights, for he was perched on the goat's head. The old mother pig ran by his side, and the baby pigs, with their curly tails high up in the air, were trying their best to keep up. Everybody was laughing and singing to the tune of an Irish jig that Norah's father was playing on the bagpipes. ”

“ Mollie's father had more to tell of another man, whose name was also O'Donaghue. He pointed to a little island not far from the shore. It was Ross Island, and an old, old castle, called Ross Castle, was still standing there.
The stone walls were now in ruins. They were overgrown with moss and ivy. But hundreds and hundreds of years ago it was a great stronghold of Ireland's bravest warriors.
The chief of them all was the daring O'Donaghue. Even now he cannot rest easy in his grave. Every seven years he rises up, and, mounting a white horse, rides around Ross Castle. ”

“ A story has been told of a man who was travelling in Ireland and wished to see the country. He rode in a jaunting-car from Queenstown to Cork. He sat on the side of the car toward the hill and did not get a single view of the river. When he went back again he changed his seat to the opposite side of the car. And still he saw nothing but the hill. It is no wonder that, when people spoke to him about the river between Cork and Queenstown, he said, "There is no river. There is nothing to be seen except a hill." ”

“ Streets full of men and pigs. Everybody talking, and many of them laughing and telling each other funny stories.
And all along the sides of the roads were horses and donkeys fastened to queer-looking wagons, in which the pigs had been brought to market.
Oh, a pig fair is a jolly sight, as Norah's brother would tell you.
The two blue dresses were made in a hurry by the mother, and now the whole family were going to a party at Mollie's house. It was to celebrate Hallowe'en. Patsy had to go, too, for there was no one to leave him with at home. ”

“ As they sat eating, the piper began to play a soft, sad tune.
"They do say he learned it of the fairies," whispered Mollie to Norah.
Just then, the children's school-teacher came and sat down beside them. He heard the word "Fairies."
[75]
"Do you believe in fairies?" he asked Norah.
She lifted her blue eyes in surprise.
"Sure, sir. They live in the hills and caves. And there be some, I have heard, who have their homes under the waves of the sea. This night they are more lively than at most times. ”

“ With the home of our Irish cousins we are not very familiar, but with our Irish cousins themselves we have a better acquaintance, for many of them have come over to settle in America, and they were among the bravest of the American troops in the World War. Of the part in the war taken by their people in Ireland we do not know so intimately, but we do know that they sent many men to France to help England defeat the Germans. ”

“ It is because, long years ago, before even the Christ-child dwelt among men, Spaniards came to the west coast of Ireland and settled among the people there.
They gave their black hair and dark eyes to the people already in the country, most of [3] whom were fair in face, hair, and eyes. So it happens that sometimes they now have dark hair and blue eyes, and sometimes light hair and dark eyes.
"Norah! Norah, darlint! Come and feed the pigs," called her mother. "They are that hungry they would eat the thatch off the house if they could reach it." ”

“ They had wandered down the lane running through their little village, and were now on the road to Killarney.
"Why, Norah?"
"When you see a cloud of dust sweeping along, you may know the fairies are travelling. It might bring something bad to us if we stood in their way. We want them to be our friends, of course."
[15]
"Oh, yes, yes, Norah. I'll be careful next time. But I'm tired. Tell me a story about the fairies."
"I'm tired, too, Katie darlint. But I'll tell ye this much. There once was a man who did not care for the fairies as he should. ”

“ Her father had been to the pig fair at Killarney. He had sold his pigs for a good price, and had brought home enough blue cloth to make gowns for both Norah and Katie.
But what is a pig fair? perhaps you are wondering. It is like any other fair in the old countries, except that little else is sold besides pigs.
Pigs! pigs! pigs! Big pigs and little pigs. Pigs rolling in fat and weighing a good three hundred pounds. Little baby pigs, pink and white, and too young to leave their mothers. ”

“ A big frog played the big fiddle, and two kittens performed on the little ones. Then there were two big drums beaten [85] by cats, while fat little pigs blew the trumpets. It must have been a wonderful sight.
"The fairies are very fond of childer," said Mrs. O'Neil. "They are that fond of them, they sometimes carry away a sleeping baby to their own home and leave a fairy child in its place. And that's the very truth. But come, husband, tell one more story before we go to bed."
"Oh, do, do, father!" cried Mike, and Norah and Katie repeated, "Do, do," after their brother. ”

“ Norah and Katie both shivered when they thought of the snakes. How good St. Patrick was to drive the horrid creatures out of Ireland!
"There is a grand church in the city of Dublin called St. Patrick's Cathedral. When you grow up, Norah, you must surely visit it," said the kind priest, as he finished his story-telling. "It stands on the very spot where St. [40] Patrick himself once built a church. It is a fine building, and its spire reaches higher up toward heaven than anything you have ever seen made by men. ”

“ The peat-bogs are now so thick and heavy that the poor of Ireland can dig twenty-five feet into them and cut out squares of the solid peat.
After drying them in the air and sunshine, the people burn them in place of coal. This queer fuel does not make as bright and clear a fire as coal, but it is cheap, and keeps the poor from suffering.
"Be patient and wait only a few more thousands of years," the bogs would say to us if they could, "and you may have coal instead of peat. Father Time will make the change without any work on your part." ”

“ His body was sent to Ireland, where there was a grand funeral.
A great monument stands to-day in the city of Dublin. It was built in honour of Ireland's brave helper and true lover, Daniel O'Connell.
It is shaped like the round towers still standing here and there throughout Ireland. They are so old that no one knows when or why they were built. They stand tall and straight and strong and silent. But it seems as though [53] they would say, "Look at us and think of the grand old days of Erin!" ”

“ NORAH AND MOLLIE AT LOUGH LEAN.
"I believe they choose just such places to live in," answered Mollie. "I think there must be hawthorn-trees growing there."
Both Norah and Mollie believed in fairies. They had as much faith in them as many little boys and girls in America have in Santa Claus. They thought hawthorn-trees the favourite places for the midnight parties of the fairies. ”

“ Katie was rocking baby Patsy, and Norah was brushing up the rough mud floor. Every one stopped work at once and ran out of the cabin, the mother wiping her hands on her apron, and Norah lifting Patsy and carrying him along in her strong young arms.
The whole village had by this time turned out into the lane and gathered around the kind fat priest, who had a smile for each and all.
There were old people hobbling along with the help of sticks, men who had stopped work for the sake of a blessing from the priest, [33] mothers with babies in their arms, and children big and little. ”

“ Day after day she lay on her bed with her eyes closed. She did not move or speak.
"She has eaten of the fairy food," said the people. "It will be impossible to break the spell that has been cast upon her." And every one was filled with grief.
Three months passed by with no change in Ethna. One night, as the young lord was riding through the country, he heard a voice speaking near him. It said:
"The young husband won back his beautiful bride. But what good has it done him? Her spirit is still with the fairies, and, as [93] far as he is concerned, she is like one dead." ”

“ Mollie's father seemed quite rich in Norah's eyes. He had a farm, where he kept three cows and twenty sheep. Yes, and a horse besides. Not a donkey, mind you. Two of Norah's neighbours owned donkeys, but Mollie's father was so well off that he had a real live horse, and a jaunting-car of his very own.
When the work was not heavy, the farmer sometimes took his family for a day's pleasure. ”

“ Norah's father hires the land for his little farm from a rich lord who lives most of the [8] year in England. The Irishman built the little hut on this land for himself and wife, and his family of growing children.
"What use would it be to spend much time on it?" he would say. "The better I make the place, the more rent I shall have to pay."
Every year he planted his patch of potatoes and cabbages for himself, besides oats and turnips and other things for his fowls and pigs and goat. He mended the thatched roof when it leaked too badly for comfort, and they all tried to be happy. ”

“ So sang the girls in answer.
You must know that Killarney is the most beautiful part of the beautiful country of Ireland. One day is not enough to see all that is worth seeing.
No one could blame the children for not wanting to spend any of their time in the little dirty town at the end of the lakes.
The horse was driven close to the shore of Lough Lean, or the Lake of Learning. This [61] is the name given it by the people of the country because two universities once stood near its shores.
The party got out of the jaunting-car and sat down at the water's edge to eat their lunch. ”

“ They were Druids, and had a strange belief of their own.
Their chief priests dwelt in the dark forests [36] of oak-trees, and taught their followers to worship fire as the symbol of the sun.
But a new teacher had come into their country. He had a message to the people. He wished to tell them of the Christian religion and of Jesus, who had lived and suffered and died to help all mankind.
The name of the new teacher was Patrick, and Scotland was his early home. When he was sixteen years old, he was surprised by a band of robbers. They made him their prisoner and took him with them to Ireland. ”

“ Every one laughed at the story, and Mollie wished she could have been there to see the funny sight.
"I didn't kiss the real Blarney Stone," she told Norah. "But there was one inside the walls. It was a sort of make-believe Blarney Stone, and we all kissed that instead."
"Daniel O'Connell must have been to Blarney Castle and kissed the stone," said Norah, quite seriously. "How else could he have had the power to move every one by his words? He was a great man. When I grow up, I'll be after going to the great [102] city of Dublin to see his monimint. You see if I don't, Mollie darlint." ”