. 
 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 THE 
 
 BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH 
 
 BT 
 
 ALICE NOLAN. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 P. O'SHEA, 27 BARCLAY STREET.
 
 ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OP CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1869, BT 
 P. O'SHEA, 
 
 IK THB CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 
 FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BT 
 
 DENNIS BRO'S A THORNS, 
 AUBURN, N. T.
 
 PS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 FAITHFUL PEOPLE OF IRELAND AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, 
 
 SCATTERED OVER EVERY PORTION OP THE HABITABLE GLOBE, 
 
 VICTIMS 
 Or BRITISH RULE AND LANDLORD RAPACITr, 
 
 EXILES 
 
 FROM OUR OWN BEAUTIPUL AND POETIC LAND, TO WHOSE SOFT VALES AND 
 OCEAN-BOUND SHORES OUR HEARTS EVER FONDLY TURN, 
 
 U RESPECTFULLY AND LOVINGLY DEDICATED BY 
 
 THE AUTHOE. 
 
 1732701
 
 PEEFAOE. 
 
 THE incidents related in this tale, really and truly 
 occurred, though not in the consecutive order in 
 which they are placed. 
 
 The mass of the Irish landlords having attained 
 an unenviable pre-eminence, it was found necessary 
 to concentrate several characters in one individual, 
 and make him the representative of his class : thus 
 the Right-Rev. S. W. Biggs is in reality some super 
 latively bad landlords exhibiting in one mortal 
 frame. It must not be inferred, however, that the 
 picture is overdrawn, or that there could not be 
 found one person in that class sufficiently wicked 
 to bear the responsibility alone. Unhappily the 
 fact of their being so numerous is the very reason 
 why one must be made to stand for many, otherwise 
 the recital of each individual's inhuman execution 
 of English laws (framed for the destruction ol a 
 kindly, virtuous people, and cruel enough to disgrace
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 savages,' not to speak of their manifest injustice) 
 would form a library in itself. Another cause also 
 existed, which seemed to render this amalgamation 
 a necessity : The writer was surprised to find that 
 many atrocities perpetrated by landlords within 
 the last twenty-five years were almost unknown in 
 America, even to Irish people who had emigrated 
 before that period ; thus the trial and legal murder 
 of Bryan Seery, in "Westmeath, had never been 
 heard of by any one with whom the writer con 
 versed in this country during a period of seventeen 
 years ! Man}' other transactions detailed here, which 
 happened under other tyrants, were equally un 
 known ; and although the vast majority of the Eng 
 lish-speaking people of the United States.are natives 
 of Ireland, or descendants of these persecuted -Celts, 
 yet the evictions by Lord Plunket, the Protestant 
 Bishop of Tuam, seem alone to have aroused a cry 
 of indignation throughout this land thanks to the 
 fearless zeal and energy of dear good Father Lavell, 
 and the saintly, noble Archbishop of Tuam, who 
 would not tamely witness the destruction of their 
 flock. All honor to those Columbkills of the nine 
 teenth century ! In view of these facts, it appeared 
 indispensable to collect some of the skeletons of 
 landed proprietors together, thrust them into one
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 wolfs-hide, and hold the disgusting creature up 
 for execration. 
 
 After much trouble and correspondence, therefore, 
 the writer obtained a file of the Dublin Nation con 
 taining a full report of the trial and execution in 
 February, 1846, at the town of Mullingar, County 
 "Westrneath, of Bryan Seery, for the murder of Sir 
 Francis Hopkins, Bart., who was not murdered at 
 all, having received a shot through his hat, instead 
 of his hearty if he ever possessed such a sensitive or 
 gan. This noble baronet, then, under the title of 
 one not unknown to the crowbar brigade Right 
 Reverend Samuel Wilson Biggs, D. D., Lord Bishop 
 of Glengoulah, is the hero, and his deeds, inter 
 woven with others of his class, form the groundwork 
 of this tale. 
 
 All the other characters introduced are real. 
 Margin, the agent, is a life likeness, if anything a 
 trifle too flattering. Like all paintings, it conceals 
 many of the blemishes and wrinkles so visible in the 
 original. The names of persons and places are 
 changed for obvious reasons. 
 
 The record of the O'Byrne family, as related by 
 Mr. De Courcy to Biggs, is not their history. It 
 is merely a fancy sketch. The O'Byrnes have, 
 indeed, a truly noble history, but its details are
 
 VH1 PREFACE. 
 
 too long for the pages of such a tale as the 
 present. 
 
 Having said so much by way of explanation, it 
 only remains to crave the indulgence of the reader 
 for the author, who is perfectly sensible of the liter 
 ary demerits of the undertaking, it having been ori 
 ginally written during invalid hours for dear young 
 relatives, who never saw the old historic land of their 
 fathers.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DEAR READER, have yon ever been in the beautiful 
 County of WickloW, in Ireland ? I pity you if you 
 have not, ahd will pity you still more if, having the 
 means, you do not visit before you die that land of 
 enchanting scenery for Moore tells us (and I think 
 you will admit he is pretty good authority), 
 
 " There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet 
 As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet." 
 
 That vale is the Yale of Ovoca, so called from a 
 stream, of liquid silver bearing the same name, 
 which takes its rise in the neighboring hills, bounds 
 from cliff to cliff into the lovely valley below, where, 
 meeting the limpid Avon, they clasp each other in 
 a bright and gurgling embrace. Soon disengaging 
 itself, the Ovoca dashes forward, singing and tum 
 bling as it runs through the picturesque village of 
 " Wooden Bridge," then turning the little headland
 
 2 THE BYRXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 it seems to expand its bosom and move more slowly 
 no doubt out of courtesy to the honors paid it in 
 flowing through the groves of Shelton, where the 
 sweeping willow and the graceful larch bend their 
 branches to kiss the beautiful stream as it passes. 
 Emerging from those lovely shades it makes a curve 
 by the lighthouse of Arklow, and with a joyous 
 bound flings itself into the arms of " the Irish Sea, 
 or St. George's Channel," which forms the eastern 
 boundary of Ireland. Oh, happy, cloudless days of 
 childhood ! How vividly ye impress the memory ! 
 Many a sunny morning in summer have I wandered 
 in those enchanted groves, with a book you will 
 think, of course ; nothing of the kind a goodly-sized 
 basket on my arm, and a pair of scissors contained 
 therein ; for, reader, my taste was not of the literary 
 kind then, I assure you to pick ^ackHerries, or 
 hunt for bird's nests, was then the bent of~my incli 
 nation. Armed, therefore, with the basket and scis 
 sors aforesaid (the latter was to save our hands from 
 the swarms of little thorns which guarded the fruit), 
 my sister and self committed great depredations on 
 the blackberries (which, by the way, were the largest 
 and most luscious of the kind I have ever tasted). 
 Often has my sister who was ever more piously 
 inclined than I was called to me from a neighbor-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GIENGOCLAH. 3 
 
 ing bush to stop and recite the " Angelus," as, clear 
 as the morning air, broke the tones of Shelton Abbey 
 bell for six o'clock ; not, as of old, to call the faithful 
 to prayer, but to summon the laborers to work on 
 the estate of the Right-lion, the Earl of Wicklow, 
 whose magnificent country seat lay on the opposite 
 side of the river. I see it all before me now, though 
 more than thirty years have gone by the clear, 
 bright, sunny morning, the ever-verdant grass dot 
 ted with myriads of daisies and cowslips, the gentle 
 kine moving slowly and browsing the sweet herbage, 
 groups of sheep with tiny lambs nibbling or play 
 ing on the turf; the gurgling limpid river " murmur 
 ing a happy song " as it glides on to the sea, the 
 graceful trees along its banks bending to catch the 
 reflection of their own fair forms on its bosom, the 
 hills of Shelton at one. side of the river and Castle 
 Howard on the other, rising cone after cone, clothed 
 to the very top with every variety of tree and shrub. 
 To the east a break in the hills discloses the slender 
 minarets and turrets of Shelton Abbey towering 
 from the distant groves ; more distant still, the pret 
 ty little town of Arklow, with its long line of fisher 
 men's huts stretching out to the beach; and, still 
 beyond, the blue sea with its tiny crests of foam 
 and mimic waves, scarcely rocking the little fishing-
 
 4 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 smacks, with which it is now covered, bent on their 
 daily toil. The air is redolent with the perfume of 
 wild-flowers. From every bush and brake thousands 
 upon thousands of birds are pouring forth their joy 
 ous songs, and high in the heavens numberless larks 
 are taking their melodious way 
 
 " Who, singing ever soar, 
 And soaring ever sing." 
 
 Two children have stopped their blackberry feast to 
 lecite, in union with the whole Catholic world, the 
 beautiful " Angelus Domini." Their garb is black, 
 for a few months before the loved voice that taught 
 them that sweet Christian practice had ceased to be 
 heard on earth ! Well ! Pardon me, reader, when 
 I found myself on the banks of the Ovoca I could 
 not for my life but try to paint, however imperfectly, 
 the beautiful panorama which memory conjured up ; 
 but now we will let it move on, and I will proceed 
 to tell you my tale. 
 
 About four miles from this lovely scene, at the 
 base of one of those cone-shaped hills, was a snug 
 farm of about forty acres, held by one Anthony 
 Byrne, as decent a man and as honest a neighbor as 
 ever the sun shone on. Anthony, or, as he was usu 
 ally called, Toney Byrne, arose with the lark, and 
 like that bird of melody went to his work with a
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 5 
 
 light heart, singing or whistling some sweet old 
 melody of his native land, his " fack " on his should 
 er, and his two stout farm-laborers bent in the same 
 direction. Like the great majority of Irish peasants 
 Toney Byrne led a blameless life. If he met a 
 neighbor going to work, or returning from it, some 
 such conversation would be sure to ensue as the fol 
 lowing : " God save yon, Toney ! " " Oh, God save 
 you, kindly, Ned! how are you the mornin'?" 
 " Why, then, the Lord be praised, I was never better 
 in my life ; and how are you, and how is the woman 
 that owns you ? " 
 
 " We're all pretty lively, thanks be to the great 
 God, and to you for askin'." " How is the crops 
 wid you, Toney ? " 
 
 " Well, finely ; thanks be to God ! " or as the case 
 might be. " Why, then indeed, Ned, they're migh 
 ty backward this season, the Lord of heaven be prais 
 ed ! The upland hay turned out very short entirely, 
 and I'm greatly afeard of the oats too but sure we 
 can't expect things to be always goin' right ; bedad 
 I'm thinkin' we'd have ne'er a thought at all for 
 th' other world if we didn't meet some little disap 
 pointment here, so we must only be satisfied when 
 we know we did our best." 
 
 "Throth its true for you, Toney ; I'm in dread my
 
 6 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 wlmte will be short too ; but as you say, when we 
 did our part we can't help it, so welkim be the will 
 of God." 
 
 Every one who knows anything of the Irish peas 
 antry knows how common such dialogues are in 
 every part of Ireland. The leading characteristics 
 of the people are gratitude to God in prosperity or 
 adversity, and humble submission to the Divine 
 will under all trials and circumstances. 
 
 At the conclusion of their frugal supper Toney 
 and his family would give hearty thanks to God in 
 the real old Catholic fashion, never forgetting to 
 pray for the souls of the faithful departed. After 
 supper all would gather around the bright turf fire 
 to tell stories and crack jokes while the pipe was 
 handed about. 
 
 If a stranger happened to be present, which was 
 very often the case (for Toney Byrne, like a true 
 Irishman, never closed his door to the poor or the 
 stranger), he got the snuggest seat in the ample 
 chimney corner ; then some of the neighbors would 
 raise the latch and step in with " God save all here ! ?> 
 " God save you kindly, and you're welcome ; sit 
 down." 
 
 " Faix, Barney," one of the youngsters would cry 
 out,, " you forgot to say barrin the cat and the dog."
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAn. 7 
 
 " Sorra matter avic ! let the poor brntes havo 
 pace ; you oughtn't to be so hard on the animals 
 anyhow, Mike." 
 
 This sent the laugh round at Mike's expense, a 
 young urchin of ten, who crept grinning up to his 
 father's side on the hearth. I know of no place 
 where a more social evening can be spent than in 
 the kitchen of an Irish peasant farmer. Thrilling 
 ghost stories, poetic fairy tales, and very frequently 
 dissertations and arguments on history, for the Irish 
 peasant is very fond of, and not at all ignorant of, 
 historic lore. 
 
 Napoleon le Grand is his great hero, principally 
 because the English hated him ; and after detailing 
 and discussing his various exploits, you are sure to 
 hear, " Aye, Boney was able for them all, and would 
 bate the whole world if he let the Pope alone." 
 There every one chimes in, and all are unanimous 
 in pointing out how his power waned from the hour 
 he meddled with the Holy Father, and how jnst it 
 was he should die in exile as he caused the Sovereign 
 Pontiff to die in a foreign land in his old age. Thus 
 many a pleasant hour passed, and when bed-time 
 came the neighbors, wishing a kindly " good night," 
 would retire to their homes. Then Toney and his 
 bustling, good-natured little wife, calling the house-
 
 b THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 hold together, would pull out the beads and recito 
 the rosary before lying down to rest. 
 
 A couple of times in the year the townlands of 
 Glengoulah were visited in turn by Darby Wholahan, 
 the blind piper, who drew melodious strains from a 
 very respectable-looking, silver-keyed instrument, 
 which he called the " Union Pipes," and which was 
 a combination of the Scotch and Irish bagpipe. The 
 most staid fool in the parish could not keep still 
 while Darby performed the " Peeler's Cap," or 
 " Lord Macdonald's Reel ;" and as for " The Hun 
 ter's Jig," you'd give your oath you heard the fox 
 running for his life, and the hounds in full cry after 
 him. 
 
 Darby was kept going from one farm-house to 
 another, all the neighbors assembling each evening 
 where he was known to be, and the Terpsichorean 
 performances on every floor were a triumph of grace 
 and agility. Between the pauses in the dance 
 Darby had an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes 
 replete with humor ; he could, besides, sing an 
 excellent song, either comic or sentimental, and 
 had a great talent for recitation, so that it is no 
 wonder every hand was extended and every heart 
 bounded when Darby arrived. " Oh, God be with 
 those happy days ! Oh, God be with my childhood !
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 9 
 
 Every meeting passed off pleasantly and innocently, 
 and each arose next morning refreshed for the day's 
 work by the harmless and healthful recreation of 
 
 the evening before. 
 
 Thus passed the even tenor of Toney's life and 
 his neighbors. They were not rich in this world's 
 goods, but they wanted for nothing, having where 
 withal to live upon, and enough besides to share 
 with their poorer fellow-creatures a little store may 
 be for cases of emergency, and immense treasures 
 in Faith, Hope, and Charity. No doubt they had 
 their faults too who has not ? but they were few, 
 and so overlaid with virtues that they could scarcely 
 be perceived. 
 
 The landlord who owned this fine estate was Sir 
 Charles Plover, Bart. He was an absentee, and his 
 property was managed with justness and kindness 
 by Mr. De Courcey, a wealthy merchant who had 
 extensive flour mills not far distant. Mr. De 
 Courcey watched over the interests of the tenantry 
 like a wise and prudent man, knowing that the 
 real interest of the landlord was in the prosperity 
 of the tenant. He had the best farm seeds brought 
 from Dublin for their use, saw that their fields were 
 properly drained, encouraged them to keep their 
 houses neat and to train some creeping vine
 
 10 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOHLAH. 
 
 around them, for which purpose he made presents 
 to the farmers' wives and daughters of many a 
 honeysuckle and woodbine. 
 
 He had hedges planted here, overtopping banks 
 removed there, mountain rills widened and made 
 to form water-courses for the use of the cattle and to 
 carry off field drains, obliged them to sink wells, 
 and all to have neat and well-kept gates and cattle- 
 pens. By a properly-arranged mixture of justice, 
 firmness and prudence, he made Sir Charles Plover's 
 estate the most prosperous both for landlord and 
 tenant in the county of Wicklow, while the eye of 
 the tourist was enraptured with the scene of tranquil 
 beauty. On the sides of the hills the white farm 
 houses gleamed from clumps of trees, trailing vines 
 of the sweet-scented honeysuckle crept around the 
 windows and rustic porch, the blue smoke curled 
 high up in the air, the little vegetable garden with 
 here and there a bed of cultivated flowers bordered 
 with " London Pride" formed a bright patch, and 
 helped the primroses to scent the mountain breeze. 
 
 Mr. De Courcey was not a Catholic, but he was 
 a gentleman, and presumed not to interfere with the 
 faith of the tenantry. He respected those who 
 lived up to the dictates of their consciences, 
 and was often heard to speak in terms of high
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 1.1 
 
 admiration of the noble fidelity with which the 
 Catholics of Ireland clung to their faith through 
 weal or woe. 
 
 To say that Mr. De Conrcey was respected and 
 beloved by the tenants would be cold words; he 
 was almost idolized. Second only in their affections 
 to the venerable Father Esmond, and his curate 
 Father O'Toole, was the much-loved agent. His 
 appearance amongst them ever brought a smile of 
 welcome, while each busied him or herself to appear 
 their best before " Mr. De Courcey, God bless him." 
 
 What a pity that the fair face of nature should 
 ever be overcast by a cloud ; but clouds and storms 
 will come, dear reader, and so, taking a sheltered seat 
 before it breaks upon us, and keeping our eyes fixed 
 on God's good Providence, " who rules the whirl 
 wind and directs the storm," we will rest awhile and 
 leave the outburst for another chapter.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 BEFORE I proceed further I must tell you about 
 Toney's family as likely a set of children as you 
 could meet with two girls and three boys. Mar 
 garet, the eldest, was a hard-working, gentle-tem 
 pered girl, unobtrusively industrious, ever at hand 
 when her mother wanted her, which was pretty 
 nearly the whole day, for Mrs. Byrne was of a 
 bustling, quick-tempered nature, but had the warm 
 est and kindest heart in the world. Margaret was 
 a tall, well-proportioned girl, with an open, smiling 
 face, and the bloom of youth and health on her 
 cheek. She was about 18 at the time my tale com 
 mences. Winifred, who was not yet 14, was a 
 smaller figure, with a remarkably pretty face, in 
 which drollery and roguery were the leading char 
 acteristics. She was a great pet with her father, 
 who would shield her from her mother's anger 
 when some piece of work allotted to her would be 
 found untouched, or when she had played some prank 
 on the old schoolmaster who came to teach them three 
 evenings in the week. " Whist, Kitty," he would
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 13 
 
 say, " the girl is young ; and if she is fond of playing 
 tricks, the creature has no more harm in them nor 
 a kitten." So Winnie went on playing pranks and 
 laughing merrily. But the darling of his mother's 
 heart was Andrew, the eldest boy, now about 12 ; 
 he resembled his father in figure, being remarkably 
 tall for his age ; while his features were like his 
 mother's, fair and frolicsome. He bore a strong 
 resemblance to his sister Winnie, and was ever 
 ready to second her in all her pranks ; but there was 
 no son more docile or obedient than Andy, for all 
 his devil-may-care ways and hasty temper. One 
 day, when speaking confidentially of her family to 
 a neighbor who had dropped in, Mrs. Byrne was 
 known to say, " Margie and little Pat is the father 
 on the sod there's no trouble in life wid them, 
 they go smooth along, gain in' the good- will of every 
 body ; deed, Mrs. Fehily, though I'm her mother, 
 I will say Margie is worth her weight in gold ; you 
 could not cross her temper ; but for all she has a 
 dacent spirit too there's not a mane thought nor a 
 mane act in her carcass." " Mane ! " cried Mrs. 
 Fehily ; " why, then, I'd like to know where any 
 thing mane could be got in the Byrnes of Glengou- 
 lah ! Sure we wouldn't know where to go look for 
 dacency if we didn't find it in the ould stock."
 
 14: THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " I'm beholdin' to you, Mrs. Fehily, for your good 
 word; but, indeed, it's true wbat you say. Sure 
 everybody knows the Byrnes is tbe oldest family in 
 Wicklow, barrin the O'Tools, and though I know 
 myself Toney is proud of them too. Still he's 
 always tellin' the children the way to prove they'ro 
 of the ould stock is to be good, humble Christians, 
 and to never forget how the Byrnes of ancient 
 times was hung, drawn, and quartered for bein' 
 Catholics, but they kept their faith through thick 
 and thin, though they lost their lands." 
 
 " 'Deed, Mrs. Byrne, it's often I heard my grand 
 father tellin' of all the hardships they met with 
 from Crom'ell and his crew ; bad luck to their memo 
 ries, the black-hearted villains !" 
 
 " Well, may God in his mercy keep the persecu 
 tion from our doors anyway ; but I was tellin' you 
 about the children. If Margie and Pat is like the 
 Byrnes, there's Winnie and Andy and Mike has the 
 very spirit of the Malones my own people." 
 
 " Why, then, now, do you tell me so ? " 
 
 " Tell you so ! Two apples never grew more like 
 one another than my Andy and his uncle my poor 
 brother, Andy Malone that I christened him after; 
 God rest his soul this day ! Oh, Mrs. Fehily, dear ! 
 if you were to see that boy when he was risin' twen-
 
 THE BTKNES J)F GLENGOULAH. 15 
 
 ty-two! there wasn't the match of him in three 
 baronies. He was as tall and straight as an arrow 
 the Malones was all tall and likely, glory be to God ; 
 it's after the Delanys, my mother's people, I take in 
 my height. Well, he had a pair of shoulders on him 
 the breadth of your apron, and sorra such a lad for 
 tricks in the country round. He'd sing like a lark 
 the minit he'd open his eye in the mornin'; and it's 
 try in' the steps in a double or a reel he'd be while 
 he'd be puttin' on him (dressing) ; then he'd kneel 
 down and pray I'll engage as fervent as any one 
 and be off to his work; but when breakfast time 
 came maybe we wouldn't all get our share. Before 
 he'd go to the field again he'd put myself and Onny 
 and Mary and Biddy (there was the four sisters of 
 us growing up) all in a heap a top of one another 
 on the floor, and the spinnin' wheel a'top of us again. 
 My mother used to run after him, makin' believe 
 she was goin' to hit him a box, and he'd whisk her 
 up in his arms, and run round and round the house 
 with her, and then put her sittin' in her own chair 
 in the chimbley corner and run off. We couldn't 
 do a ha'porth but laughin' for an hour after, and my 
 poor mother holdin' her sides. He was as innocent 
 as a child, for he'd stay a whole day, when it would 
 be too wet to work, playin' wid little Norah and
 
 16 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Tommy, and makin' babby houses for them, and 
 then he'd dance for the creatures. Oh, dear ! oh, 
 dear ! glory be to the holy God ! but it's hard to 
 live in this world at all." Here poor Mrs. Byrne, 
 overcome by her feelings, rocked back and forth and 
 sobbed in her apron, upon which Mrs. Fehily inquir 
 ed what happened him? "Happened him! They 
 broke his heart, so they did. Didn't ould Wilson, 
 the tithe proctor, come to take up the tithes one day, 
 and my mother and himself had some words and he 
 gave her the lie ? Andy was just comin' in at the 
 door on the minit when he heard the word ; and, Mrs. 
 Fehily, dear, it would do your heart good to see him 
 leapin' on Wilson. Well, he bate him and kicked 
 him till he cried for mercy. ' Now,' says he, ' I'll 
 tache you how to spake to a dacent woman, : says he, 
 'you blood-suckin' varmint that's livin' by the plun 
 der of the honest and the hard workin' poor, yourself 
 and jour employers,' says he ; ' be out of the house 
 this minit, or I'll have your life,' says he. Wilson 
 was glad enough to get leave to go ; but before eve- 
 nin' fell a whole possee of polis came and took my 
 poor fellow away to prison. Och! Mrs. Fehily, 
 asthore ! but that was the black night in our house ; 
 the neighbors had to hold my father when he seen 
 the polis puttin' handcuffs on his darlin' boy ; my
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 17 
 
 poor mother fell off in a dead faint when she seen 
 the polis eomin' in, and well become my poor fellow 
 but he tried to comfort the father. ' Never mind, 
 father dear,' says he, ' it won't be for long ; I'll soon 
 be back again wid you all, plaze God,' says he. 
 He was going to say more, but they dragged him off. 
 He was four months in prison before the trial came 
 on, although the best of bail was offered for him 
 they said it was too great a crime to bate a tithe 
 proctor, and they could not think of taking bail for 
 it. When the trial came on you'd think he was the 
 greatest villain that ever lived to hear the charges 
 brought against him it would frighten you to hear 
 the papers read by the prosecutin' counsil ; they said 
 he was a dangerous character and must be made an 
 example of. And when they said, ' stand up, An 
 drew Malone, and plead guilty or not guilty to these 
 charges,' he stood up as grand as an earl. ' If you 
 mane,' says he, 'am I guilty of baitin' and kickin' 
 the tithe proctor? I amj says he; ' I gave him as 
 good a kickin' as ever he got, and the man doesn't 
 live that I'd let give the lie to any dacent woman, 
 let alone my own mother. I hope Wilson wont for 
 get the lesson I gave him in good manners,' says he. 
 He was as brave as a lion and didn't care a fiv'pen- 
 ny bit for the whole of them. A wild cheer and
 
 18 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 cries of ' bravo, Andy Malone ! ' rung through the 
 court. The Judge, mighty angry, called for silence, 
 and said if they done that any more he would have 
 the court cleared. They then told my poor fellow 
 to sit down and would not let him say another word, 
 though he had no counsil ; he would not let my fa 
 ther fee counsil, for he said it would be of no use, 
 and sure it was true for him. They then sentenced 
 hrm to twelve months' imprisonment and hard labor. 
 Och ! but it was the sore year to us goin' in and out 
 of prison tryin' to bring him the little comforts he 
 was used to. Many's the fine turkey and pair of 
 barn doors (fat fowl) we brought the jailor to get his 
 good will for Andy, but he was trated nothing the 
 better for it. He didn't care for the work, for he 
 was as strong as a horse ; but they put him with the 
 riff raff of the prison on purpose to break his spirit, 
 and well they did it. When that weary year was 
 out and he was let out you wouldn't know him. He 
 tried to laugh and joke as of old to comfort the 
 mother, but she could not be deceived she saw the 
 change in him, and the light went out from her heart 
 from that hour. The damp of the prison cell got 
 into his bones ; and the close confinement, but above 
 all the keepin' company with house-breakers and 
 horse-thieves, broke his heart. His cheuk was palp
 
 THE BYRNES CF GLENGOTJLAH. 19 
 
 ." 
 
 and his step was heavy, and he faded and faded, and 
 before the harvest was all in he hadn't a bit on his 
 bones and had to keep his bed ; and by the end of 
 October, when the laves was all fallin' in showers, 
 and the wind was moanin' through the deserted 
 brandies, we follied him to his grave ; the strong 
 and the brave was low in his youth." * Here poor 
 Mrs. Byrne, throwing her apron over her head and 
 rocking to and fro, gave way to a burst of grief. 
 The sympathizing Mrs. Fehily, who was weeping 
 too, exclaimed indignantly, " Och ! then I pray this 
 
 day that the vengeance of " 
 
 " Oh stop, Mrs. Fehily, dear ! Whist asthore 
 don't curse them ! He bid us not with his dyin' 
 breath. Mother darlin', says he, the heart in my body 
 
 * A similar case occurred in Carlow in (I think) 1832 or 1833. Two re 
 spectable farmers, brothers, who held land under a landlord named Watson, 
 exercised their newly-acquired franchise by voting for the liberal candi 
 date. The landlord was enraged, and shortly after indicted them for maim 
 ing two horses, his property. They were lodged in jail all hail refused ; 
 and by some quibble of law their trial was postponed from one assizes to 
 another until they lay a whole year in prison. At length they were brought 
 to trial, and the principal evidence against them was a woman whose 
 character was so notoriously bad that there was a burst of indignation 
 through the court when she was put upon the witness stand. The prison 
 ers' counsel, on her cross-examination, made her contradict herself thret 
 times. The prosecuting counsel ordered her to retire, and the men were 
 acquitted. The younger brother, a high-spirited young man, was so grieved 
 by the associations to which they were exposed, and the hardships ol 
 prison life, that he sank rapidly aud died in a few weeks after his release 1 
 The witness, whose name was Anne Magee, her brother, and other mem 
 bers of her family, had free quarters in Dublin Castle for years, and wer* 
 regular informers for the Crown. The present writer has frequently seen 
 her with a brace of pistols in her belt, and report said that she carried * 
 dagger in her bosom.
 
 20 THE BYKXE3 OE GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 was broke when they put me in with thieves and 
 murderers ; and when I thought how no one belong 
 MI' to me was ever so disgraced before, I made up 
 my mind one night in the cold cell not to bear it it 
 I was to be hung for it ; and when we were turned 
 into the yard next mornin', says he, who should 
 be waitin' to see me but Father Delany God lave 
 him his health ! Well I up and told him what was in 
 my mind, and he put his hand on my head and said 
 mother, I'll never forget his words My poor 
 child ! says Father Delany, says he, I know you 
 since the day you were christened, and I knew your 
 father and mother before you, and its a great trial 
 upon the son of virtuous parents ; but Andy asthore, 
 says he, don't you know who was put between two 
 thieves and crucified in the presence of His Blessed 
 Mother? it was the Lord of all glory, my dear son, 
 and he suffered it for your sake, to teach you pa 
 tience and humility. Bear everything then manfully 
 for His sake who bore so much for yours, and He 
 will give you a crown of glory and the company of 
 the blessed saints and angels forever. It was then, 
 
 o ' 
 
 mother, that he took the silver crucifix from his 
 own neck and put it on mine, and told me often to 
 look at it and think on our blessed Lord's sutferins ; 
 and, mother darlin', I got quite calm and changed
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 21 
 
 ever since 'deed I'm thinkin' it's obliged to them I 
 ought to be that I'm goin' young from this world 
 ami its hardships. Sure, mother darlin', this life is 
 short and very cold, says he, and we will be all soon 
 together, where we will never see sorra any more. 
 And, mother jewel, says he, don't let any one 
 belongin' to me curse them that brought me low in 
 my youth, for the Lord of glory on the blessed cross 
 prayed for them that nailed him to it ; and Father 
 Delany says it's His will that I'm goin' och ! och ! 
 Mrs. Fehily, dear, it would break your heart if you 
 were to hear him talkin' like a bishop for all the 
 world. My poor mother would say to all, " yes, avic 
 machree ! sure it's the truth you're spakin', darlin' 
 of my heart." 
 
 She never left him night nor day ; and when he 
 was gone she was like one stupified. 
 
 The day of the berrin' she took a tremlin' all over, 
 and we wanted her not to go, but she said she'd stay 
 by him while ever he'd be above ground. When 
 they were n'llin' up the grave she stood by, and while 
 my father and the rest of us, even to the neighbors, 
 were cryin' like the rain, she never shed a tear, but, 
 risin' her hands and eyes to Heaven, she said in a 
 voice that pierced the hearts of all present, for it 
 was mournful as the cry of a banshee " May God
 
 22 THE BYENES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 and His Blessed Mother receive your soul this day, 
 my darliu' fair-haired boy the joy of my life and 
 the light of my eyes I'm a sorrowful, broken- 
 hearted woman now." She took the tremblin' 
 again. We brought her home and put her to bed, 
 and she never riz from it ! that day six weeks we 
 laid her by the side of Andy. Och ! but ours was 
 the cold, black house, where there used to be nothin' 
 but singin' and laughin' the live long day. My 
 poor father struggled the best he could for a year 
 and a half, but the faver broke out God bless the 
 hearers (here both women made the sign of the 
 cross on their foreheads) and he took it, and by 
 rason of his bein' broke down by his great troubles 
 he couldn' stand it, so we buried him too. And lit 
 tle Tommy and ]S"orah the creatures sickened and 
 died the week after my father we always thought 
 Andy and my mother done that by their prayers 
 before the weeny little ones knew what hardship 
 was. " Oh, God ! rest all their souls in glory this 
 day, Amen ! " Oh, Amen, amen ! Mrs. Byrne, dear ! 
 but glory be to God ! Sure if you had your share 
 of trouble in your young days, God is makin' up to 
 you now for it ! Oh, praises be to His holy name ! It's 
 true what you say, Mrs. Fehily ; asthore it was my 
 luck to get one of the quietest men in the seven par
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 23 
 
 ishes, and the most industrious. Then I have good 
 bidable children, thanks be to God ; and my sisters 
 is all married comfortable ; so, as you say, Mrs. 
 Fehily, God is makin' up to me sure enough for the 
 troubles of my youth, and it's a great deal more than 
 I deserve." The distant sound of Shelton Abbey bell, 
 ringing for the laborers to leave off work, warned 
 Mrs. Fehily that supper-time was coming. Hastily 
 picking up her ball of worsted which rolled upon 
 the floor, and sticking her needles in the stocking 
 she was knitting, she wished Mrs. Byrne a good 
 evening, ran across the road, and mounting the 
 stile crossed into the neighboring field, where she 
 met her husband and two sons returning from work, 
 and they all trudged home together.
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 A SHOKT time after the conversation detailed in 
 the last chapter, one fine Sunday, Tonej Byrne and 
 his family were coming down the hill after hearing 
 mass in Glengoulah chapel, when they were over 
 taken by Ned Fehily and family. After the usual 
 greetings, commenting on the sermon delivered by 
 Father O'Toole, etc., etc., Toney asked Ned to let the 
 women and children walk on, and to come with him. 
 and see the oat-field. So they crossed the ditch 
 through an opening in the hawthorn and went over 
 the farm. 
 
 But few words had passed between them when 
 Ned asked, " "Why, then, Toney, is it true what I 
 hear that you're goin' to get your little girl marrid V 
 " Well, 'deed I dun know yet, Ned ; she's speakin' 
 to a boy of the Donohoes of Cool-a-glisson, in the 
 county Wexford, and the mother is mighty partial to 
 the match, but I didn't give in yet." " And why not, 
 Toney ? Sure I know Bartle Donohoe well, and 
 a clane likely boy he is, and more betoken the child 
 of as dacent a father and mother as any in the same
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULA.il. 25 
 
 county, though I know he's no match for one of the 
 Byrnes if things was as they ought." " Oh ! be 
 dad, the sorra fault I have to find with him on that 
 score, oh no ! I have a mighty great regard, indade, 
 for the same boy ; and sure Father Esmond tells me 
 he got a great account of him entirely from his own 
 parish priest. It isn't that at all ; but you see, Ned, 
 I have to look into the well-bein' of my little girl ; 
 and what I don't like is this : You see Tom Donohoe 
 has four other boys besides Bartle, and I belave 
 three daughters ; and though he has a fine well- 
 stocked farm, and holds under Earl Fitzwilliam 
 one of the best landlords in Ireland still and all 
 if he goes to divide up his farm between the boys 
 it will leave each of them only a strugglin' livelihood, 
 and I think Margie can do better than that; the 
 colleen is young, and has plenty of time before her. 
 So 1 told Bartle my mind a fortnight ago, and he 
 agreed to wait awhile and see if some arrangement 
 could be made. He came to tell me, a few days ago, 
 he heard a report that Pat Hanlon of Moyglish is 
 talkin' of goin' to America. Pat has an uncle in 
 Canada that's goin' to leave him a power of money, 
 and he speaks of goin' out to him with his wife and 
 child you know he has but the one little slip 
 of a girl and in case he does go, he'll be givin'
 
 i5t) THC BYEXES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 up his farm ; so Bartle set off a Friday to see the 
 eail, and get a promise of the first chance in it. If 
 God gives him luck it will be a great rise 
 entirely for him, and plaze goodness I'll give him 
 some help to stock it ; but sure we don't know it's 
 all in the hands of the great God, and we must wait 
 with patience, glory be to His holy name." 
 
 Having inspected the oat, potato, and wheat crops, 
 and expressed their hopes and fears on their appear 
 ance, Toney repaired to Fehily's farm, which was 
 adjoining, to make the same inspection, and both 
 then went to their respective homes. 
 
 During the week Bartle Donohoe, the suitor of 
 Margaret Byrne, came to inform her father of his 
 interview with Earl Fitzwilliam, and his entire 
 success. 
 
 It was true that Pat Hanlon was resigning his 
 farm ; and the earl wrote a letter to his agent, Cap 
 tain Johnson, requesting that Bartle Donohoe should 
 have the preference before any one. He was quite 
 delighted with the kind consideration with which 
 the earl inquired after his tenants and their fami 
 lies, making inquiries also after their comforts, ho 
 ping the stock had escaped the sickness which was 
 prevalent in a barony not far distant. A widowed 
 tenant of his lordship, who had been deficient in her
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 27 
 
 rent in consequence of the loss of several head of 
 black cattle from this cause, came to ask an exten 
 sion of time while Bartle was there. The earl ex 
 pressed great regret at the losses she sustained, as 
 sured her she should not only have time, but that, 
 knowing her to be an industrious improving tenant 
 and a widow, she should be allowed for every head 
 of cattle she lost on presenting a statement of their 
 value to the agent. " The captain did not act 
 harshly, did he ? " said the earl. " Oh no, indeed, 
 my lord," replied the poor woman, while tears of 
 gratitude filled her eyes, " oh no, indeed ; he only 
 sent for his rent, and sure that's what he had a right 
 to do ; but it fretted me not to have it for him, and 
 I made up my mind I'd come and speak to your 
 lordship. I knew I'd be sure to meet with considera 
 tion if I'd see you may God shower his choicest 
 blessings on your house this day ! Oh no, my lord, 
 the captain never distressed me a bit." "If he 
 did, I'd distress him," said the earl. " I will not 
 allow such acts to be done on my estate." * Both 
 Bartle and the widow retired blessing God for giv 
 ing them so good a landlord. Oh, that the landed 
 proprietors of Ireland could only be made to under- 
 
 * Thii conversation actually occurred ; but since then, unhappily, tho 
 papers report him to have become au exterminator like the rest. Such i 
 the force of bad example.
 
 28 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 stand their own interests ! If they would but make 
 themselves acquainted with the character of the 
 people over whom they exercise so much power, and 
 then act towards them with simple justice, showing 
 that consideration for their feelings which God cer 
 tainly intended one human being to have for anoth 
 er, what a life of inborn happiness would they not 
 enjoy in this life, not to speak of their prospects in 
 the life to come ! 
 
 Toney Byrne had now no further opposition to 
 make to his daughter's marriage, and accordingly 
 Margaret and Bartle Donohoe were married in about 
 ten days from his interview with Lord Fitzwilliam. 
 They had a genuine Irish wedding ; the table was 
 laid in the long barn, graced with many fine tur- 
 eys, geese, chickens, rounds of beef, sirloins of ditto, 
 plum puddings, apple dumplings, every kind of 
 pakes, fruits, etc., and wine and whiskey ad libitum. 
 But I presume most of my readers have been to Irish 
 weddings before now, and it is unnecessary to describe 
 how the venerable Father Esmond sat at the head of 
 the table, how Father O'Tool occupied the next seat 
 of distinction, how the parish priest blessed and cut 
 the wedding cake, helping the bridesmaid to the first 
 cut, how she made believe to be eating but reserved 
 the greater part to divide amongst her young friends
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOtTLAH. 29 
 
 for the purpose of dreaming on it, how when the 
 priest retired the tables were cleared away, and the 
 fiddlers and pipers and dancers all commenced in ear 
 nest, how they danced in the barn and in every room 
 in the house until the small hours of the morning, 
 when the guests, after many affectionate good-byes, 
 took their departure, praying long life and happiness 
 to the young couple. My readers have enjoyed all 
 this before, and I therefore merely glance at it. 
 A few days after the wedding Bartle Donohoe took 
 his bride to his father's, where they were to remain 
 until his own farmhouse was vacated. 
 
 The hauling home was another scene of festivity. 
 Her father, eldest brother, and some near relatives, 
 accompanied them. All rode on horseback; Mar 
 garet was mounted on a pillion behind her husband. 
 Some miles from Donohoe's farm Bartle's father, his 
 two oldest brothers, and a band of neighbors, came 
 to meet them on horseback and formed a guard of 
 honor to welcome the young bride, who blushingly 
 thanked them for their attention, and smiled through 
 the tears she had been shedding all day after parting 
 with her mother and sister. 
 
 " All the world and his wife " were assembled at 
 the farm, and another joyous scene similar to the 
 wedding took place. Next day, after many tears
 
 30 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 fond erabracings, and blessings on his child, Toney 
 Byrne and his escort returned to Gleugoulah. They 
 passed Mr. De Courcy's mills on their way home, 
 and met Tom Moody, the under steward, coming out 
 of the office. Calling Toney one side he told him 
 strange news. Mr. De Courcy had received letters 
 from London that morning, announcing the death 
 of Sir Charles Plover. He had been killed in a duel 
 by a colonel in her majesty's life-guards, with whom 
 he had a dispute at play. The melancholy event 
 took place near Dieppe, in France, whither they had 
 gone to evade the law. Sir Charles Plover had 
 never married, consequently the estate must pass 
 into the hands of the nearest of kin, who was his 
 first cousin, the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, who 
 was rector of Christ Church, Nottingham, England. 
 Poor Toney Byrne heard this news with a sad 
 heart, for though the landlord was nothing to him 
 none of the tenantry had ever seen him still he 
 foreboded evil the moment he heard the new land 
 lord was an Anglican minister. " 1 wonder will Mr. 
 De Courcy act as agent still, Mr. Moody ? " asked 
 Toney of the steward. " That's more than any of 
 us can tell, Mr. Byrne ; but I don't see any reason 
 why he wouldn't I'm sure he knows the property 
 better than any one, and he understands the people
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 31 
 
 unless he gets tired of it and gives it up himself. I 
 think the new landlord ought to be very glad to give 
 it to him." " God grant he may keep it, then," saiY 
 Toney, fervently, " for he's a fair and honorable 
 gentleman." 
 
 Poor Mrs. Byrne had been inconsolable from the 
 time she parted with her dear child, and renewed 
 her sorrow when she saw her husband returning 
 without her ; but she soon dried her eyes when Toney 
 said : 
 
 " Don't be foolish, Kitty ; give thanks to God that 
 your daughter hits a dacent boy and a comfortable 
 home under a good landlord ; not at all like her 
 father and mother, I'm afraid. I met Tom Moody 
 at the mills below, and he tells me news came from 
 London this mornin' that Sir Charles is dead, and 
 the new landlord is a Protestant minister ; so God 
 between us and harm, this day ! But, Kitty, my 
 heart bodes no good to ourselves or our neighbors. 
 I'm afraid there's a black cloud gatherin' a top of 
 Glengoulah hill." 
 
 " Oh, Christ protect us ! Toney, avic ! " exclaimed 
 his wife, arising from her seat with staring eyes. 
 " Is it the truth you're spakin' ; or are you only 
 frightenin' me a purpose to keep me from frettin' 
 after Margie ? "
 
 32 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOUJ.AH. 
 
 " Bedad, it's the truth I'm telliu' you, Kitty ; and 
 sorry I am to have to tell it." 
 
 " Oh the cross of Christ about us and preserve us ! " 
 And Kitty made the holy sign on her forehead, lips, 
 and breast, and courtesied devoutly. " Och, wirrah, 
 wirrah, this day ! Luck nor grace can't come where 
 one of them black divils has any hand God forgive 
 me but sure I know the breed of old. Don't I 
 mind when my poor brother Andy was put in for 
 beatin' the tithe proctor God rest his soul, amen !" 
 (Mrs. Bryne certainly meant her brother's soul, not 
 the tithe proctor's). " Didn't my mother go to the 
 minister to ask him to spake a word fur the poor 
 boy, seein' he was young and hot in himself, and 
 was aggravated by reason of her bein' oifended. 
 Didn't the ould hypocrite snuffle through his nose 
 and tell her she reared her son bad ; that she ought 
 to tache him to be meek and humble, and to folly 
 the scriptures, and if he was struck on one cheek to 
 turn the other ? My poor mother was the mildest 
 and pacefulest woman that ever lived. You'd won 
 der if you saw how patient and gentle she looked. 
 To think any one could have the heart to spake that 
 way to her, and she in trouble! she riz up and 
 walked from the room without another word, she 
 was chokin'."
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 33 
 
 Young Andy Byrne, who was listening to his 
 mother with flashing eyes and burning cheeks, said 
 quickly : " Mother, who was with ray grandmother 
 when he said that?" "No one, alanna ; she was 
 loath to take any one with her, afraid they might re 
 fuse to let her see the minister if there was another 
 by." 
 
 " I wish I was by, and to be as big as I am now ; 
 I'd give him a rap in his ould jaw, and I'd see if he'd 
 turn tli' other side. " 
 
 " Oh whist, Andy, avic machree !" said his moth 
 er with a shudder ; and drawing him towards her she 
 laid his head on her bosom, and passing her hand 
 through his fair clustering hair, she made the sign of 
 the cross on his forehead, murmuring fervently : "God 
 bless my own bouchleen bawn, and mark him to 
 grace, and preserve him from sin, accidents, and 
 dangers." 
 
 " Musha, mother !" exclaimed Andy, jumping np 
 and cutting a caper on the floor ; " one would think 
 I was goin' to kick the minister now, you're so fright 
 ened; 'deed if I was with my grandmother that day 
 I'd give him a polthogue, just to see how he'd take 
 it ; he's too ould now if he'd be alive at all, but I 
 suppose the divil got him long ago." 
 
 " Oh, fie upon you, Andy, honey ! Don't talk that
 
 34 THE BYKXES OF GLENGOULA. H. 
 
 way ; sure you know we're not allowed to judge 
 any one." 
 
 " Och musha, mother astliore ! Don't I know you 
 mid my father and the priest is sayin' that always ; 
 but sure I know very well God Almighty has no 
 hand in such ould varmint and hypocrites, and he 
 must belong to one side or the other; anyway it's 
 well for his ould jaw I wasn't near him that day. 
 Hooroosh ! there's the spotted calf runnin' through the 
 meadow like mad." And away bounded Andy in high 
 glee for the chase. His mother looked after him with 
 a mixture of pride and sadness. Turning from the 
 door, she said to herself: "Well, hasn't he the. noble 
 sperit all out? Thanks and praises be to the great 
 God for all things ! He's a Malone to the backbone." 
 
 "Tony, who had lit his pipe after entering the house, 
 sat back in the chimney-corner. Keeping his eyes 
 fixed on the fire, and being entirely absorbed in puff 
 ing and watching the blaze as it flickered in and out 
 of the turf pile, he heeded not what was passing be 
 tween his wife and son. Advancing now to meet 
 her, as she turned from watching Andy, he said : 
 " Kitty, I'm after goin' over in my mind the 
 way we're in at present, and I don't like how things 
 look, but I see no way of bettering ourselves ; so I 
 come to the conclusion that the best thins: we can do
 
 THE BYRMSa OF GLEtfGOULAII. 35 
 
 4 
 
 is to remember we're in the hands of God, and to go 
 on doin' our duty and We it all to Him. Thanks 
 be to His holy name we've everything snug and com 
 fortable around us, and we have our rent ready, and 
 what need we care ? We never seen Sir Charles's 
 face, and maybe this ma/i would stay in England too, 
 and lave the estate to be managed by Mr. De Courcy, 
 and sure, if he does, it will make no differ to us who is 
 landlord ; howsomever, let it go what way it will, we 
 can't better it by frettin' about it, so welcome be the 
 will of God." 
 
 Poor Kitty tried hard to take the same philosophic 
 view of affairs as her husband ; but it was plain her 
 spirit chafed under the bare idea of holding their 
 farm, which belonged to the Brynes, father and son, 
 for generations, at the will of a member of that body 
 which made itself most obnoxious to the people in all 
 parts of the country, and which poor Kitty had good 
 reason to dread as the bitterest enemy of her faith 
 and race. She therefore merely shook her head, 
 saying with a sigh : " Maybe so, asthore; maybe so; 
 God is good !" and calling "Winefred to her they took 
 their snow-white pails and went to the byre to milk 
 the cows, which now came slowly into the yard chew 
 ing the cud, and taking observations with their mild 
 intelligent eyes.
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 ABOUT a month after the wedding of Margaret 
 Byrne her mother and sister were busy spinning 
 away to make a stock of house linen for the winter, 
 Mrs. Byrne having sent a chest full to Margaret as 
 her mother's wedding gift ; and her stock being 
 greatly reduced thereby, they were working away 
 to replace it, when a horse and rider turned into the 
 front yard, and stopping .at the porch the rider 
 alighted. He was a stout portly man, apparently 
 about fifty years of age, with a mild benevolent 
 countenance, his hair slightly sprinkled with silver, 
 and his whole air, garb and bearing carrying unmis 
 takable evidence of the true gentleman. Mrs. Byrne, 
 hurriedly calling Mike to hold the horse, ran out, 
 and, courtesying, welcomed Mr. De Courcy to the 
 farm. Taking off his hat he entered the farm-house, 
 saluted Winefred kindly, and, taking a seat, com 
 plimented her on her industry, inquired what she 
 had been spinning (for Winnie arose to make obei 
 sance on his entrance, but did not through politeness 
 resume her noisy occupation), and whether she found
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLEKGOULAH 37 
 
 it productive ; asked Mrs. Byrne after her husband 
 and the boys, and what progress the} T were making ; 
 inquired how the young summer stock got on, and 
 whether she still bore off the palm for her butter, 
 poultry, etc. Mrs. Byrne gave him all the satisfac 
 tion she could. He admired the neat arrangements 
 of the flower beds in the grass plot before the door, 
 and seemed highly pleased with the look of comfort 
 and industry which the whole place presented, not 
 forgetting to note the flitches of bacon and coils of 
 hogs' puddings suspended from the ceiling. He 
 then told Mrs. Byrne they were going to have a res 
 ident landlord. 
 
 Unlike Sir Charles Plover, who had never been in 
 Ireland since he was a boy, the Rev. Mr. Biggs was 
 coming to reside amongst them. Orders had been 
 received to put Glengonlah Castle in immediate 
 repair, and artizans of all kinds were coming to 
 decorate it in the highest style of art. Splendid 
 furniture was ordered from Paris, and a regular 
 suite of English servants coming to take charge 
 of all domestic arrangements. Mr. Biggs ex 
 pected to be settled in his future residence by 
 Christmas. 
 
 " I understand," said Mr. De Courcy, " he has ei- 
 fected an exchange with the present rector of this
 
 38 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOFLAH. 
 
 parish, and intends to rule in the double capacity of 
 landlord and rector." 
 
 " Well, the Lord break hard fortune before us ! 
 Bnt I'm mighty sorry to hear it, your honor ; I'm 
 afraid luck and grace and happiness are leavin' us 
 behind them ;" and poor Mrs. Byrne rocked to and 
 fro, as was her wont when her mind was troubled. 
 "Oh, don't say that, Mrs. Byrne," said the agent, 
 cheerfully. " Don't you know one of the worst evils 
 of Ireland is absenteeism, or the landlord making his 
 residence in a foreign land and not looking person 
 ally after the condition of his tenantry ? And now 
 Mr. Biggs is going to repair that evil by residing 
 amongst you all, and watching over your interests.'" 
 
 " Oh no, sir; it may be true what you say, that a 
 landlord has a right to look to his tenants. If they 
 all done it, then one would be ashamed of the other 
 not to act like a gentleman ; but where there's only 
 one they're more like to be a tyrant. Anyway, may 
 God long preserve your honor ! "We didn't know the 
 bad of an absentee landlord while we had you. Oh, 
 Mr. De Courcy, dear ! sure you won't lave us ? " 
 
 " I really cannot tell yet, Mrs. Byrne. I should 
 be very sorry, indeed, to part with the tenantry of 
 Glengoulah estate, for I have found them thoroughly 
 upright, peaceable people, kind neighbors, and good
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULA.H. 39 
 
 friends. I really feel a kind of affection for every 
 one on the estate, and I believe they love me too." 
 Mr. De Courcy's voice trembled as he said the latter 
 words. It was evident (though he did not express it) 
 he boded no good from the clerical landlord'. As 
 for poor Mrs. Byrne, she and Winnie cried outright, 
 and could not speak a word. " However, it is all 
 foolish to think on it yet," said Mr. De Courcy, 
 brightening up. " We may be pleased all round by 
 the change. The English landlords are very kind 
 and just to their tenantry in their own country, and 
 Mr. Biggs may be one of the best of them for aught 
 we know. Remember, I know as little about him 
 as any of you. Rest assured, Mrs. Byrne, I shall not, 
 give up the management of the estate as long as I 
 can retain it with honor to myself and good to the 
 tenantry. Please tell Byrne to bring his lea.se to 
 my office during the course of the week, as I am 
 putting my affairs in order." And so taking a amil- 
 ing adieu, he patted Mike on the head, slipped a 
 half-crown into his hand unknown to his mother, 
 and mounting his horse rode away. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy, after leaving Toney Byrne's farm, 
 rode on about three miles over the beautiful " Cas 
 cade mountain," as it was poetically and truthfully 
 named, for hundreds of tiny waterfalls came bound
 
 40 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ing through the variegated shrubs, over moss-covered 
 rocks, and made the hills musical with their murmur 
 ing glee as they rushed down to meet the Avon 
 and flow into the lovely vale of Ovoca. Beyond 
 this hill, and between it and another cone-shaped hill, 
 crowned on top with a clump of mountain ash, was 
 a verdant plain about a quarter of a mile wide. 
 In the centre of this plain nestled a large thriving 
 village, almost pretending to be a town (in America 
 it would be called a city). Here was a green where an 
 annual cattle-fair was held, and at the end of this 
 green stood a goodly-sized stone building of cruci 
 form shape, destitute of ornament save a stone cross 
 of modest dimensions at the termination of the ga 
 ble, which faced the entrance. Over the principal 
 door, which was a double one grained in oak, were 
 the initials I. H. S., so well known to every Catho 
 lic to signify " Jesus, Saviour of men." The back of 
 this building was shaded by a grove of oak, elm, and 
 ash-trees, commingled. Beside it stood a magnifi 
 cent elm towering above all, and bearing high up in 
 its branches a bell of humble size, from which a 
 simple rope most unpoetically dangled, or was tied 
 around the trunk ; nevertheless that modest bell 
 made music amongst the mountain echoes, as from 
 its Jenfy spire it called the faithful children of the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 4 
 
 Church to come and assist at the adorable sacrifice. 
 The ground on which this building stood covered a 
 considerable space, and was enclosed by a rustic pa 
 ling, which could now be scarcely discerned through 
 the thickly-interlaced hedge of sweet-brier and wild 
 roses. Within this enclosure, and all around the 
 building, with the exception of the neatly -gravelled 
 pathway, the grass was thick, soft as Genoa velvet, 
 and literally bespangled with daisies and buttercups. 
 Long green mounds were strewn around : some with 
 head-stones, simple and quaint enough ; some with a 
 plain stone cross ; some with a rose-bush at the head ; 
 but the greater number with no mark save that 
 known to the eye of affection, which never makes a 
 mistake. All told " the short and simple annals of 
 the poor. " Dear reader, this is the village and par 
 ish chapel of Tinmanogue, and the little churchyard 
 is the principal bury ing-place of the neighboring 
 hills. That substantial-looking cottage beside the 
 chapel, embowered amongst the trees, with its bright 
 flower-garden in front, is the residence of the be 
 loved parish priest of Tinmanogue and his almost 
 equally beloved curate. The hillsides and the plains 
 around are dotted with farm-houses and the cottages 
 of the farm laborers, all bearing the same look of 
 neatness and comfort, for it is still the estate of the
 
 42 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 late Sir Charles Plover, and now the property of the 
 Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy on coming in sight of Tinma 
 nogue let the bridle fall loosely on the neck of his 
 horse, and turning to look on every side, surveyed 
 the lovely prospect with feelings of pleasure and 
 regret. He felt that inward satisfaction which every 
 just man feels in looking upon the effects of his 
 good works, and then came the sense of deep 
 regret which he could not shake oft', for he knew 
 
 O ' 
 
 he would soon be as a stranger amongst those farms 
 whose prosperity he had watched with paternal care ; 
 and though he well knew he would ever live in the 
 warm affections of the grateful people, he also knew 
 they would soon be surrounded by trials from which 
 he could not extricate them. 
 
 Arriving at the shady cottage he was shown into 
 the modest parlor. The furniture was plain, sub 
 stantial, and beautifully clean. It bore a strong 
 resemblance in many points to Goldsmith's celebrat 
 ed room, for the sanded floor was there, and the 
 clock -ticking behind the door ; the green boughs- 
 were in the fire-place, and the chest of drawers con 
 triving to pay a double debt not in the same sense, 
 however, for it was not a bed either by night or by 
 day; but the top part was a writing-desk and bureau,
 
 THE BYKNE3 OF GLENGOULAH. 43 
 
 being the depository of the parish registries, and all 
 other important papers, while the under part was a 
 chest of drawers ; it was of old fashioned mahogony, 
 and had massive handles and ornamental key-holes 
 of the brightest brass. In place of "the twelve 
 good rules and royal game of goose," the walls 
 were hung with a plain, neat paper, and suspended 
 thereon were some rare pictures for Father Esmond 
 was a lover of the beautiful in art, and brought those 
 with him from France. Ireland in his young days 
 had no means of educating her sons for the priesthood, 
 as the odious penal laws were still in force. Father 
 Esmond, therefore, had been sent, with many other 
 students, to France, to study his ecclesiastical course, 
 and had returned a learned and holy priest. 
 
 Between the windows was an exquisite engraving 
 of the " Ecce Homo." Over the bureau a well- 
 executed copy of Carlo Dolci's " Holy Family." 
 Over the sideboard a fine engraving of Raphael's 
 "Last Supper." In the recesses of the fire-place 
 were the " Annunciation" and the " Baptism of Our 
 Lord," both matches, finely finished, and in old- 
 fashioned oval frames. But the masterpiece of all, 
 and the glory of the old pastor's heart, was an old 
 oil painting over the mantelpiece it was the " Re 
 pentance of St. Peter," and was indeed a gem.
 
 44: THE BYKNKS OF GLENGOTJLAH. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy, who was an enthusiastic admirer 
 of the fine arts, stood entranced before it for some 
 time, and then passed to the others. Looking 
 through a side window he saw an equally fine living 
 picture. A venerable man, evidently more than 
 eighty summers, with a benign and smiling counte 
 nance, was standing beside a clear pond in the hol 
 low of a verdant field. He was a little above the 
 middle height and of a rotund form, his dress was 
 black save a pair of dark-gray stockings which en 
 cased his stout, well-formed legs, which, whenever 
 he went abroad, or expected company, were again 
 covered by black-cloth leggings, terminating in a pair 
 of thick shoes fastened by silver buckles of a depart 
 ed age. On his head he wore the three-cornered 
 tonsure cap peculiar to his sacred office ; his long 
 snow-white hair flowing underneath was stirred by 
 the gentle breeze. In his hand he held a small bas 
 ket from which he scattered wheat and breadcrumbs 
 to a numerous flock of geese, ducks, and chickens, 
 alternately scolding, petting, and laughing heartily 
 at the scramble amongst the fowls. A couple of aris 
 tocratic ducks, disdaining to enter the crowd of beg 
 gars, stood a little apart with an eye cocked up, as 
 much as to say, " Here we are, waiting in dignified 
 expectation." They were now addressed : "Indeed,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 45 
 
 then, you shall, Juno, have some nice crumbs, yourself 
 and Ceres, just because you are not fighting about 
 it. Down, Caesar; down, sir;" and away went 
 ducks and geese plunging into the pond, while the 
 chickens with extended wings ran screaming away 
 to the barn-yard. This commotion amongst them 
 was excited by Mrs. Malone opening the little yard- 
 gate leading to the field to tell his reverence how a 
 visitor awaited him, contrary, however, to the express 
 injunctions of Mr. De Courcy, who assured the 
 house-keeper he was in no hurry, and would prefer 
 awaiting the leisure of Father Esmond. 
 
 Mrs. Malone, after delaying a little, got on the fidg 
 ets, and the moment she opened the gate out bounded 
 Caesar, a splendid mastiff, who had been wistfully 
 watching the gate ever since his master's egress, and 
 now sent the poor chickens flying in all directions. 
 Father Esmond entered the house immediately. 
 " My dear friend, Mr. De Courcy," said he, extending 
 both hands ; " I ana quite rejoiced to see you ; you 
 are heartily welcome to Tinmanogue-; bless my soul 
 how glad I am to see you ! And you are here some 
 time, Mrs. Malone tells me, and would not let me be 
 called now what's that for ? You wanted to surprise 
 me, did you?" His eye now caught a stray glance 
 of Mr. De Courcy's wandering over the fire-place.
 
 46 THE BYRNES OF GfLEXGOULAH. 
 
 1 Ah. HA ! I see it all now ; I have the secret. You 
 were examining my ' St. Peter'." Mr. De Courcy 
 pleaded guilty. "Well, I forgive you it is not 
 every day you meet with a picture like that. My 
 dear sir, that picture would take whole weeks to 
 view properly. Many an hour I remain before it 
 and yet discover new beauties continually. Now 
 just stand in this light and catch the expression ol 
 that face. Look ! there is true repentance for you ! " 
 
 " Indeed, Father Esmond, I never saw anything 
 more perfect ; he seems truly the rugged fisherman. 
 I fancy he has just moored his smack, awaiting the 
 morrow's dawn to be off again." 
 
 "Yes, just so; the weather-beaten fisherman 
 his hair seems to stand out as if still blown about 
 by the gales from lake Galilee; his garment flies 
 open and bares his breast to the breeze, but he heeds 
 not all that. Oh, my friend ! just look at those 
 sun-embrowned hands clasped together so closely; 
 don't you think they seem to quiver with the an 
 guish of that eoul upon which Jesus has cast a 
 pitying yet reproachful glance ? Don't those ears still 
 seem to ring with the crowing of that cock which 
 first warned him of his terrific sin ? those lips seem 
 trying to utter words of heartfelt sorrow, but can 
 not for the choking SO |) S Then look at those tears
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 47 
 
 streaming down the furrowed cheeks; those eyes 
 incessantly filling, raised to heaven with an expres 
 sion of intensest love for his Divine Master, and 
 agonizing contrition for having denied Him. Oh, 
 Peter ! Peter ! how many of us follow you in your 
 fall ; how few in your repentance ! " 
 
 Mr. De Courcy, who seemed spellbound by the elo 
 quence of his host, now turned to look at him. His 
 cap was in his hand, his white hair flowing back, 
 and his aged eyes filled with tears : he looked almost 
 as fine a picture as the blessed Peter himself. A 
 new emotion filled the heart of Mr. De Oourcy ; he 
 could not account for it, but he seemed to feel him 
 self quite insignificant, and would fain have re 
 mained silent and unobserved. Soon Father Es 
 mond, wiping his eyes, cried out : " Bless my soul ! 
 that picture makes me forget everything. Sit 
 down, my dear sir, sit down ; you will pardon the 
 forgetfulness of an old man. I hope Mrs. De Courcy 
 and the little people are well. How are matters 
 progressing at Glengoulah ? I suppose the old castle 
 is putting on its grand look, as of old." 
 
 " Yes, indeed ; the castle and the demesne of Glen 
 goulah are fit for any nobleman to reside in. I 
 wish they were about to be occupied by so:ne jne 
 worthy of such a princely inheritance. Indeed,
 
 48 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Father Esmond, I came to visit you to-day for the 
 purpose of having a conversation with you on this 
 very subject. I am anxious to know if you have 
 any idea who this Biggs is ; have you heard anything 
 of him?" 
 
 " I have not the slightest suspicion who he is ; nor, 
 indeed, do I much care. As long as you are the 
 agent we don't care who the landlord is, and for this 
 reason I never made an inquiry on the subject ; 
 but there's the old man's selfishness breaking out 
 again ! I'm forgetting how very unpleasant it 
 would be for you if he should happen to be a dis 
 agreeable man. I wish he had stayed where he was 
 born." 
 
 " Well, Father Esmond, I had a suspicion from 
 the first that he was the person of whom I heard my 
 cousin William speak when he came home from 
 Oxford. I thought the name was the same, but not 
 feeling certain I wrote my cousin on the subject, 
 related what I had heard of the character of our 
 new landlord, and begged he would describe, as ac 
 curately as possible, his old class-mate at Oxford. 
 He had started for Germany before my letter 
 reached his home, but they forwarded it to him, and 
 he replied from Dresden. It only reached me yes 
 terday."
 
 THE BYRNES Oe GLKNGOJLAH. 49 
 
 Pulling out a pocket-book, Mr. De Courcy took a 
 letter from it which he handed to Father Esmond. 
 While the priest was occupied reading the letter his 
 guest again stood before the " St. Peter ;" and as lie 
 went afresh over every lineament the words of the 
 venerable Father seemed to burn into his soul. 
 Father Esmond, having read the letter twice over 
 with the greatest care, folded it and returned it with 
 a sigh. " God help my poor people if the person 
 your cousin speaks of be the same l^iggs ; and I fear 
 it is, for the points of resemblance are very strong. 
 I fear there are sad times in store for the tenantry. 
 Oh, Mr. De Courcy, my dear friend, let me im 
 plore you not to abandon my poor people. You are 
 their only earthly salvation. Should you resign he 
 would easily find a creature of his own to appoint 
 who would be ready for any mean employment." 
 
 " God forgive me ! I'd rather have the wickedest 
 old sinner than one of those canting, psalm-singing 
 crew. The sinner might be converted ; but those 
 creatures are so full of self-glorification that they have 
 no room for the glory of God, and if they don't begin 
 they certainly end with hypocrisy." 
 
 " You may rest assured, Father Esmond, it will be 
 the last resort left to honor when I resign the Glen- 
 goulah estate. I need hardly tell you that it is not
 
 
 50 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 for its pecuniary profits I will hold it under such a 
 man. I don't need it, happily ; but my affections have 
 become bound up with the tenantry. I am not a 
 very demonstrative character, and I'm sure many of 
 the poor fellows have thought me exacting, but I love 
 them as though they were my own children. I have 
 ever found them punctual and upright in all their 
 dealings with me, and ready to adopt any suggestion I 
 made for the improvement of their farms ; indeed, 1 
 think they took an especial pride in following my ad 
 vice, just to show their confidence in me; for some of 
 them, I know, could not see the drift of my arrange 
 ments in the beginning, though they saw the benefit 
 of them afterwards. It will be one of the most pain 
 ful epochs of my life if I am ever compelled to resign 
 the management of this estate, and I hope fervently 
 I may be spared it." 
 
 Poor Father Esmond was quite overcome by these 
 observations, and, making a great effort to control 
 his feelings, he said : " My dear friend, there is not a 
 man, woman, or child in Glengoulah but would die 
 for you. You must not leave us. God is stronger 
 than the enemy ; we will all importune Heaven, and 
 
 " Oh, Father Esmond, no ; please do not let the ten 
 antry know 1 heard anything of the landlord it
 
 THE BViiNES OF GLENGOULAH. 51 
 
 would be extremely imprudent. In the first place, 
 we have only a suspicion-a very strong one, it ia 
 true, but still a mere suspicion that he and this Ox 
 ford man are the same person ; and then, if the peo 
 ple through my means become prejudiced against him 
 it would be sure to reach his ears, and we might look 
 out for separation truly ; and, moreover, we would de 
 serve it too. No, no ; I brought this letter to put you 
 on your guard, as you might see some way of foiling 
 him if he should contemplate a crusade against the 
 religion of the people. This is in strict confidence." 
 
 " Pardon me, my dear Mr. De Courcy ; I was 
 quite taken off my guard by the bare idea of losing 
 you. Of course you are perfectly right ; I see the im 
 propriety of letting any one know. You may rest 
 easy : the contents of that letter shall never pass my 
 lips until you release me yourself from silence." 
 
 " Enough, Father ; I must go now. It is getting 
 late." 
 
 " Upon my word, you sha'n't leave me until you 
 take pot luck with me ; my dinner will be ready an 
 hour from this, and Father O'Tool will be home and 
 will amuse you with his droll stories. He's the life 
 and soul of Tinmanosrue." 
 
 o 
 
 " I am very much obliged, Father Esmond ; but it 
 is quite impossible I could accept of your kind invi-
 
 52 THE BYKXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 tation to-day. There are two gentlemen to dine with 
 me tourists ; who came to see the vale of Ovoca. I 
 met them this morning accidentally, and they prom 
 ised to be at my house at six o'clock." 
 
 " Well ! well ! I am very sorry for my sake ; but the 
 duties of hospitality can't be postponed, so I give you 
 up for this day but you mustn't take the curse of 
 the house with you. 
 
 " Mrs. Malone, will you be kind enough to bring 
 the decanters here ; and where's that cake I heard 
 you boasting about ? I think you said it went very 
 nicely with raspberry jam ! We'll put it to the test 
 ma'am, if you please." 
 
 Mrs. Malone, who had been expecting some such 
 summons, came in arrayed in a black-satin gown 
 which had seen better days, and a cap decorated 
 with blue gauze ribbons. She bore a tray, with a 
 goodly array of wine-glasses, decanters, cake, and pre 
 serves, with her best china plates, and came near 
 demolishing a glass in her efforts to place the tray 
 on the table and make a most gracious courtesy at 
 the same time for Mr. De Courcy's especial benefit. 
 With the kindness of a true gentleman he saluted 
 the good woman, told her he had heard of her high 
 reputation in the manufacture of cakes and pre 
 serves, and was resolved to show how much he ap-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 53 
 
 predated such useful acquirements. Mrs. Malono 
 assured his honor it was only his kindness to say so, 
 not but she could make cakes if she only had the 
 least idea that they would be tasted by so capable a 
 judge, but that one now on the tray was only a poor 
 specimen of her art, etc., etc. It was easy to see, 
 however, that she was mightily pleased, and mak 
 ing two more dignified courtesies one at the table, 
 and one at the door she made her exit, ever after 
 wards declaring that " Mr. De Courcy was the nicest 
 and most knowledgeable gentleman that ever came 
 to Tinmanogue." 
 
 To say truth, the refreshments were all the best ; 
 and the agent, having partaken of them, requested 
 Father Esmond to try and get over to his house 
 soon. Mrs. De Courcy would be quite delighted to 
 see him, and he wanted to show him some new ma 
 chinery he had got in the mill. 
 " Ah, my dear friend ! it is little visiting I can do 
 now. I suffer much at times from asthma, but 
 praises be to God ! I have had a long life of good 
 health, and must expect some shadow of the coming 
 event which can't be far distant now." 
 
 " Oh, you mustn't say that, Father ; I trust it is 
 many, many years distant." 
 
 "Well! well! God's holy will be done as He
 
 54 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 pleases, my son. I would like very much indeed to 
 go and see your family ; if possible I will do so." 
 
 Mr. De Courcy leaned over and in an undertone 
 whispered, " Meantime, Father, please remember me 
 in your petitions to Heaven, and when you are 
 viewing your St. Peter." 
 
 " Indeed, then, I will, my dear friend and child. 
 God bless you ! " 
 
 Mr. De Courcy vaulted into his saddle, and, rais 
 ing his hat once more to the venerable figure stand 
 ing on the door-step, galloped up the hill and was 
 out of sight in a minute.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE long-expected time came at length when 
 there arrived at Glengoulah Castle troops of servants 
 and piles of luggage from England ; and, about a 
 week afterwards, the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, 
 his lady the Rev. Mrs. Samuel Biggs, his two maid 
 en sisters the Misses Biggs, a valet, and two waiting 
 maids, drove up in two carriages and four to the 
 grand sweep before the castle hall; whereupon 
 there was great commotion amongst the hired retain 
 ers, and a great clattering of dishes in the culinary 
 apartments, accompanied by an odor bearing sure 
 evidence that Ihe comforts of the inward man were 
 being attended to. 
 
 A few days after the arrival of the family the two 
 waiting women took counsel together, during break 
 fast hour, in the dressing-room of the Rev. mis 
 tress. 
 
 " La me ! " said Miss Jemima Jenkins (the Rev. 
 mistress's own maid) to Miss Amelia Hopkins, who 
 had the felicity to wait on the spinster sisters of their 
 Rev. master " La me ! I verily believe we shall
 
 56 THE BYRNES OTT GLKNGOULAH. 
 
 mope to death in this hold castle, perched hon the 
 top of the 'ill; just look out of this winder, and see 
 what a frightful 'iglit we are." And the two young 
 ladies gazed into the valley below, just at the point 
 " where the bright waters meet." Then they cast 
 their eyes on the opposite hills, covered with verd 
 ure, though it was the first week of December, and 
 on the thousand waterfalls and silver streams one 
 of the most picturesquely beautiful scenes the eye of 
 man could wish to repose on in this world. Draw 
 ing in her head, Miss Jemima Jenkins exclaimed, 
 with a sigh : " I shall ask mistress to raise my wages. 
 It is evident there is no chance of society in such 
 a wild place ! I should die, I know I should, in one 
 quarter." 
 
 " Yes," rejoined Miss Amelia Hopkins ; " and only 
 think ! the coachman, footman, and two grooms are 
 all married men ; it is perfectly unbearable ! I too 
 shall demand 'igher wages, or I sha'n't wait on Miss 
 Biggs, nor Miss Rachel neither, so I sha'n't." 
 
 " And I heard mistress tell master this morning," 
 said Miss Jemima Jenkins, " that she didn't see how 
 she was ever a goin' to live among such barbarous 
 people. But la ! master is so religious ! he told her 
 she must look upon it as a trial sent her by the Lord, 
 and try to bear it with Christian fortitude. He said :
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 57 
 
 Mistress, and Miss Biggs, and Miss Bachel, and you, 
 and me, and all the servants, should try and reform 
 the people on the estate. ' I am sui e, sir,' says I, ' if 
 I had come hair to such a rich hestate I should pre 
 fer to pay hagents to manage it for me, and live in a 
 civilized country myself;' but I do believe if there's 
 a saint on hearth master's one. He turned up the 
 wites of his heyes, and says he, in a solemn voice, 
 ' What you say, my dear Jenkins, would be quite 
 acceptable to a worldly-minded man, but my bowels 
 yearn with compassion for those creatures who 
 are half savages by nature, and whose steps run 
 after iniquity ; it will be my care to regenerate them 
 in a new baptism, so to speak, and bring their feet 
 into the path of the Lord.' Oh, 'Opkins, you never 
 'card such sighs as he drew up from the very bottom 
 I of his stomach ; it gave me the 'art burn to 'ear 'em." 
 " "Well ! I don't care if he is so religious, I haint 
 and so I just intend to do as little work as ever I 
 can ; and I'm a goin' to see if I can't make some 
 hirapression on the 'art of Mr. Jones, the 'ed butler. 
 I've singled him out as my game, so see you don't 
 look at him !" shaking her finger playfully at her 
 companion. "La me!" cried Miss Jemima, with a 
 contemptuous toss of her head, which made all the 
 pink ribbons in her fancy cap flutter for five seconds, "
 
 58 THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " I think mistress's own maid may look 'igher. I 
 haint got such low tastes, I can assure you, 'Opkins; 
 and if I do amuse myself a talkin' to Mr. Thompson, 
 master's valet, it is only till I can find society 
 capable of appreciating me." 
 
 " Well done, my lady Pimlico," cried Miss Ame 
 lia, mimicking the voice of her friend Jenkins, 
 
 O 7 
 
 " Well, I never ! So we're puttin' on hairs, are we ? 
 He, he, he. My heyes ! wont I have ftiu in the ser 
 vants' 'all to-night. I suppose we'll begin to get 
 religion too, like master, and turn up the wites of 
 our heyes and sing psalms " and the tantalizing 
 young lady began to sing in a nasal tone : 
 
 " Oh ! there's a 'appy land, far, far away." 
 Suddenly the bell of Miss Biggs's dressing-room 
 rang furiously, and at the same moment the sickly 
 step of the Rev. mistress was heard ascending the 
 stairs, which caused the instantaneous cessation of 
 the hymn, and the sudden transition of Miss Ame 
 lia Hopkins from the front to the rear of the castle, 
 while the offended person of Miss Jemima Jenkins 
 quickly passed from an easy, dignified position in an 
 arm-chair before the looking-glass, to one of most 
 bustling activity, with something in her fair hand 
 which bore a suspicious resemblance to a dusting- 
 brush. For the present we shall leave the afflicted
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 59 
 
 inmates of Glengoulab Castle to the terrible calami 
 ties consequent upon a residence amongst a barbar 
 ous people, and see what the savage tenantry are 
 about. 
 
 Toney Byrne took his lease to Mr. De Courcy's 
 office, at the mills, as directed, and was told to leave 
 it there, for the Rev. landlord had not yet attended 
 to any business ; but Mr. De Courcy would be sure 
 
 to call his earliest attention to it, and to some others 
 ^x 
 
 which also required renewal. 
 
 Some weeks had elapsed, Christmas had come and 
 gone, the new year had dawned, but Toney re 
 ceived no summons to visit the office in order to sign 
 his new lease. At length, in the second week of 
 January, at the oft-repeated request of his wife, To 
 ney went to the office once more. He was received 
 as kindly as ever by Mr. De Courcy, who told him 
 he regretted very much that his lease was still un 
 signed by the landlord. " I have urged him fre 
 quently, Byrne, and he kept putting me off upon 
 one pretext or another until last week, when he pos 
 itively refused to sign any lease until he made him 
 self acquainted with the character and condition of 
 the tenantry. However,, it wont be long now until 
 the March gales come, and perhaps he may give or 
 ders to have the leases ready by rent day. Meantime
 
 60 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 I am quite willing to have the character of each ten 
 ant and the condition of each holding scrutinized, 
 for I am proud of the whole." 
 
 " Yes, sir, thanks be to God, your honor needn't 
 be afraid or ashamed of any of us." 
 
 " Mr. Biggs is going to have a new church built on 
 the demesne, and a school-house, he tells me, so that 
 will give a good deal of employment." 
 
 " Ah, what in the world does he want with anoth 
 er church, sir? Sure the parish church of Tinman- 
 ogue has only a congregation of seven persons, and 
 where will he find scholars for his schools ?" 
 
 " Why, you forget, Byrne, that his own establish 
 ment at the castle would make a numerous congre 
 gation ; and, as they are all English, I presume they 
 are Protestants likewise. Perhaps, too, many of 
 them are married, and have young families ; and if 
 so, the ladies will require some useful occupation, and 
 so may turn teachers. And, perhaps" Mr. De 
 Courcy smiled quietly "some of the tenantry may 
 be glad to avail themselves of so good an opportuni 
 ty to educate their children, and send them to this 
 school too." 
 
 " Oh no, bedad, sir ! Sorra a fear of that. If 
 the good gentleman is goin' to build churches, or 
 schools aither, for the benefit of the Glengoulah peo-
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 61 
 
 pie, he had better keep his money. A good mornin' 
 Mr. DeCourcy!" 
 
 " Good morning, Byrne." 
 
 As Toney was approaching his home he met 
 Tom Moody, whom he invited in to " take the weight 
 off his limbs, and have a draw of the pipe." He 
 told Mrs. Byrne " a power of news " about the Biggs 
 family, and their doings at the castle. Indeed, 
 Kitty had been dying to see the same Tom, and had 
 come out upon the road a dozen times when she 
 espied a hat like his coming down the road. With 
 a long stocking tucked under her arm, at the toe of 
 which she was busy with her needles, Mrs. Byrne 
 would come out and look down the road in the op 
 posite direction from where the owner of the hat 
 was coming, as if expecting somebody. After gazing 
 a while she would turn round carelessly, intending, 
 if it should be Tom, to say, " Why, then, now, is that 
 yourself, Tom Moody ? Who'd ever think to see 
 you here the mornin'? Come in and rest a while." 
 And so she would be sure to hear all the news, for 
 Tom was an incorrigible gossip, and had a knack 
 of worming himself in with strangers, and by find 
 ing out a little here, and a little there, and " putting 
 that and that together," as he said himself, it was 
 quite wonderful what shrewd guesses he made.
 
 62 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Poor Mrs. Byrne, however, had come out so often, 
 and looked down the road so intently, and turned 
 round so innocently (expecting to accost Tom) every 
 time encountering the eyes of a stranger, that she 
 almost despaired of ever seeing Tom Moody again. 
 She had kept her own counsel, however, and never 
 mentioned her movements to any one, for she knew 
 how much Toney discountenanced gossiping. As 
 Tom now made his appearance with her husband 
 she accosted him kindly, but with the most diplo 
 matic nonchalance, inquired after all the neighbors 
 in his parts (Tom was a bachelor), and glancing 
 carelessly at his hat, which he held between his 
 knees, she requested to be allowed to put it on the 
 table. As she laid it down she took a second look 
 at it, and said, " Why, then, Tom Moody, did you 
 pass down this road three or four times this week? " 
 
 " No, indeed, ma'am ; if I did you may be sure I'd 
 step in to bid you the time of day." 
 
 " 'Deed, that's what made me wonder ; and yet I 
 certainly seen a hat like this one goin' down the 
 road, whoever wore it." 
 
 " You did, Mrs. Byrne } are you sure of that, 
 ma'am ? " 
 
 " 'Deed, I never was surer of anything ; when 1 
 seen your hat now it brought it to my mind."
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 63 
 
 " Ahem ! I see now how the cat jumps ; what 
 kind of a lookin' man was he, Mrs. Byrne ? " 
 
 Kitty, unwilling to confess she was outside of her 
 own premises, said, evasively, " I just seen the hat 
 over the hedge, and not bein' a common, one it took 
 my eye." 
 
 " "Well, ma'am, that must be no other man but 
 Sandy McGlauren, the Scotch steward ; he has a hat 
 for all the world the comrade of mine ; but he's a 
 gradle taller nor I am, and has great big bones. 
 Well, ma'am, if there's a head goin', divil alive it's 
 the same Sandy ; he's as deep as a draw-well. And 
 so he was up through the farms ! Bedad, I don't like' 
 the look of that, Mr. Byrne," turning to Toney. " I 
 don't like to see such cattle rovin' through the hills, 
 so I don't. 1 wouldn't say now but he was calcnlat- 
 in' the value of every farm, and that a rise in the 
 rent would be soon recommended." 
 
 " Tut, tut, man ! " exclaimed Toney, who was 
 always disposed to see the bright and peaceful side 
 of everything " Tut, tut ! Don't yon know he's a 
 stranger, and it's only natural he'd like to see the 
 country he has come to live in, and to examine the 
 quality of the land too, and see if it's like his own ? 
 I don't see anything in that but what we'd do our 
 selves, if we were in his place/'
 
 64: THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " Well, wait till you see, Mr. Byrne. I just can 
 tell what them lads is thinkin' of. There's not a 
 wink on me ! " at the same time winking very hard 
 with both eyes, to show his great cleverness. 
 
 " 'Deed, honest man, it's you I belave," chimed 
 in the good woman ; " but sure this man of mine 
 won't give ear to anything lie hears. I do be as 
 mad as a March hare with him sometimes. The 
 childer can put their finger in his eye and he can't 
 see it." 
 
 "Well, now, Kitty, where's the use of judging 
 any one till you know they're guilty it isn't fair 
 and we wouldn't like it to be done to ourselves. I 
 like to judge every one fair and square until I find 
 them goin' wrong." 
 
 " Why, then, indade, Mr. Byrne, it's little you'll 
 see that's fair or square from the same Sandy, or his 
 master aither, if I'm a livin' man; but time 'ill tell 
 God keep us all from harm." 
 
 " Oh ! amen, Tom, honey ! " said poor Mrs. Byrne, 
 fervently ; and then she began to question him on 
 all he knew of the Biggs family. 
 
 " And what kind of a lookin' man is the minis 
 ter?" 
 
 " A mighty mane lookin' little man, Mrs. Byrne, 
 as ever you seen. How old is your Andy now ?"
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 65 
 
 " He's just risin' fourteen." 
 
 " Well, the sorra taste bigger nor Andy lie is 
 God bless the boy ; but he's most as black as your 
 shoe no, not so black as that ; but I'll tell you now 
 for all the world what he looks like, and sorra word 
 of lie I'm tellin' he looks like a chimley sweep that 
 was after givin' his face a kind of wash, what we call 
 4 a lick and a promise,' now that's the very color 
 of his skin ; and he has the schaminist eye you ever 
 looked at, and wid all a mighty down mane look." 
 
 " Oh, then the curse of the crows on him ! Where 
 was he comiu' at all at all among dacent people ? 
 Did you. ever see the mistress at all ? " 
 
 " See her ? 'Deed, I'll engage I did ; and more 
 than onst, too." 
 
 " Is she pretty itself? " 
 
 " Pretty ? Musha, Mrs. Byrne, where would such 
 a speciment of a man get a pretty woman eh, now? " 
 
 " Why the dickens go from her, sure? We heard 
 she was a lord's daughter." 
 
 " So she is, ma'am ; a speretual lord's ; that is, a 
 Protestant Bishop." 
 
 " Oh, persume to her ! " said Mrs. Byrne, con 
 temptuously ; " if that be all, sure of course we 
 couldn't expect much dacency from her. She's black 
 lookin' too, I'll be bound ? "
 
 66 THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " To ; but she's the livin' picture of a yalla mnllott 
 (mulatto) ; I mane in the color of her skin. I seen a 
 yalla mullott last summer when I was up in Dublin 
 I went on an errand from the master to the coun 
 sellor. Well, there was an American ship lyin' in the 
 docks, and I should go on boord of her wid the rest 
 of the crowd to be sure, and there I seen the mul 
 lott. She was the steward's wife, I belave, and at 
 tended the ladies' cabin. Her skin looked like a bar 
 of yalla soap that had the measles, but for all she 
 was a fine soncy lookin' woman, and had the dar- 
 lintist pair of eyes you could wish to see. Well, the 
 minister's lady has such another skin ; but, be my 
 sowkins, she can't hould a candle to the mullott in 
 any other respect." 
 
 " Is she a big woman ? " 
 
 " Her height is fair enough, but the divil such a 
 quare made woman ever I seen ; she's the very figure 
 of a broomstick, and hasn't a bit on her bones. She 
 has quare dead-lookin' hair, and not as much of it 
 on her whole head as Miss Winny there God 
 bless the colleen has in one of them locks that, 
 hangs over her laughin' eye. Her nose, chin and 
 elbows is like raziers; and as for her jaw bone, 
 it's so sharp that I'm sure if Samson had it he'd 
 kill more Philistines wid it than he kilt wid the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOtJLAH. 67 
 
 jaw bone of the ass that's wrote about in the 
 Scriptures." 
 
 " Well, bad cess to you ! out of my sight, Tom 
 Moody, that I mightn't sin, but my heart's broke 
 laughin' at you ; but you're the fine lad, so you are." 
 
 " Upon my sowl I'm not tellin' you a word of lie, 
 ma'am. Wait till you see her ; they say she's half 
 the time dyin', and must have all kinds of attention 
 from mornin' till night. She has a great high-flyer 
 of a watin' maid leapin' round her all the time wid 
 smellin'-bottles and head-dresses. His two sisters is 
 the very mott of himself small, black, and mane 
 lookin' but they're all dressed so grand, my dear, 
 and has such airs about them, and spake so fine 
 you'd take them to be rale quality if you didn't 
 know who they wor." For all she laughed so heart 
 ily at Tom's description of the minister's family, 
 poor Mrs. Byrne felt her heart sink at the prospect 
 of having the future destiny of the Ityrnes entrusted 
 to such keeping. Day or night she could not rest, 
 her duties became irksome, and she would sit for 
 hours brooding over coming shadows, although her 
 fingers were busy at the knitting. Soon she be 
 came fretful and impatient, and would fly off to Mrs. 
 Fehily or some other neighbor to hold converse and 
 try to dive into the future intentions of the landlord.
 
 68 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOIJLAH. 
 
 But day after day passed, and Mrs. Byrne gre\v 
 more restless. At length she thought of a plan it 
 was to vrsit Father Esmond at Tinmanogue, and 
 have his reverence's opinion on the state of the case. 
 Having once conceived the project she gave Toney 
 no peace until he consented to go. 
 
 " Now's the time, Toney, before the spring work 
 comes on, for we'll be all too busy then, and can't 
 spare any of the bastes. Father Esmond is a long 
 headed man and has great exparience and more 
 be token he's a livin' saint and his advice is good. 
 And it will aise our minds if it won't .do anything 
 else, so let us saddle Puss in the name of God, and 
 put on the pillion and be off in the mornin' early, 
 and then we'll have plenty of time to see his rever 
 ence, and be home early after with the help of God." 
 
 " Well, Kitty, I'm very loath to trouble his rev 
 erence With our affairs, since he has the whole busi 
 ness of the parish to attend to ; but indade I'll over 
 come my dislike if it '11 only aise your mind, for I 
 never seen you so unaisy about anything. You're 
 like a hen on a hot griddle, so you are ; and indade 
 it's glad I am you thought of somethin' to give you 
 relief; so let us be off as you say to-morrow mornin' 
 in God's name."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 *' Two travellers might be seen wending their way " 
 down the Cascade hill one cold morning at the be 
 ginning of February. The wind swept moaning 
 through the ravines, and made a hollow murmuring 
 through the leafless branches ; and between each 
 gust a heavy drizzling rain was trying to fall, but 
 was caught up by a stiff nor'easter before it reached 
 the earth, and blown about in every direction. 
 
 The travellers, one of whom was a woman, were 
 on horseback the woman seated on a pillion behind 
 her husband both well clad, and with shawls tied 
 over their hats. The horse, a sober philosophical sort 
 of animal, jogged on perfectly unmindful of wind or 
 rain. He held the bit in his mouth, and, with hanging 
 lip, and eyes fixed on the road before him, seemed to 
 look with scornful defiance on the little gusts which 
 jumped out at every winding of the road from be 
 hind rocks and stumps of trees, and battering his 
 ears and nose, sent his mane flying into an erect po 
 sition, then retired to their hiding-places, and running 
 along the hillsides were ready for him again at the
 
 70 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 next turning. Our four-footed friend, however, had 
 evidently made up his mind not to be daunted by 
 such insignificant obstacles as the weather could 
 present, being perfectly conversant with all its pow 
 ers ; and he accordingly jogged on in the same sing 
 song trot whach he had commenced on leaving home 
 in the morning, and never varied his pace until 
 pulled up by his rider at the residence of the parish 
 priest cf Tinmanogue. 
 
 The cottage was no longer hidden amongst the 
 trees ; for the foliage had departed, and the bare 
 vines hung dangling from the housetop, sometimes 
 rapping on the panes as the wind blew them hither 
 and thither, like vines in distressed circumstances 
 which were begging for admission from the winter's 
 storm. The scene, however, was not so much 
 changed as one would suppose from the season ; the 
 evergreens in front of the house still proudly bore 
 their green banners, the mountain ash hung out 
 myriads of scarlet berries, and the ever- verdant grass 
 looked soft as velvet still, though the mountain 
 breezes chased the lights and shadows in quick suc 
 cession over its surface. The only effect winter 
 could produce was to cause the daisies and butter 
 cups to hide their heads in slumber, awaiting the 
 breath of spring to reanimate them.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAU. 71 
 
 Toney Byrne, alighting from his horse, assisted 
 his wife to dismount. Fastening the bridle to one 
 of the trees by the roadside, they entered the priest's 
 garden, knocked at the hall-door, and, upon inquir 
 ing for Father Esmond, were shown into the back 
 parlor, which he seldom left now, as it was a warm 
 room, and he was much afflicted with asthma. The 
 venerable gentleman sat at a round table near the 
 fire-place, attired as we last saw him, with the ad 
 dition of a cloak thrown over his shoulders. The 
 old pleasant smile was there, indicating kindness and 
 hospitality. His table was full of books and writ 
 ing materials, and in the centre of it stood a neatty- 
 carved ivory crucifix on a pedestal of ebony, and at 
 its foot lay his well-worn breviary. He arose on 
 Toney's entrance, welcomed him and his wife to 
 Tinmanogue, and having shaken them warmly by the 
 hands, made them sit down in the ample chimney, 
 where an immense turf-fire was blazing. Having 
 ascertained the mode by which they travelled, he sent 
 his boy to put the horse in the stable and feed him. 
 
 After inquiring for their family and the neigh 
 bors round, the priest asked after Margaret and her 
 young husband, prophesying the future prosperity 
 of so worthy and virtuous a couple. The father and 
 mother were proud of the encomiums passed on
 
 72 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOCLAH. 
 
 " their little girl," and thanked his reverence grate 
 fully. 
 
 * But oh, Father Esmond, asthore ! " said Mrs. 
 Byrne, " the heart within nie is sore at the way 
 things is goiu' to be, I'm afeared, sir ; and that's 
 what brought us to see yonr reverence to-day. I 
 told Toney I could not rest till I seen you and got 
 some consolation, so we made it up that we'd ride 
 over the hills in spite of the heavy mist and the 
 drivin' wind ; for indade, Father honey, the wind 
 is drivin' no faster than the black thoughts is runnin' 
 through my mind." 
 
 " Well, to spake the truth, your reverence, I don't 
 like how things looks myself; but still and all, I 
 think Kitty takes things too much to heart, and I'd 
 be glad if your reverence wonld give her a good 
 Bcoldin'; she'll sicken herself, so she will, if she 
 goes on at this rate." 
 
 "My dear friends, have patience. Don't you 
 know God never abandons those who put their 
 trust in Him? What is troubling your minds? 
 Tell me how yon are situated regarding your lease ?" 
 
 " Well, sir, you see the Byrnes, father and son, for 
 years upon years held a lease for the life of the 
 landlord, and there was a special request put in the 
 body of it that the next landlord would continue
 
 THE BYfiNES OF GLENGOCLAH. 73 
 
 the same, by raisin of their beiu' of the old stock, 
 and havin' given paceable possession in generations 
 gone of Glengoulah Castle and lands to the ances 
 tors of the Plover family. But now, your reverence, 
 this man is not a direct heir, but is come of a 
 mighty low English breed, I hear ; and as we're en 
 tirely at his mercy, sure it's no wonder we'd be un- 
 aisy, though I do be tryin' to persuade Kitty that 
 the day often clears up and the sun shines out 
 when the mornin' looks dark." 
 
 " Well, Toney, I don't see as yet that you have 
 any cause to fear ; it is surely not possible that Mr. 
 Biggs would eject one of the best tenants on his es 
 tate without cause, and he has no fault nor cannot 
 have any with you, I am sure. I know myself, from 
 conversations I had with Mr. De Courcy, that he 
 has a very high regard for you, and he would not 
 be a party to any injustice ; he knows the Byrnes 
 made that farm what it is, from being wild moun 
 tain land and bog, by the hard labor of their hands 
 and the sweat of their brows. Oh, no ! my dear 
 children ; rest content, and you'll find Mr. Biggs 
 cannot be so unfair. Let us give the devil his due, 
 and maybe after all he's not so black as he's 
 painted." 
 
 " Sorra a ha'porth myself knows about him,
 
 4 THE BYBNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Father honey, only what old Harry McLean told us. 
 You know Harry went off as a body servant to Sir 
 Charles when he went to the college in England, 
 and he never left Sir Charles while he lived. He 
 came back a few weeks ago and brought a power of 
 news about the new landlord. I heard it all from 
 Tom Moody, the under steward. Harry says Mr. 
 Biggs's mother was a bar-maid in an inn in England. 
 She was very pretty, and Sir Charles's uncle married 
 her ; he was the uncle by the mother's side, and as 
 none of the Plover family married, he became the 
 heir. He says these Biggses is all as mane as dirt 
 savin' your reverence's favor and that they're good 
 for nothing but psalm singing ; his wife is the daugh 
 ter of some Protestant bishop in England, and they 
 think they're demeanin' themselves mightily to come 
 to live in Ireland at all. They have no one around 
 them but English barring a head steward, a Scotch 
 man and sure, your reverence, it's well I know if 
 he's let to have his say in anything it's short Mr. 
 De Courcy 'ill hold the agency, and the likes of him 
 interfarin' between himself and the tenants." 
 
 " Mrs. Byrne, my dear child ! don't be too ready 
 to believe all you hear. How can you vouch for 
 the truth of what this Harry McLean says ; he may 
 have some dislike to Mr. Biggs's family. But now,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 75 
 
 suppose it all true, those things cannot affect you. 
 Let him manage his household as he likes, that is 
 nothing to the tenantry. As to the Scotchman, it's 
 most probable he is merely a head gardener to look 
 after the demesne. You may be sure he won't have 
 charge of the estate, so don't trouble yourself about 
 it. If you take my advice and I know you will 
 go on industriously as you have always done, mind 
 no one's stories, and above all don't repeat them to 
 your neighbors. Keep your children to their lessons 
 and their duties, and never fear. God is good, my 
 dear friends, and we must never forget all He has 
 done for us." 
 
 u Och ! then, sure its true what your reverence 
 says ; glory, honor, and praise be to His holy name 
 we have a great deal to be thankful for, sure enough. 
 And does your reverence really think there's no fear 
 of us bein' put out ?" 
 
 " Well, my child, I really see no earthly reason 
 why you should be ejected ; you always paid your 
 rent punctually, and such tenants as you are a trea 
 sure to any landlord with common sense. Now just 
 put such thoughts from your mind and be cheerful 
 at your work as usual. Remember, Kitty, we are al 
 ways in the hands of God, and He can do as He 
 pleases with us. Walk ever in His presence, my child,
 
 76 THE BYENE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 and be resigned to His holy will. Don't believe the 
 half of what you hear, Kitty ; just let it out at one 
 ear as fast as it comes in at the other." 
 
 The cheerful tones of the venerable Father's voice 
 and his smiling face brought comfort to the heart of 
 poor Mrs. Byrne. 
 
 She raised her eyes to Heaven, then bowing her 
 head, made the sign of the cross on her forehead. 
 
 " Why, then, that your reverence may live long 
 and die happy ! I knew I'd get comfort and conso 
 lation where I always found it; indeed, Father 
 honey, you took a load from my heart the mornin'." 
 
 The priest then led them to talk of other matters 
 the farm, the stock, the crop, diseases of cattle, etc. ; 
 then he came to more domestic matters. 
 
 " And so you tell me Andy is makin' great prog 
 ress at the figures ? " 
 
 " Yes indeed, your reverence ; thanks be to God. 
 Mr. Tobin says he promises to be a fine scholar ; he 
 writes a mighty pretty hand, and so does Mike too, 
 for his age, but Winny bates them all at the cy- 
 pherin'. The master is might} 7 proud of her, she's 
 so apt at the learnin'. And sure the dacent man 
 has the patience of Job with her ; her eye is every 
 where to see what mischief she can be at. Th'other 
 night she run the shank of the pipe into the fire til 1
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 77 
 
 it was almost red hot, just at the time she knew the 
 poor man would be turnin' round to take a draw, 
 and then she put it down mighty cute and slipped 
 out. He took it up by the head, not thinkin' any 
 thing, and burned his mouth a little. Another time, 
 
 o/ * 
 
 she'll be mounted on the ditch with a white sheet 
 about her, to frighten the poor man as he goes home. 
 I do be goin' to kill her, but the father always has 
 an excuse for her." 
 
 Father Esmond laughed heartily at Winny's tricks, 
 and told her mother not to be uneasy about her, for 
 she would be a fine girl yet ; that it was the lightness 
 of her spirits made her so frolicsome. 
 
 Toney and his wife arose to go home, but Father 
 Esmond insisted on their sitting down again. He 
 said they should not stir a step until they eat then 
 dinner with him ; that it would soon be ready. So in 
 about half an hour a fine dish of roast chickens and 
 an elegant cut of " belly bacon " reposing on a bunch 
 of young greens, made their appearance on the di 
 ning-room table, with crisped potatoes jumping out 
 of their skins, and a tankard of home-brewed ale. 
 
 When the cloth was removed, a good glass 
 of punch completed the entertainment. Father 
 O'Toole was in a distant part of the parish attend 
 ing a sick call.
 
 78 THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 After chatting awhile, in order, as they said, " not 
 to be like the beggars that run off the minute they 
 get their bit," Toney brought round " the baste," 
 and, both mounting as before, took their departure 
 for home, greatly refreshed both in mind and body. 
 
 Father Esmond watched them from the window 
 until a turning of the road hid them from his sight. 
 
 " My poor simple children," said he, shaking his 
 head sorrowfully, " God help you, and soften the 
 hardships that are before you. No security for be 
 ing left in possession of the farm, made valuable by 
 the toil and strength of many an honest man of 
 your name ! No hold on the home of many gene 
 rations but the honor of a Sassenach, and that man 
 the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, the most Papist- 
 hating, smooth-faced hypocrite that ever landed on 
 these shores, and that's saying a big word. God 
 help poor Ireland, and the true children of the 
 soil ! Poor Kitty ! your heart bodes evil, as well it 
 may, from one of his cloth ; but if you only heard 
 all I did, and from such good authority too, of his 
 career in Oxford ! My poor, honest, virtuous peo 
 ple ! my heart bleeds for them all, but especially for 
 poor Toney Byrne, the last of the once proud chief 
 tains of Wicklow, the O'Byrnes of Glengoulah ! 
 Oh, God help us ! God help us !"
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 79 
 
 Thus soliloquized Father Esmond, as with an im 
 patient step and an indignant frown he paced the 
 sitting-room up and down, his hands behind his 
 back. 
 
 Suddenly stopping at the table he looked a mo 
 ment, then drawing over a little stool covered with 
 black cloth, he knelt, and bowing his white head 
 before the crucifix he prayed from his heart out, 
 for patience for himself and his faithful flock, the 
 dwellers of those beautiful hills.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ONE fine dry morning in the early part of March, 
 a plain but richly-finished carriage, of a deep shade 
 of chocolate, with linings of crimson satin, drawn by 
 a noble pair of dark chestnut horses, was brought to 
 a sudden stop at the office of Mr. De Courcy by a fat 
 English coachman in clerical livery. The door was 
 thrown open and the step let down in a twinkling 
 by the liveried footman, and out stepped two aentle- 
 men. One was a lean, gaunt -looking individual, 
 with keen, sharp eyes, shaded by shaggy brows, high 
 cheek-bones, and a quantity of sandy-colored frowsy 
 hair. He was attired in a Highland shooting-dress, 
 or something resembling it, and wore a drab felt hat 
 turned up at the ears ; his hands and feet were large 
 and clumsy, and his manner ungainly. This inter 
 esting individual was Mr. Sandy McGlauren, the 
 head steward of Glengoulah Castle. His companion 
 was a man of low stature, and exceedingly sallow 
 complexion. He had stealthy eyes, which feared to 
 look you full in the face, excepting when worked 
 upon by passion, and then they assumed an cxpres-
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 81 
 
 sion of fierce malignity ; the nose was pinched, and 
 the mouth and chin of a mean receding character. 
 The hair was lank, black, and hung low on the fore 
 head. The dress was plain black, with the exception 
 of the long-tailed white cravat worn by Anglican 
 ministers, and commonly called " a white choker." 
 
 His whole appearance bespoke an air of mock hu 
 mility and sanctimoniousness. He was in fact the 
 very personification of the lowest English mechanic, 
 such as we see so frequently amongst the Mormons 
 who land at the American ports. 
 
 This gentleman, it is needless to say, was the Rev 
 erend Samuel Wilson Biggs, the proprietor of Glen- 
 goulah Castle, and rector of the united parishes of 
 Tinmanogue, Slivedoon, and Kilorglan. 
 
 Those three parishes were originally separate, and 
 had each an especial rector ; but as they were in the 
 gift of the landlord of Glengoulah, the Reverend 
 Samuel Biggs contrived to remove the incumbents, 
 and very considerately bestowed the whole three 
 upon himself, thereby fulfilling the scriptural adage 
 that " charity should begin at home." Besides this 
 very wholesome reason for retaining the three par 
 ishes, the Reverend Samuel had two still more 
 praiseworthy objects in view. First, he knew how 
 very difficult, if not impossible, it would be to find
 
 82 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 another equally zealous as himself in propagating 
 his gospel views which were of course the only 
 true views; and secondly, he felt the importance of 
 the immense income which those parishes yielded in 
 the form of tithes, in assisting his godly ideas ; thus 
 making Ihe mammon of iniquity subserve in spread 
 ing the knowledge of the Lord amongst those be 
 nighted mountaineers. In the three parishes afore 
 said he placed curates at small salaries to do the sub 
 ordinate work of preaching, giving out service, and 
 attending to the sick if there were any such who 
 required their presence. 
 
 As these two worthies were alighting from the 
 chocolate-colored chariot, a dusty head was stuck out 
 of one of the windows above the office, and the voice 
 belonging to it cried quickly: "Come here, Mick, 
 and look at these quare lookin' customers. Who 
 the D'houl are they at all ?" Mick thrust out a 
 head with a paper cap, and a face all besmeared 
 with flour: "Oh, then, swate bad luck to the two 
 of yiz. Yiz are the darlin' pair of turtle doves !" 
 And Mick, fixing his arms akimbo, gazed down ad 
 miringly with a comical leer " That the divil may 
 come jumpin' for the two of yiz ; sure that's the 
 ould Scotch haro from the castle, and his psalm-sing 
 ing master. Throth, I might aisev know 'twas no 
 
 \D /
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 83 
 
 dacent bodies. Sure it isn't in their skins to look 
 like Christians." 
 
 The gentlemen were now shown into the private 
 office by one of the clerks, and the dusty heads dis 
 appeared. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy came in a few minutes later, and 
 they proceeded to business. 
 
 After some conversation about the estate, Mr. De 
 Courcy produced Toney Byrne's lease, and those of 
 sixteen other tenants, all drawn up in legal form, 
 only awaiting the signature of the landlord. 
 
 The Reverend Samuel refused to sign, stating as a 
 reason that he considered Mr. McGlauren an excel 
 lent judge of the value of land, and he had him go 
 through the farms, examine them, and report upon 
 his observations. His (Mr. McGlauren 's) opinion was 
 that the farms were all rented at an absurdly low 
 figure, and therefore he, the Reverend Samuel, had 
 resolved to raise the rents twenty-five per cent., and 
 he wished Mr. De Courcy to signify as much to tne 
 tenantry next rent-day. 
 
 A deep flush of indignation passed over the noble 
 features of Mr. De Courcy, and his first impulse was 
 to resign the agency on the spot, but he remembered 
 his promise to Father Esmond, and by a great effort 
 of self-control mastered his an<rer. His emotion waa
 
 84 THU BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 keenly noted by the sharp eyes gleaming from under 
 the heavy brows of the Scotchman. With a low 
 chuckling laugh, and a shake of hiscarrotty head, he 
 said : " The Munusther maun be reicht, sir ; he maun 
 be reicht" (right). The crimson, but of a paler 
 shade, again for a moment flushed the brow of Mr. 
 De Courcy. Disdaining however to notice the scoun 
 drel, he turned to Mr. Biggs, and represented to 
 him the impolicy of commencing his career in anew 
 country by an act which could not fail to render his 
 name unpopular, not alone with his own tenantry, 
 but throughout the land ; reminded him how he 
 came there a stranger, and knew nothing of the 
 wants or feelings of the people ; told him how his 
 (Mr. De Courcy's) father had been agent for thirty- 
 five years to that estate, and he himself was close 
 upon twenty-five years, so that it might be supposed 
 he had the best knowledge of the property ; and he 
 assured him, if the land had become more valuable, 
 it was because of the untiring industry of the occu 
 piers, who had literally enriched it by the sweat of 
 their brows ; that it would be a poor reward for the 
 toil of years to make them pay for their own im 
 provements, and a very poor incentive to others to 
 labor in the same cause. 
 
 The Reverend Samuel during this discourse sat
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 85 
 
 with head on one side, eyes half closed, and hands 
 meekly folded on his breast, like one who had made 
 up his mind to bear all contradictions and trials for 
 the sake of spreading the gospel, for which never- 
 to-be-sufficiently-applauded object he wanted all the 
 money he could scrape together, it mattered not 
 whether injustice, oppression of the poor, ruin of fam 
 ilies, or any of those little minor circiwnstances stood 
 in the way the one grand end had to be accom 
 plished. Therefore, smiling benignly, and casting his 
 eyes up to the ceiling, he said, with an approved nasal 
 pronunciation : " My good friend, I am but a steward 
 in the vineyard over which the Lord hath appointed 
 me. I must do His work ; besides, you will please 
 to bear in mind that I do nothing illegal. I do but 
 assert my rights. If those people of whom you 
 speak consider the rent I demand exorbitant, they 
 can give up their farms, and I can find occupiers 
 for them immediately those, too, who are of the 
 household of the Lord." 
 
 " You will pardon me, reverend sir, if I remind 
 you that property has its duties as well as its rights. 
 Let us try to disguise the fact as we may, those poor 
 people are, like ourselves, made from the slime ot 
 the earth, and have their human feelings, and human 
 passions too. There is a rule, I believe, which ex-
 
 86 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 horts us to do unto others as we would be done by. 
 A dark, malignant scowl took possession of the 
 godly features of the Reverend Samuel, and his lips 
 became livid ; but, quickly recovering himself, this 
 consummate Pharisee arose from his seat, observing, 
 
 " Just so, Mr. De Courcy ; just so. You have hit 
 upon my principle exactly. You will please notify 
 the tenantry as I told you." 
 
 " I must be very dull of comprehension," said Mr. 
 De Courcy, smiling sarcastically, " but I confess I 
 cannot see its application in the present case." 
 
 " Ah, my good friend ! " and the Reverend Sam 
 uel laid his kid-gloved hand blandly on Mr. De 
 Courcy's arm and rolled his eyes upwards, " there 
 are many of the sweetest passages in the book of 
 life, the mysterious meaning whereof is hidden from 
 those who are not called. But be of good cheer and 
 pray ; the Lord may vouchsafe to enlighten you yet." 
 
 " I must beg to call your attention, sir," said Mr. 
 De Courcy, thoroughly disgusted, " to the case of 
 Anthony Byrne. You surely will not class him. 
 with the rest of the tenantry ? " 
 
 " And why not, pray ? Am I under any especial 
 obligations to Mr. Anthony Byrne that I should 
 make an exception in his favor '? " 
 
 " Well. I rather think yon are, Mr. Biggs. Your
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 87 
 
 ancestors owed the peaceful possession of these es 
 tates to the ancestors of Toney Byrne, and you per 
 sonally owe them your existence at the present hour." 
 " I do not comprehend you, Mr. De Courcy." 
 " Know then, sir, that the O'Byrnes of Glengou- 
 lah, the direct ancestors of this man, were once the 
 proudest and most powerful chieftains of Wieklow. 
 They were deprived of their estates for no crime but 
 fidelity to the faith of their fathers." The malig 
 nant scowl again, speedily succeeded by upturned 
 eyes. " One of those chieftains was a gallant young 
 man. lie had just been married when a deed of at 
 tainder was sworn against him and his young wife, 
 who was of the Talbot family. His manhood arose 
 against such flagrant injustice, and assembling his 
 tenantry he armed them and fortified the eaitle iu 
 which you now dwell. The roads were not in as 
 good condition as at present, and let me tell you the 
 British soldiery were badly handled at every foray 
 they made upon Glengoulah. Months passed, and 
 still O'By me was master of his castle; but the Lord 
 Protector, stung to the quick at the oft-repeatfxi de 
 feats and losses of his men, had ordered a desperate 
 attack to be made on the stronghold the following 
 spring. Poor O'Byrne knew his fate was sealed. 
 He resolved to sell his life dearly, and to die flghting
 
 88 THE BTEXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 in the sacred cause of home and altar. An unfore 
 seen circumstance changed his determination. Du 
 ring the short cessation of hostilities pending the last 
 attack upon the castle, and whilst O'Byrne and his 
 enemies were both making grand preparations, his 
 wife, the lady Eineline, went to visit a sick tenant 
 who dwelt on the opposite hill. As it was in the 
 morning she deemed no other attendant necessary 
 but her maid. On the way they met two drunken 
 English soldiers, who gagged them, carried them into 
 the city of Dublin, and would have treated them in 
 the most barbarous manner, but a sergeant named 
 Plover just happened to enter the house where they 
 brought the females for concealment. He immedi 
 ately recognized the lady Emeline as the wife of the 
 chieftain of Glengoulah, whom he had met in many 
 a stormy encounter, and whom he admired for his 
 bravery. With the generosity of a true soldier, he 
 resolved to save her honor at the risk of his life 
 for in those days it was very dangerous to interfere 
 between a soldier and his prey ; he therefore brought 
 in drugged liquor and treated the miscreants, pre 
 tending to applaud their conduct. Soon they slept 
 soundly, and Sergeant Plover carried the lady Eme 
 line and her maid in safety to the castle. The 
 chieftain, in a state of distraction, was with his retain-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 89 
 
 ers scouring the hills in search of his beloved wife. 
 They dispatched a trusty messenger to announce 
 to him her safe arrival. On learning from her the 
 noble conduct of Plover, O'Byrne was so filled with 
 gratitude that he consented to surrender without 
 further trouble to the Lord Protector, on condition 
 that Plover was made proprietor of Glengoulah, and 
 he himself permitted to retire to the Continent. 
 The first part of the proposal was gladly acceded to 
 by the Lord Protector, for that castle had cost him 
 already enough of blood and treasure, and Plover 
 was a favorite soldier, having many times distin 
 guished himself by his bravery. O'Byrne, however, 
 would not be permitted to leave the country, but 
 was allowed as a favor to become a tenant farmer 
 on the estate of which he was the rightful lord. 
 This was done to humble his proud spirit, and the 
 gallant young chieftain submitted to his hard fate 
 with the fortitude of a noble Christian soldier. 
 
 He tilled his farm with his own hands and the 
 kind offices of his neighbors once his old retainers, 
 who would insist on helping him, even at the risk 
 of proscription. He thus contrived to make a living" 
 for his family. 
 
 " Mr. Plover after a while built him a comfortable 
 house, and gave him the farm at a nominal rent
 
 90 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 He would have given it in fee simple, but the law for 
 bade one of his faith to hold property. Mr. Plover 
 in his will left strict injunctions to all his descend 
 ants to respect forever the descendants of O'Byrne, 
 and' never to harass or annoy them in any manner, 
 particularly specifying how they were indebted 
 to that family for their position in society. The 
 son of this man was made a baronet, and so 
 the Plover family came to possess Glengoulah 
 Castle. 
 
 " With regard to your personal affair, Mr. Biggs, 
 your father, the uncle by marriage of the late Sir 
 Charles Plover, was taken a prisoner by the Insur 
 gents in the rebellion of 1T9S. They had been tri 
 umphant in Wextbrd, and he had papers upon him 
 which convicted him of being a spy for the govern 
 ment. He had but lately come from England on a 
 visit to his brother-in-law. 
 
 " He was tried by the court martial of the Insur 
 gents and sentenced to be hanged at daylight next 
 morning. Byrne, the father of the present Anthony, 
 remembering the peril from which an English sol 
 dier once rescued one of his ancestors, resolved to 
 save his life. But though he was high in favor with 
 the Insurgent chiefs, he begged Captain Biggs's lifo 
 in vain ; so at all risk he cut the fetters that bomvl
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 91 
 
 him during the night, and put him in safety on the 
 road to Glengoulah. It was after this occurrence 
 that Captain Biggs married and you were born. 
 The present representative of the once princely chief 
 tains of Glengoulah is now but a peasant farmer ; and 
 a more simple-minded, honest man a more improv 
 ing, industrious tenant, or a more humble, peacea 
 ble Christian, to my mind, does not live on any town- 
 land in Ireland than Anthony Byrne. I have his 
 lease here, and you surely will not refuse a request 
 specified in the will of all the Plovers. It is but 
 common justice to the man to whose ancestors, Mr. 
 Biggs, you owe not alone your estates, but your very 
 existence." 
 
 The Keverend Samuel Biggs had reseated himself, 
 and it would require the pencil of a Rubens to por 
 tray the various changes in his countenance whilst 
 Mr. De Courcy related the history of the O'Byrnes. 
 One time his cheeks and forehead would turn black 
 as night, and his lips become a livid white with rage ; 
 again he would steal a glance at him under his dark 
 brows, and the ferocity of a tiger would gleam from 
 his sinister eyes, but often est he kept those visual or 
 gans almost closed, and retained his old attitude of 
 Pharisaical sanctity. 
 
 The Scotchman remained motionless, and never
 
 92 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 once moved liis cold, keen eyes from the face of Mr 
 De Courcy. 
 
 When that gentleman ceased, his fine open coun 
 tenance was lit up by the exciting subject on which 
 he had been speaking. 
 
 Taking the lease of Toney Byrne from the pile on 
 the table before him, he pushed it with the writing 
 tray towards Mr. Biggs, who, suddenly becoming 
 animated, looked up in his face with a malignant 
 sneer, saying " My good friend, with all your 
 high eulogisms on this O'Byrne family, it is very 
 apparent from your own showing that they were 
 ever of a rebellious spirit, and disloyal to their 
 lawful sovereign ; for if they had been obedient 
 subjects they would have conformed to the glori 
 ous Reformation, and thus retained their castle and 
 estates. The loss of their wealth and social posi 
 tion was a just punishment upon them for their 
 disaffection to the constituted authorities. I have 
 no sympathy with rebellion, and shall ever dis 
 countenance it." 
 
 "And suppose, sir," urged Mr. De Courcy again, 
 " that obedience to the commands of one's sovereign 
 
 O 
 
 became disobedience to the commands of God, how 
 would you act in that case ?" 
 
 The Reverend Samuel almost foamed with rage,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 93 
 
 while a sardonic fire gleamed from his cat-like eyeb. 
 Rising from his chair, he hissed out : 
 
 " Sir, you mistake my character altogether. 1 
 shall make it my business to find out the disloyal 
 persons on my estate, and get rid of them by all 
 means. I will never sign that lease ; attend to your 
 orders, sir." Then compressing his livid lips, he 
 stepped into his carriage, followed by the chuckling 
 Sandy, and in a moment they were gone.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 FOE a few seconds after they left, Mr. De Courcy 
 stood like one transfixed, looking at the door by 
 which they went out, and which the cautious Scotch 
 man had shut close after them ; the veins in his fore 
 head were swollen, and his eyes flashed wildly. Sud 
 denly stamping his boot impatiently on the floor, 
 he drew himself up to his full height, gave his 
 breast a stroke, and exclaimed : " What is the matter 
 with you, Charles De Courcy ? Have you become a 
 poltroon, that you, an Irish gentleman of unsullied 
 honor, suffered that upstart English hound to order 
 you? Yes! order me like a hireling?" Making 
 a bound to the door, he touched the handle. It 
 opened, and before him stood Father Esmond, bow 
 ing with uncovered head, his white hair flowing be 
 hind, and unable to articulate from his labored 
 breathing. 
 
 " Oh, my dear venerable friend," said Mr. De 
 Courcy, grasping his hands, and bowing over them 
 to hide his emotion. His passion was all gone now ; 
 he was subdued as a child. Leading the old gentle-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 95 
 
 man to the fire he placed him in an easy-chair, roused 
 up a bright blaze, and preparing some mulled wine 
 made him swallow it, with all the tenderness of a 
 son. When the good father was better, Mr. De 
 Courcy said : 
 
 " Assuredly it was Providence sent you to me to 
 day, and just at the right moment too." 
 
 " Ah, I understand what you mean. I passed 
 Biggs and the Scotchman as I drove round the 
 avenue to the mills, and he looked black as mid 
 night. I thought immediately there was bad news 
 for my poor flock." Glancing at the table, he said, 
 eagerly, " Has he signed the leases ?" 
 
 " Indeed he has not, Father Esmond ; he refused 
 to do so point blank." 
 
 "But Toney Byrne's! He could not refuse to 
 sign his ? Tell me that he signed Toney's, and I will 
 rest easy." 
 
 " "Would that I could do so, Father ! There it is, 
 apart from the rest, where I pushed it towards his 
 chair, after making a final appeal towards hie sense 
 of justice -jmticc ! " he repeated, bitterly; " justice 
 from a Pharisee a vile, canting hypocrite ;" and he 
 flushed to the temples. Arising, he paced the room 
 a few times, then sat down and related the whole sub 
 stance of his conversation with -Biggs, assuring Fa-
 
 96 THE BYK^ES OF GLENGOLLAif. 
 
 ther Esmond that but for the promise he had made 
 him, and his figure, which seemed continually to 
 rise before him, he would have thrown up the agency, 
 and flung him neck and heels out of the' office. 
 "Indeed, Father Esmond, my temper was never 
 BO sorely tried in my life." 
 
 " Well, God be praised ! my dear son ; God be 
 praised ! It affords me some consolation to think I 
 was any way instrumental in preventing the destruc 
 tion of my poor people, for if you gave them up 
 they were lost altogether." 
 
 " Father, I made you a promise, and I will adhere 
 to it at every cost short of honor." 
 
 " Twenty-five per cent, of an increase ! Oh, my 
 poor children ! My poor children ! That's what 
 brought me here to-day. There was a report that 
 the rents were about to be raised. Altogether, good 
 ness knows, they are paying enough; but I never 
 dreamed of anything so monstrous. Twenty-five 
 per cent., Mr. De Courcy ! Can any government call 
 itself just which permits one class to hold such 
 power over another ? " 
 
 " My dear Father Esmond, I have always been 
 conservative in my views, as you know ; and as long 
 as the lord of the soil acted with justice and human 
 ity to his tenantry, I deemed it best to take things
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 97 
 
 as they were. But I now see the folly of leaving 
 any class utterly dependent upon another. I could 
 scarcely believe once that any one holding the posi 
 tion of a gentleman could prefer a few paltry pounds 
 to the love and respect of those from whom he 
 derives his income. I have no language strong 
 enough to denounce the British Government if it 
 permits such things to exist any longer. It is a 
 plague spot on its legislation." 
 
 " Plague spot ! Why, my dear sir, it is robbery of 
 the most barefaced kind. We will suppose a very 
 common case. Give a man a piece of ground, in 
 some cases wild mountain land, which never yielded 
 you any profit; let him toil on it from morn till 
 night, and his sons after him, and their sons again 
 aye, and their daughters, too ; and after generations 
 have ploughed it, manured it, watered it, weeded it, 
 and watched over it with unceasing care and unre 
 mitting toil, you inherit it and come a stranger into 
 the country. You say : ' That is a neat farm ; how 
 much does that man pay V 'So much.' ' Ridicu 
 lous ! That farm would bring much more, and 
 more I will have.' ' But the man in possession made 
 it what it is.' ' What do I care ? The law gives it 
 to me, and I only claim my legal rights.' Sir, I 
 respect the highwayman as a far more honorable
 
 98 THE BYKNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 member of society than that man, for he will can 
 didly tell you he came to rob you ; there is no 
 pretence about him. But what shall we say of the 
 law that upholds the scoundrel ; not only permits 
 him to violate the first principles of justice, but 
 supports him in the commission of two crimes which 
 cry to Heaven for vengeance oppression of the poor, 
 and defrauding the laborer of his wages? Now I 
 ask you, if you were not an eye-witness of the fact, 
 could you believe that the boastful and self-styled 
 liberty-loving British Government could perpetrate 
 such enormities in the face of the world in the nine 
 teenth century ? " 
 
 The old gentleman was fairly out of breath. 
 
 " Keally, Father Esmond, it never occurred to me 
 in that light before. It is indeed monstrous, and I 
 shall make it my business to have this case brought 
 before Parliament. It is not rightly understood, I 
 think, or those obnoxious laws would be repealed, 
 and more just ones substituted." 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! ha ! Justice from the British Parlia 
 ment ! My dear friend, can it be possible you put 
 faith in such a fallacy ? I am too old a bird to be 
 caught with such chaft as English legislation. I've 
 seen that tried too often, and always with the same 
 result. God give my poor people patience until He
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGODLAH. 99 
 
 shall send them a deliverer from their intolerable 
 burdens." 
 
 " Well, Father, I confess to having some faith still 
 left in British shame, at least, if not in British jus 
 tice." 
 
 " Shame ! How long have honest men been trying 
 to arouse their sense of shame to the scandal of 
 making a Catholic people like the Irish support the 
 Protestant Church Establishment, whose doctrines 
 they utterly repudiate ? Just think of it : an impov 
 erished, overtaxed people supporting in gorgeous 
 luxury an institution that does nothing for them, 
 either in soul or bod} 7 ! Where is there either shame 
 or justice in that tell me ? " 
 
 " Oh, I admit there ia no excuse for that abomin 
 able tithe system ; but you know religious bigotry 
 can transform the most sane man into a fanatic. 
 But here is a subject altogether apart from such 
 feelings a simple subject of right between man 
 and man. I really think the matter has not been 
 sufficiently investigated and kept before the public; 
 and I do believe if it were, even English legislation 
 would have been shamed into doing justice." 
 
 "Well, my son, try it; there is no teacher like 
 experience." 
 
 " Pardon me, Father Esmond ; 1 should not have
 
 100 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 kept you here so long. Those exciting topics make 
 me neglect good manners. Pray, lean on my arm, 
 sir, and we will go up to the house. Mrs. De Courcy 
 will be charmed to see you." 
 
 And so, between chatting with his amiable host 
 and hostess, walking through the gardens and hot 
 houses, viewing the mills and the new machinery, 
 dining and listening delightedly to Mrs. De Courcy 
 singing Moore's melodies, accompanying herself on 
 the harp, it was near eight o'clock of a bright moon 
 light evening when Father Esmond arrived at his 
 own door, to the great delight of Mrs. Malone, who 
 was in a terrible state of excitement about his 
 asthma, and who immediately commenced scolding 
 him, while she arranged his chair and footstool in 
 the most comfortable manner, and piled the blazing 
 turf. She then transferred herself to the kitchen 
 to scold Pat Lally, his servant man, for " keeping 
 his reverence out in the night air." 
 
 We will leave herself and Pat jawing, and take 
 a peep at the poor, benighted people of the town 
 where this good pastor resided, and see how they 
 fared for education. 
 
 A short distance from the priest's house, about half 
 way down the green, was a long, low building, con - 
 taming rows of benches against the walls on which
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGODLAH. 101 
 
 hung some half-faded maps, boards with simple spell 
 ing and reading-lessons for the junior classes, and a 
 couple of black-boards. At the upper end of this 
 apartment was a desk or rostrum to which three 
 steps ascended. Over it on the wall hung a large 
 ordinary colored engraving, in a narrow black frame, 
 of the Crucifixion. On the desk was laid the largest 
 edition of Walker's Dictionary, bearing palpable evi 
 dence of having been well used, and a formidable 
 looking cane with a brass ferrule and top. This cane 
 was used with terrible effect on the sides of the desk 
 for the purpose of striking terror by its noise, and 
 was a constant companion of its owner on all occa 
 sions, save when it rained. In this desk was seated 
 every day a little dumpy man much below the mid 
 dle size, while the broad shoulders and massive head 
 might have belonged to a pair of legs three times 
 the size of those that bore them. The upper part 
 of the body was evidently intended for a six-footer, 
 but nature in some stingy freak cut the legs short, 
 and so they were forced to expand as best they 
 might, to bear up the ponderous body. Accordingly 
 they did expand broadwise, and a pair of calves like 
 a Dutch Burgher's was the consequence. These calves 
 were encased in spotless white hose with deep ribs, 
 while the feet belonging to them were covered in
 
 102 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 well-shaped, highly-polished shoes, fastened by steel 
 buckles. The remainder of the costume consisted 
 of a snow-white shirt and cravat, a dark-blue body 
 coat, with bright brass buttons, a pair of breeches of 
 snuff-colored cloth, fastened at the side of each knee 
 by three small brass buttons, a vest of the same ma 
 terial and buttons ; a black beaver hat, rather of the 
 Quaker shape, as the leaf was a good deal wider 
 than those usually in vogue ; coiled up nicely in the 
 crown of the hat was a clean blue muslin handker 
 chief with a white vine border ; in the fob of the 
 breeches reposed a huge silver watch, which kept 
 time to the second, and pendant from it hung dang 
 ling a purple-watered watch ribbon, two inches wide, 
 at the end of which was fastened a large gold seal 
 and key. On a wet or very cold day an overcoat of 
 black freize was laid carefully across the shoulders, 
 the sleeves hanging loose, and a large blue cotton 
 umbrella replaced the cane. This costume never 
 varied once during the lifetime of any one who 
 knew him. 
 
 His features were large, strongly marked and 
 coarse ; the mouth, a little open, displayed a most in 
 dependent set of teeth, for each stood on its own 
 merits, with a space between, and as they had no 
 chance for bad companionship they remained un-
 
 BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 103 
 
 tainted to the age of 85. The checks were bloom 
 ing as those of youth, and the head covered with a 
 .profusion of coarse hair, which was white as the 
 mountain snow. Such was the personal appearance 
 of Mr. Michael RafFerty, for more than forty years 
 the teacher or "master" of Tinmanogue school. 
 Like most of his class, he was a fine writer, a splen 
 did mathematician, arid well versed in grammar, 
 geography, and history, but, unlike many country 
 masters, he knew nothing of the classics. 
 
 In repose the face seemed harsh, for the brow was 
 contracted, partly by thought and partly from the 
 habit he had formed of trying to terrify refractory 
 urchins; but when animated, or in conversation he 
 looked up, you noted the gentle expression of his 
 mild blue eye, and your heart warmed to him. 
 Meet him where you would, in the school-house or 
 in the street, morning, noon, or night, Sunday or 
 week-day, he always looked as if he had just made 
 his toilet ; his shirt and cravat were always clean, 
 his clothes always brushed, his hat always unruffled, 
 his stockings always spotless, and his shoes ever 
 shining like a looking-glass. It mattered not how 
 wet or sloppy the village streets were, he could 
 manage to navigate through them without a speck. 
 It was a matter of astonishment to all the villagers
 
 101 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 how on earth he could ever pick his steps in the 
 dark of a winter's morning going to the chapel, back 
 to his lodgings, and then to the school-house, with 
 out speck or stain, excepting a very small fringe of 
 mud to the soles of his shoes. Many a one followed 
 
 him to learn the art, and gave it up in despair, de- 
 
 
 
 daring it was a particular knack he had. 
 
 And that little dumpy old bachelor (Mr. Eafferty 
 never married), with such an odd figure and coarse 
 features, held one of the noblest and purest souls that 
 ever dwelt in mortal coil. For over forty years Ii3 
 was known to all the inhabitants of Tinmanogue to 
 be in the chapel every morning as the Angelus was 
 chiming six o'clock. Assembling all the poor and 
 whoever wished to join, he recited public morning 
 prayer, read a pious chapter, and then those who-.-e 
 duties would not permit them to stay, went off, and 
 those who could wait remained to hear mass. 
 Amongst the latter was always our venerable friend. 
 After mass he went to breakfast, and thence to 
 school, where he led many a pupil, not alone in the 
 walks of science, but in the more difficult path ot 
 Christian perfection. At five o'clock every eve 
 ning he was again in the chapel reciting for a crowd 
 of faithful souls the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, 
 and many a fervent Hail Mary went up for the con
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 105 
 
 veivion of those who strayed from the right path. 
 And who can tell how many wanderers, foot-sore 
 and weary, were brought back to their dear Father's 
 home by the prayers of that humble and faithful 
 band ? Here let me remark, in passing, that the last 
 years of this most perfect man have convinced me, 
 more than any other circumstance, that we will 
 have much to suffer for our many imperfections 
 even the best of us before we can enjoy the Beat 
 ific Vision. He was a little over 85 years of age 
 when he left this world, and I heard those who 
 knew him from his early years venerable priests 
 who had grown up with him declare his whole life 
 to be one of most spotless sanctity; his exterior 
 cleanliness, and the neatness with which he picked 
 his steps through the mire, were a type in him (it is by 
 no means always the case, however,) of that interior 
 purity of soul which he possessed, and which 
 brought him unstained through the mire of tempta 
 tions. Yet, for five years before he quitted this life, 
 he was never able to leave his bed. He lost the use 
 of his limbs, and a most depressing languor fell 
 upon his once stalwart form ; but, lying there help 
 less as a child, the Christian soul rose above this 
 world and its passing sorrows ; of him it might be 
 truly said, he lived on earth but not in it. Every
 
 106 THE BFBXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 time one of the priests would come to give him the 
 Holy Sacrament he would beg with streaming eyes 
 to be raised to a kneeling posture in the bed, that 
 he might more fittingly receive his Lord and Master 
 as became a sinner. 
 
 Light be the turf of holy Ireland on your breast, 
 most dear and venerable friend ! I see your every 
 feature before me as distinctly to-day as when a 
 child I sat upon your knee, when you puffed out 
 your cheeks and laughed so joyously when I broke 
 them in with my tiny fists. Many an hour I passed 
 since then in most profitable converse beside that 
 prison bed, yet a murmur never escaped his lips. 
 Many forgot him, as will ever be the case in this 
 world, and sometimes he fared very poorly ; but his 
 love, his trust, his every hope, were placed where 
 they ever bear fruit. His only regret was his inability 
 to go to the chapel and be present at the Adorable 
 Sacrifice. Many an effort he made of a beautiful 
 Sunday in summer to arise and creep along by any 
 means, and only gave up the attempt when he sank 
 exhausted, and the good couple with whom he 
 lodged carried him back to bed. For two nights 
 before he died the most ravishing music filled that 
 humble dwelling. Some of the neighbors arose to 
 look out, thinking it was a band returning with
 
 THE BVItNES OF GLENGOULAH. 107 
 
 excursionists, or from a party at the house of some 
 of the gentry ; but the musicians were invisible, and 
 still the entrancing strains filled the air. Upon 
 entering his room next morning (for he always slept 
 undisturbed at night) his landlady, a good, pious 
 woman, who deemed it an honor to wait upon him 
 as well she might found him conversing with 
 unseen spirits, his face radiant, she declared ; and on 
 calling to him he remained a good while perfectly 
 unconscious of her presence. He afterwards told 
 her the Blessed Mother and her holy spouse, St. 
 Joseph, had been to visit him, and were coming 
 next day at the same hour to take him away. 
 Accordingly, next morning the neighbors were all 
 assembled in his room when they heard him mur 
 mur, " Oh, Blessed Mother, I come ! Can it be 
 possible !" and his exulting spirit took wing in that 
 glorious company. Who can doubt that myriads of 
 angelic spirits were there attending on the Queen of 
 Heaven, and that they attuned their viewless harps 
 to celestial melody ? 
 
 Such was the teacher from whom most of tho 
 men and boys of Tinmanogue received their educa 
 tion. As might be expected, Father Esmond had 
 a great respect for Mr. Rafferty, and felt well satis 
 fied to have his school under the charge of such- a
 
 108 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAF. 
 
 master. Let us now see how the girls fared for in 
 struction. There had long been established in the 
 neighboring town of Ardmore, a convent of the 
 Presentation order, where the ladies devoted their 
 lives to the education of the poor; and where, in 
 addition to the usual English branches, they devoted 
 their attention to straw-plaiting, lace-making, em 
 broidery, and every kind of work, both useful and 
 ornamental. Another convent, of the order of Our 
 Lady of Mercy, had a fine academy for the education 
 of the wealthy, where every accomplishment was 
 taught. For those who could not come into town 
 to school, two male and one female teacher went out 
 giving lessons at the farm-houses through the hills. 
 
 One of these teachers, Mr. Tobin, was, as I said 
 elsewhere, engaged by Toney Byrne to visit his 
 farm three times in the week and give, as lie ex 
 pressed it himself, " a draught of his superfluous 
 knowledge from the overflowing fountain of his brain 
 to the young aspirants who thirsted to drink there 
 from." Mr. Tobin was a large-boned man, who 
 walked with a shuffling gait, and always looked as if 
 his bones were thrown together in a great hurry, 
 being left to shift for themselves and get under the 
 skin after their own fashion and a remarkably 
 funny fashion it was for he seemed entirely dis-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLRNGOULAH. 109 
 
 jointed at every step lie took ; yet lie managed to 
 get over a considerable space of ground in as short a 
 time as most men after all. His garb was what is 
 usually called " shabby genteel." His body-coat, 
 vest and pantaloons were all black once, and still 
 had some faint pretentious to that approved shade 
 in gentlemen's wear; his shirt and cravat a dingy 
 white; his hat, a tall thin "stove pipe " with a nar 
 row rim, contained three articles, a brown cotton 
 handkerchief, a small black-covered prayer-book, 
 and a pair of beads, all of the greasiest description. 
 His clothes looked as loosely hung as himself. His 
 head was bald, and his features sharp, as was also 
 his disposition, for all his remarks tended to the 
 sarcastic. Yet, withal, he was a fine teacher and a 
 magnificent penman. Parents deemed themselves 
 fortunate who had engaged Mr. Tobin, and many of 
 the gentry secured his services for their children ; 
 but though all respected him for his age and learn 
 ing, no one loved him ; hence the little scruple 
 young people had your humble servant included 
 in playing practical jokes on the old man. 
 
 The other teacher who "shared the labors of Mr. 
 Tobin in the visiting department, was a young man 
 who had been a pupil of Mr. Michael Raflerty. 
 He dressed more fashionably than either of the oth-
 
 110 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 er masters, and was in fact quite a dandy teacher 
 He knitted bis brows very hard and pursed out bis 
 lips very much to give himself an air of profound 
 scholarship and determination ; but for all his fine 
 clothes and fine airs he lacked the real knowledge of 
 the others, and was consequently little heeded. From 
 this circumstance he was frequently heard to lament 
 the decay of literary taste, and to declare it as " big 
 positive conviction," and no one need try to persuade 
 him to the contrary, " that if a second Byron arose 
 he would not be appreciated in those degenerate 
 days." Such, dear reader, was the state of educa 
 tion in the town lands of Ardmore, Glengoulah, and 
 Tinmanogue when the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, 
 taking pity, in the benevolence of his charitable bo 
 som, on the benighted condition of his semi-barbar 
 ous tenantry, determined to carry out a most philan 
 thropic idea which had long lain dormant in that 
 very interesting portion of his clerical form it was 
 to build a school-house on his demesne, where his sis 
 ters could find the most gratifying occupation for 
 their superabundant time, and also earn a well- 
 deserved reputation for sanctity. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel, being a man of energy, or, as 
 he would express it, ' ; consumed with the zeal of the 
 Lord," had no sooner matured his plans than he put
 
 THE BYKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. Ill 
 
 them into execution bricklayers, carpenters, paint 
 ers, and hod-carriers were briskly at work, and by 
 the time the primroses peeped under the hawthorn 
 hedge, and hill and grove had resumed its foliage, an 
 elegant school-house stood in all its grand propor 
 tions and all its comfortable appointments. 
 
 It wanted but two requisites to make it perfect 
 a competent teacher, to whom the Misses Biggs would 
 act as assistants when so disposed, and sc/iolars.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE rent-day came at last, for that is called in 
 landlord parlance. " the spring gale." It was the 
 25th of March, which every Christian knows is the 
 feast of the Annunciation, and which all the Tin 
 man ogne tenantry knew was a holiday of obligation, 
 even if the bell from the now leafless branches of 
 the elm-tree had held its tongue that day a crime 
 which could not be laid to its charge, for its clear, 
 sharp tones were carried by the March wind through 
 every glen and ravine of the hills around. 
 
 After Mass their venerable pastor read the gospel 
 of the day, and took occasion from it to remark on 
 the life of sorrow, poverty and suffering which 
 their dear Lord had endured on this earth to pur 
 chase for them the joys of heaven. He reminded 
 them how sufferings have ever been the portion of 
 the elect, and if borne with that patience and resig 
 nation of which their adorable Lord set them the 
 example and united with His bitter passion, they 
 would assuredly bring them all face to face with 
 their Divine Redeemer, who would receive them iu
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 113 
 
 His sacred arms and give them a crown of glory for 
 ever more, in lieu of the short afflictions of this mis 
 erable world. 
 
 A similar discourse was preached bj Father 
 O'Tool to those residing on the townland of Grlen- 
 goulah, in the little chapel of ease at tho top of the 
 hill, and happy was it for those docile children of 
 the Church that their ears and hearts were open to 
 receive those sacred truths from the lips of their 
 pastors; for Almighty God, pleased with their ardent 
 faith and profound resignation, distilled into their 
 hearts the dew of His Divine grace, and gave them 
 strength to bear up with fortitude against the many 
 severe trials which were before them. 
 
 After Mass the men all repaired, as was their cus 
 tom on that day, to the o J Jfice of Mr. De Courcy. 
 where, as each paid his rent and got his receipt, that 
 gentleman requested him to remain a few minutes, 
 as he had something to say. 
 
 When business was over and all had assembled, 
 Mr. De Courcy assured them it was with the utmost 
 reluctance he had to inform all those whose leases had 
 expired, or were about to expire, that their present 
 landlord, the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, had come 
 to the determination of raising their rents 25 per 
 cent., or one-fourth more than they were now paying.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOUL.AH. 
 
 A murmur of discontent ran through the crowd, 
 and many were about to remonstrate and put in their 
 special claims to consideration, but Mr. De Courcy, 
 waving his hand for silence, all was still. 
 
 He said, " My friends, you cannot possibly hear 
 this news with more pain than it gives me to tell it; 
 nor can you urge any claim or make any stronger 
 remonstrance against it than I have already done in 
 your name. As long as I hold the agency of this 
 estate I am bound up in your interests, both by dutj 
 and inclination, and I know you will believe mr 
 when I tell you that if the fortunes of my owe 
 children hung upon my words I could not make a 
 more touching appeal than that which I addressed 
 to the landlord, in order to change his intentions ; 
 but I spoke in vain. Hits only reply was, that if any 
 of you think his demand exorbitant, he is satisfied 
 to take the farms off your hands ; and, indeed, he 
 said he had persons already in view who were will 
 ing to pay the amount he requires. If any of you 
 think you can be more successful than I was by a 
 personal application, I would be very glad you would 
 try it. Those who have no leases will now under 
 stand they will have to pay at the advanced rate 
 next September gale, and all the rest as the leases 
 drop. Notices in a legal form will be sent round
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 115 
 
 to this effect. Mr. Biggs has further instructed me 
 to say that he will not sign any lease at present, even 
 at the advanced rate." 
 
 Voices now repeated " Long life to you, Mr. De 
 Courcy." 
 
 " We're entirely obleeged to you, sir, whatever 
 way it turns." 
 
 " Sure, well we know it's not your honor's fault," 
 etc., etc. 
 
 A report had reached them some days before that 
 there would be " a rise," but they never expected it 
 to be so much ; and above all they did not expect to 
 be left without leases. 
 
 One fine young man, apparently about twenty 
 years of age, who had a blind father and a paralyzed 
 grandmother to support, now approached Mr. De 
 Courcy, who concluding he was coming to ask 
 about his lease said, " He refused to sign your lease 
 amongst the rest, Dempsey." 
 
 " Oh, I suppose he did, sir ; I did not expect any 
 thing else. But will your honor be plazed to tell me 
 did he really refuse to give a lase to Toney Byrne ?" 
 
 "He did, indeed." 
 
 " And did he rise the rent on him, sir ?" 
 
 " He did." 
 
 " Well, boys," turning to the other men, " we may
 
 116 THE BYBXES OF GLEXGOTJLAH. 
 
 hold our tongues after that ! Mr. De Courcy ! I 
 beg your honor's pardon, for I know it's agin your 
 grain to tell such news to us but I can't help say in' 
 that's the blackest piece of robbery ever was commit 
 ted in the County "VVicklow. May God defend us all 
 from harm this day !" 
 
 " Faix, its yourself is tillin' the truth, Bryan 
 Dempsey." 
 
 "Bedad, that's gospel, anyway." 
 
 " Och ! sure we ought to bo ashamed to spake of 
 ourselves at all, so we ought." 
 
 These sentences were uttered by several voices at 
 the same time, while poor Toney stood like one 
 transfixed. The news of the raise did not surprise 
 him, for Turn Moody kept Kitty pretty well posted 
 on all such reports as the wily Sandy McGlauren 
 thought fit to put in circulation ; nor did Toney care 
 much for that, for his rent was low, and now that 
 he had brought the land into the highest state of 
 culti vation, he could afford it ; but the refusal to sign 
 his lease was a blow he never expected. He nev_r 
 spoke or stirred from the spot where he stood till 
 Bryan Dempsey, grasping his hand, drew him into 
 the avenue, where all his neighbors came flocking 
 around him to sympathize with " one of the ould 
 stack," forgetting their own sorrows in the greater
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 117 
 
 one of the lawful heir of Glengoulah. Poor Toney 
 went home to Kitty and the children with sad news 
 and a sad heart. For the first time in his life he 
 was utterly sunk and depressed. Always hopeful 
 until now, he had accustomed himself to look at the 
 bright side of everything, but he had never known 
 before what it was to be dependent upon the will of 
 a landlord, and he felt that the spirit of the Byrnes 
 was broken at last. Still, Toney was a Christian, 
 and high above his sorrows arose his resignation to 
 the Divine will ; therefore, though his heart was 
 troubled and his head bowed, he would say : " It's 
 no fault of ours, so welkim be the will of God." 
 
 It was plain to Kitty that with all his resignation 
 the light was gone from his heart, and like a true 
 woman she pretended to the greatest hope and cour 
 age. 
 
 " Tut, tut, man ! Don't be a bit ateared. If we 
 have no law itself, he won't put us out while we pay 
 our rent regularly and manage the farm right. May 
 be he's only waitin' to see what kind of people we are ; 
 and when he knows us better he won't be so black. 
 I'm thinkin' he wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for 
 that ould Sandy McGiauren. I'm sure he puts wick 
 edness in his head. Well, God is good anyway, and 
 He'll bring us through if all the divils in hell was
 
 118 THE BYKNLB OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 after us the cross of Christ be about us, and the 
 protection of His Blessed Mother ! Amen ! " and 
 Kitty crossed herself and made an attempt at a gen 
 uflexion, which was a duck down and a scrape of 
 the left foot behind. When Toney was full of hope 
 eix months ago, before the landlord arrived, Kitty 
 was in despair, and could see no gleam of hope 
 whatever ; and now, in a sort of affectionate contra 
 diction, because Toney was depressed, her hopes 
 arose. We have seen how she teased her husband 
 night and day until they visited Father Esmond. 
 She now proposed another visit to him for consola 
 tion, but Toney decidedly refused to trouble his rev 
 erence any more with his affairs. After time had a 
 little blunted the first keen edge of his troubles he 
 worked away cheerfully as ever to all appearance ; 
 and since his self-reliant spirit prevented him from 
 intruding his sorrows on his pastor, that old pastor 
 himself, accompanied by his curate, Father O'Tool, 
 drove up in his gig to pay a visit of condolence to 
 Toney and his family. Poor Father Esmond was 
 Badly grieved for the position in which Toney was 
 placed ; he told Mr. De Courcy, the day he visited 
 the mills, that he was confident Toney Byrne would 
 be treated with more harshness than any of the ten 
 an try by Biggs, just because he was the rightfu 1
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOCLAH. 119 
 
 owner of Glengoulah Castle. Like all vulgar up 
 starts, Biggs would hate the idea of coining in contact 
 with a man whose appearance constantly reminded 
 him that he himself was but an usurper. Mr. De 
 Courcy was of the same opinion. 
 
 Now, however, Father Esmond spoke hopefully, 
 and begged Toney not to lose heart whatever he did. 
 
 Father O'Tool told them so many droll anec 
 dotes that they were in roars of laughter before half 
 an hour passed. The very sight of this fine young 
 priest who was said to be a lineal descendant of 
 the far-famed royal O'Tools of Glendalough was 
 enough to revive the most depressed. 
 
 He was in appearance "every inch a king." 
 Twenty-eight years old, six feet three "without his 
 boots," and made in proportion ; his dark-brown hair 
 fell in shining masses on a noble forehead of alabaster 
 whiteness ; his eyes, dark-blue, were dancing with 
 boyish mirth ; the nose was a model for a sculptor ; 
 the mouth, wreathed in smiles, disclosed rows of pear 
 ly teeth, while the cheeks and lips were tinged with 
 the bloom of a happy heart ; his carriage and whole 
 appearance was that of a strikingly handsome, 
 noble-looking man, and yet withal there was a 
 simple expression of almost boyish fun and harm 
 less waggery. Wherever Father O'Tool went, there
 
 120 THE BTKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 was sure to be a. group of children around him. 
 Some swung from his arms, others hung on his 
 
 o / o 
 
 skirts, while his voice and joyous laughter were the 
 loudest in the merry throng. 
 
 With all his frolicsome ways, no one knew bet 
 ter how to uphold the dignity of his sacred calling, 
 and on the altar, and in the confessional, there was 
 no more zealous and impressive priest. Gathering 
 Toney Byrne's youngsters around him he soon won 
 their confidence, and heard from Mike all the jokes 
 "Winnie played on Mr Tobin, the schoolmaster; 
 and Father O'Tool told them in return all the 
 pranks he used to play in his school days. After 
 they had all laughed to their heart's content, he 
 questioned them on their Catechism and other 
 studies, and exhorted them to love and obey their 
 parents. They were sober as judges in a moment, 
 for every child in the parish knew Father O'Tool's 
 habits well : he would be as a child amongst good 
 children, but he became stern as a lion with a sulky 
 or disobedient child ; and thus, though they loved 
 him dearly, they very much feared him too. And 
 some children of a larger growth partook of the 
 same sentiments in his regard. 
 
 Toney and his wife were highly delighted with 
 the kindness of the good priests in trying to lighten
 
 THE BYKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 121 
 
 the burden of their trials, and this visit had the 
 desired effect. It kept alive the lamp of hope, and 
 gave them heart to go through their duties, which 
 sometimes of late became irksome as the idea would 
 present itself to their minds that a stranger might 
 be brought in to reap the benefit of their toil. So 
 it was with the other tenantry, the fellow-sufferers 
 of Toney, most of whom repaired to Father Esmond, 
 asking his advice how they should act, and wishing 
 to know if his reverence would recommend them 
 to make a personal application to the landlord. 
 They were all prevented from doing so by the priest, 
 who detailed to them the noble appeal made in 
 their behalf by Mr. De Courcy, and assured them 
 every such application would be met by insult. 
 He consoled them all he could, told them to keep 
 quiet and go on conducting themselves properly, 
 as they had always done, and thus they would dis 
 arm the most malicious of their enemies. Those 
 who did not come to him they were but four, in 
 eluding Toney Byrne he visited and consoled. 
 
 One only man went to the landlord, contrary to 
 the advice of his best friends. He was a fine, stout 
 fanner, named Mat Doran, an upright, honest man, 
 the only support of a blind father, who had lost his 
 sight by a premature explosion in a quarry in which
 
 122 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 he was working, and a helpless brother who was 
 born an idiot the day after the explosion. As Mat 
 had never injured a human being, and had ever 
 nobly done his duty to all around him, he could not 
 be made to believe that his landlord would be so 
 unjust, and therefore resolved to have a talk with 
 him himself. Giving the knocker a single blow, 
 sufficient to drive a tenpenny nail at least, the door 
 was flung open by a singular specimen of humanity 
 dressed in black livery, with lace epauletts and a 
 powdered wig. He was not by any means the best 
 proportioned man in " that section of country," as 
 a Yankee would say, having a rotund corporation 
 and very slim supporters, set off in fine black silken 
 hose, and low shoes with ponderous silver buckles. 
 The creature was further adorned with blear eyes 
 and a very sallow complexion. 
 
 Upon Mat Doran stating that he wanted to see 
 Mr. Biggs, his landlord, upon some business relating 
 to his farm, the powdered lacquey stared at him 
 with his blear eyes in the utmost amazement. " Go 
 and tell him acushla," says Mat, " for the horses is 
 waitin' for me in the field." The footman gruffly 
 slammed the door, leaving the farmer standing out 
 side. 
 
 In a few minutes he returned with word that the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 123 
 
 Rev. Mr. Biggs never held conversation with his 
 tenantry. He had employed an agent for that pur 
 pose, Mr. De Courcy, of the Cascade Mills, and to 
 him he should apply. This message was delivered 
 with all the insolence which could be displayed by 
 a pampered menial. Mat Doran, who had a largo 
 amount of waggery in his composition, was deter 
 mined to have a little fun if he had no justice ; he 
 accordingly stepped into the hall, stuck his head 
 one side, and putting his arms on his brawny hips, 
 inspected admiringly the scanty supporters in the 
 black-silk hose, and then the powdered wig. " Beau 
 tiful ! beautiful ! " exclaimed Mat. " I declare to 
 my Kitty, but it makes one strong to see such a fine 
 pair of legs. What do you feed your calves on, allan- 
 nah ? Upon my conscience I'd like to have the re- 
 sate, for they're the thrivin' pair intirely ; you ought 
 to send them to the next cattle show, and you'll be 
 sure to get the pramitim ! " 
 
 The man with the limited understandings was in 
 a rage, and cried, " Begone, you insulting fellow ! " 
 But he took care to draw back from the dangerous 
 looking fists of the stout farmer. " Aisey ! avic ; 
 aisey !" cried the tantalizing Mat. " If you move too, 
 fast you'll crack your legs acrass, and sure that 'id 
 be the sin of the world, so it would, for they're
 
 124 THE BYKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 the very shape for all the world of a decayed 
 jackass." 
 
 " Begone, fellow ! I say, instantly !" Mat now burst 
 into a guffaw of a laugh, and made the halls of the 
 castle re-echo with his merriment. " May the divil 
 fly away wid the man that brought you to Wickla ; 
 anyway he had a cruel taste for music. Is that the 
 kind of a shape yiz have in England? That I 
 mightn't sin, but if we had such a beauty as you 
 born in Ireland we'd make a fortune exhibiting him. 
 Good mornin', avourneen ! " And Mat walked out 
 leisurely, laughing vociferously. 
 
 This harmless raillery afterwards cost poor Mat 
 Doran his farm, and threw himself and all he loved 
 ou the world.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MAY " was treading close upon the heels " of June 
 when the school-house was completed. The Rev 
 erend Samuel Wilson Biggs, taking counsel with his 
 sisters, came to the conclusion that it would be 
 scarcely sale to spend some hours a day in a build 
 ing erected so recently ; and besides, being so near 
 July, the vacation time, it would not be worth while 
 to open the school until autumn. It was therefore 
 agreed to spend the summer hunting up the right 
 sort of teachers at the lowest rate of remuneration. 
 
 The building of the church was progressing rap 
 idly also, and was expected to be ready for service 
 before winter, to the great delight of Mr. Job 
 Scruggins the blear-eyed man with the limited un 
 derstandings who declared " it was perfectly un- 
 endoorable fora gemman to hascend these orful 'igh 
 'ills every Sunday, not to speak of the natooral dis 
 gust a refined pusson must feel meeting so many 
 low Hirish." 
 
 The fact was, Job found it no easy task to pre 
 serve his equilibrium standing behind the carriage
 
 125 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 going over Cascade Hill, and as he swung from one 
 foot to another, in order to balance himself, laugh 
 ing faces peeped at him from cottage doors or 
 mountain bye-paths, and some joke would be per 
 petrated at the expense of his undeveloped perpen 
 diculars. As Mr. Job Scruggins did not resemble 
 his namesake in patience, he shook his silver- 
 mounted pole at the delinquents in a very threaten 
 ing manner, a proceeding which was repaid by a 
 shout of derisive laughter from a group of merry 
 urchins who followed the carriage, and one of 
 whom to show his particular appreciation of the 
 fun always threw his legs into the air and walked 
 several yards on his hands, head downwards an 
 accomplishment which he had brought to great per 
 fection by constant practice. 
 
 During the summer the Misses Biggs called in 
 their carriage at all the laborers' cottages, to ascer 
 tain the number of children in each, and to bear to 
 the hitherto benighted parents the joyful intelligence 
 that "they would soon have an opportunity of hav 
 ing their children educated, as their considerate 
 landlord, ever anxious for their welfare, both here 
 and hereafter, had actually built a school-house for 
 their use, and was about employing a male and a 
 female teacher to impart useful knowledge. 1 '
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 127 
 
 Exchanging looks of commiseration for these 
 ignorant peasants, the ladies drew sighs of profound 
 regret when they found not one single parent pre 
 pared to rejoice at the good fortune in store for 
 them. 
 
 Some seemed to turn pale at the news. Some 
 said their children went to school to Tinmanogue, 
 others to Ardmore ; others again thought their chil 
 dren too small yet ; some could not spare them 
 from home, etc., etc. On the fourth day of their 
 unsuccessful canvass, on return to the castle, Miss 
 Hachael expressed her dissatisfaction by declaring 
 she never met such unthankful people -in her life. 
 It was her positive conviction they were not a bit 
 pleased to have such a splendid chance to educate 
 their children. She would not be surprised now if 
 they would prefer keeping them at home, or send 
 ing them to those old villages with the odious names. 
 Both sisters laughed contemptuously at such schools, 
 " where the pupils are taught nothing but to wor 
 ship the Virgin Mary, and adore images." 
 
 Miss Biggs, in the excess of charity, checked her 
 scorn and reprimanded her sister: " My dear Rachael, 
 we must have pity on those ignorant creatures, 
 bearing in mind how much the Lord hath favored 
 our happy country, where the blessings of His word
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 are so liberally dispensed, and where the population 
 walketh in righteousness. Let ns not despair if our 
 footsteps are as jet unmarked by success. We can 
 afford to watch and wait. You know it is written, 
 " For the Lord hath built up Zion, and he shall be 
 seen in His glory." It is a great mark of the mercies 
 of the Lord that he hath vouchsafed to put these 
 unfortunate people into the safe keeping of so godly 
 a man as our reverend brother, and we must even 
 try to arouse him to use his temporal as well as 
 spiritual authority in such a sanctified cause. Be 
 not daunted, my sister ; let us go with refreshened 
 hearts to the good work on to-morrow again. Hith 
 erto we have visited only the cottages of the labor 
 ers; let us now try the farm-houses, and see what 
 success we maj' have amongst those of the tenantry 
 who have no leases. I fear me we would make but lit 
 tle impression on those who are as yet independent of 
 our reverend brother, for these are a stiff-necked 
 people. " 
 
 " Well, sister, I will chasten my spirit and accom 
 pany you, for your feet seem ever to run in the path 
 of the Lord." 
 
 And so day after day the carriage was winding 
 through the hills, ever and anon stopping at tha 
 white farm-houses with the trailing vines
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 120 
 
 The personal appearance of these elderly youn$ 
 ladies, barring their rich dresses, was by no means 
 prepossessing ; but were they as beautiful as Venus, 
 it would be all the same to the Glengoulah tenantry. 
 The bare sight of them brought heavy grief to many 
 a once happy hearth. Well they now knew why 
 their leases were withheld, and in terror and dismay 
 .they fled to their loved pastor for consolation. Poor 
 Father Esmond wept with them, for he saw at a 
 glance the whole map of persecution laid before 
 them, and he could but point to the cross, and ex 
 hort them to have courage and patience. 
 
 "My poor, poor children!" he would say, while 
 tears coursed each other down his venerable face, 
 " remember the eighth Beatitude : ' Blessed are they 
 who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is 
 the Kingdom of Heaven.' These are the words of 
 our Blessed Redeemer himself, and He wont de 
 ceive you. This life is but short after all, my dear 
 people, and soon, oh ! soon we shall all meet in our 
 own Kingdom ; just think of that. Your dear Saviour 
 tells you that the Kingdom of Heaven is yours! 
 and the Blessed Mother and holy saints will be your 
 companions! and the choirs of angels your musi 
 cians ! and God himself your most loving Father 
 who will nourish and cherish you. for ever more I"
 
 130 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 Then there would be sobs and tears of joy and 
 sorrow commingled, until some half-despairing moth 
 er would say : 
 
 " Oh, Father, honey ! I could bear anything my 
 self; but what will I do with my poor children?" 
 And then there would be a chorus of mothers sob 
 bing in sympathy. Thus did this pretended minis 
 ter of the gentle and merciful Jesus bring wailing 
 and desolation to the homes of those simple, virtu 
 ous people. 
 
 On the feast of the Assumption of our Blessed 
 Lady, August loth, Father O'Tool preached a most 
 eloquent discourse to the tenantry in the little moun 
 tain chapel of Glengoulah. It was on a Wednesday, 
 and the Biggs school was to be opened the follow 
 ing Monday a notice to that effect having been 
 sent to all the farm-houses. Everybody was anxious 
 to hear what the zealous young curate had to say on 
 the subject, for they knew he would be sure to give 
 it his earnest attention ; therefore the gathering was 
 unusually large, many coming from the townland of 
 Tinmanogue and the adjoining parish of Ardmore. 
 It was a pleasing sight to see groups of people 
 wending their way by so many different roads up 
 the hill to the picturesque little chapel which peeped 
 out at them from a grove, and seemed to smile a
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 131 
 
 welcome as its little painted cross glittered in the 
 sunlight. 
 
 Most of the men, the young ones in particular, 
 wore blue body coats with bright brass buttons, 
 yellow or light-colored vests, gray neckties, and well- 
 brushed " Caroline hats," breeches of white or drab 
 corduroy, from the knee of which a knot of the 
 same colored ribbon flattered in the breeze, while 
 the well-greased pumps and spotless woollen stock 
 ings showed off the arched instep and splendidly 
 developed calves to perfection. 
 
 The women vied with each other in bright man 
 tles glorying in hoods of quilted silk, and substantial 
 looking bonnets of beaver with gay ribbons, while 
 many of the young maidens wore large hats with 
 flying ribbons, after the fashion of their Welch 
 neighbors across the channel. 
 
 Families who lived at a distance came in the well- 
 known low-backed car. Very many of the farmers' 
 wives rode on pillions behind their husbands. 
 Some of the Catholic gentry and wealthy farmers, 
 also shop-keepers from Ardinore, came in jaunting 
 cars and gigs, but the greater number were pedes 
 trians. It was amusing to watch some country 
 swain showing off his horsemanship, the chargei 
 being unable to alter from a sling trot if it cost him
 
 132 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 his life, while his rider rose and fell in the saddle, 
 very much to his own satisfaction, until he gained 
 the side of a group of pedestrians, in the centre of 
 whom was a rural belle equally celebrated for her 
 beauty and her coquetry. It was quite plain, from 
 the smile on her lip, that she knew perfectly well 
 who was reining up close beside her, but she was 
 pay;'ng such profound attention to the conversation 
 of a sober-looking young man who walked with her 
 that she never once turned around until the head of the 
 steed, peeping over her shoulder, made her give the 
 prettiest little start and exclamation of surprise. 
 
 Just at this juncture a large open carriage dashed 
 by, containing four finely-dressed ladies and two 
 ditto gentlemen, not forgetting the fat coachman 
 and another burly looking gentleman sitting beside 
 him, dressed in black, with a blue satin cravat, in 
 which were jauntily stuck two gold pins with enor 
 mous heads, resembling the Lord Mayor's mace, 
 and both fastened together by a slender gold chain. 
 The left hand was partly hidden in a canary-colored 
 kid glove, while the right was uncovered for the 
 evident purpose of displaying a couple of heavy 
 rings ; and from the upper vest pocket to the button 
 hole, back again to the lower pocket, and then for a 
 quarter of a yard down, hung dangling a massive
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 133 
 
 chain, thick enough for fetters, at the termination of 
 which was a bunch of seals and keys the size of a 
 kitten's head. The two gentlemen seated in the 
 carriage were similarly attired, and sat with their 
 knees touching each other on the outward rim of 
 the cushion to accommodate the four ladies, who 
 reclined back, for the double purpose of seeming at 
 their perfect ease and to make the carriage hold 
 six, whereas it was lawfully intended for four. One 
 of the ladies was an elderly female of rotund figure, 
 good-looking, and dressed as became a staid matron ; 
 while the three young ones were bedizened in silks, 
 laces, and jewelry, and were nearly in convulsions 
 of laughter at the costume of the peasantry. 
 
 "I do wish you would not giggle so, Beckey," 
 said the matron to the youngest of the ladies, who 
 sat opposite to her ; " I know, to be sure, the dress of 
 these here country people is wery haggrawatin', but 
 then we must not forget the big gulf of difference as 
 lies 'atween us, seein' 'ow we 'ad the hadwantage 
 of residin' from birth in a civilized country, while 
 these here poor creeturs never seen nothink but bar 
 barism." 
 
 "Well, mother, I can't help a larfin' to save my 
 life. Just look at that old 'oman 'oldin on be'ind the 
 man on 'orse back, with a beaver bonnet and cloth
 
 THE BYKXE3 OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 mantle of a 'ot day in Hawgust ; if she wouldn't 
 make a dog larf I'll never say nothink again." 
 
 "Oh, dear! I shall die of merriment; I know I 
 shall ;" said another of the young ladies, who had 
 been gracefully occupied during this conversation 
 in stuffing a cambric handkerchief into her mouth. 
 
 "I shall 'ate merriment for nevermore if you do," 
 remarked the young gentleman beside her, giving 
 her a nudge with his elbow, and trying to look ten 
 derly under her bonnet. 
 
 " Keep your sharp helbows to yourself, Mr. Scrug- 
 gins," cried the offended young lady, with an assump 
 tion of great dignity. 
 
 " I didn't mean hany hoffence, Miss Jenkins," re 
 plied the accused ; " you are really too hicy cold to 
 an 'art what hadores you." Another nudge and ten 
 der glance followed this speech. 
 
 " Keep your protestations for them as values them, 
 for I don't." And she cast a look of pitiful contempt 
 on the young lady opposite, who seemed to be carry 
 ing on with great gusto a flirtation with her neigh 
 bor, and smiling her best at the young fanners as 
 they passed. 
 
 " 'Old your tongues now, all on you ; 'ere we are at 
 the Popish mass 'ouse, and hif they see hany of us 
 a larfin' they wont let us hin." The last remark
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 135 
 
 was made by ths matron as the carriage came to a 
 full stop, and the party, trying to look very grave 
 and grand, alighted. 
 
 Upon asking an old man with a wooden leg and 
 crutch whether they might go in, he shewed them 
 into a prominent seat on a long bench near the altar- 
 rail a mark of courtesy to strangers. They imme 
 diately commenced staring every one who entered 
 the chapel, lounging for greater convenience on the 
 back of the bench, and twirling their heads in every 
 direction. 
 
 As the congregation came in each of them made 
 a genuflexion, often differing in form, and some not 
 the most graceful, but all precious in the sight of 
 God, for whose dear love those faithful heart? bowed 
 in lowly adoration after the fashion their simple 
 minds deemed best. The oft-repeated crossing and 
 genuflexions were a source of much suppressed mirth 
 to the strange party, but when the priest carne out 
 in his alb, previous to vesting himself, followed by 
 the man with the crutch carrying a bucket of holy 
 water, into which the priest dipped the asperges 
 and sprinkled the congregation while they remained 
 standing, and the crossing and genuflexions were 
 repeated, a low titter might be heard, which would 
 certainly have broken out and ended by the expul-
 
 136 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 sion of the whole party from the chapel but for the 
 frowns arid threatening gestures of the matron, who 
 looked carving-knives at each, and shook her head 
 severely. This matron was the housekeeper of 
 Glengoulah Castle. The youngest of the party, 
 whom she called " Beckey," was her daughter Re 
 becca, who assisted in her household duties. The 
 other two young ladies were our former fair acquain 
 tances Miss Jemima and Miss Amelia Hopkins. The 
 burly gentleman who sat beside the coachman was 
 Mr. Selling, the head butler. The young gentle 
 man who carried on the comfortable flirtation with 
 Miss Hopkins was Mr. Tompson, " master's hown 
 man;" and the discomfitted young gentleman who 
 was reproved for the sharpness of his elbows, was 
 our friend of the slender supporters, Mr. Job Scrug- 
 gins, no longer in velvet smalls and silken hose, 
 with a cockade in his hat and a gold-mounted pole 
 in his hand no longer trying to balance himself on 
 the back of the carriage going over " those villainous 
 'ills," but dressed like any gentleman, with long trou 
 sers of broadcloth, and every thing else to match, sit 
 ting inside the carriage, and bright eyes smiling 
 around him and a fair chance to have some fun at 
 the expense of " the wild Hirish," now that his up 
 rights were hidden from mortal vision. A holiday
 
 THE BYBNES OF GLENGOULAH. 137 
 
 had been given to most of the upper servants on the 
 condition of their first visiting the Popish mass 
 house, in order to bring home the pith of Father 
 O'Tool's discourse regarding the schools ; the re 
 mainder of the day they might drive through any 
 part of the country they wished, and take a cold 
 dinner with them if they so desired. 
 
 Accordingly a well-filled hamper was fastened be 
 hind the carriage, and the party, nothing loth, com 
 menced the sports of the day by inspecting the bar 
 barous natives in their house of worship. 
 
 Just as Father O'Tool finished hearing some con 
 fessions in the sacristy he hearc^ a man inquiring 
 from one of the acholytes if he was disengaged. 
 Approaching the door he saw Tom Moody, who im 
 mediately pulled off his hat, and whispering behind 
 it said, " he came to let his reverence know that a 
 carriage had just stopped at the chapel door, and a 
 whole set of the servants from the castle had gone 
 in, with the probable intention of remaining during 
 mass." 
 
 " Very good, Tom ; I hope they have got a com 
 fortable seat." 
 
 " The best in the chapel, your reverence." 
 
 " That's right. I am glad they have come ; eery 
 glad, indeed. I hope they have good men.ories.'*
 
 138 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Tom, making a scrape to his reverence, left him 
 to vest and went into the chapel. After the distri 
 bution of holy water the Adorable Sacrifice com 
 menced, during which the conduct of the castle peo 
 ple tried the patience of the congregation to the ut 
 most, sneering up in their faces during prayer, 
 nudging and tittering at sight of beads, and staring 
 with ignorant astonishment when the whole congre 
 gation were bowed almost to prostration at the ring 
 ing of the consecration bell.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 AFTER the communion the priest turned around, 
 read the Gospel of the day, and made a few remarks 
 on the time-honored festival of the Assumption of 
 our Blessed Lady. 
 
 He then announced to them that on the Monday 
 following a school would be opened by their land 
 lord, the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, for the avowed 
 purpose of proselytizing the children on the estate. 
 
 " Woe to you, people of Glengoulah ! " said he, 
 " if, at the bidding of any man be he landlord, or 
 nabob, or monarch woe to you ! if you place in 
 peril one of those tender souls for which your dear 
 Saviour shed his most precious blood. Your chil 
 dren have hitherto been educated in a manner 
 befitting their station ; and, above all, they have been 
 thoroughly instructed in the true faith of Christ 
 and your venerable pastor lias reason to rejoice in 
 his virtuous flock. To God be the glory given ! 
 From this, His holy altar, I warn you against the 
 wiles of the Serpent. Remember, you are but stew 
 ards placed over the souls of those little ones ; your
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 time in this world is but short ; and when you depart 
 hence and stand all alone, with God alone as your 
 judge, where will you hide from His wrath when 
 He will demand from you in a voice of thunder, 
 blood for blood? But why do I speak thus? 
 Surely I forget that I am addressing the descendants 
 of heroes ! the children of the saints ! You well 
 know that every inch of the soil of holy Ireland is 
 watered by the blood of her martyrs, who suffered 
 every species of torture the evil genius of tyrants 
 could invent the pitch cap, the triangle, the gibbet, 
 impaling upon spears, burning at the stake, tracked 
 by blood-hounds, hunted like wolves, and starved 
 by an artificial famine ; but they nobly suifered all 
 and preserved to their descendants the priceless 
 inheritance of the true faith ! It is not you faithful 
 children of those martyred heroes ! it is not you who 
 will sell for a mess of such pitiful pottage this mag 
 nificent inheritance ! this grand old faith ! which has 
 stood unchanged for more than eighteen hundred 
 years. Tell your landlord, or his messengers, that 
 in all that relates to the payment of his just demands, 
 you will obey him ; but you will not send your chil 
 dren to his schools. You don't want his interference 
 in your family affairs, and you will have none of it. 
 Commit no breach of the peace ; but let him under
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 141 
 
 stand, once for all, that he is exceeding the bounds 
 of his duty, and that as you are not exceeding yours 
 you will feel obliged if he will keep to his. It is 
 quite too much for you to support a church in which 
 you have no faith; but to resign to its ministers the 
 education of your children is beyond all endurance, 
 and neither you nor your pastors will permit it." 
 
 Much more he said, and in more eloquent lan 
 guage than can be remembered after such a lapse of 
 time. Nearly the whole congregation were in tears, 
 and those who were independent of the landlord 
 were burning with indignation at his conduct. 
 Mass was finished and the congregation dispersed ; 
 some to their homes, some to the houses of acquaint 
 ances in the neighborhood ; while many groups of 
 men, reclining against the ditches or sitting in the 
 grass, held consultation together over the sad aspect 
 of the future. Seated in the centre of the largest 
 of those groups was an old man with a wooden leg 
 and a crutch, who seemed to be relating something 
 of great interest to his auditors, as many who at first 
 reclined on one elbow now sat upright, and leaning 
 their chins on their hands gazed eagerly in his 
 face, now and then giving vent to exclamations of 
 surprise, pleasure, or anger, as their feelings moved 
 them.
 
 142 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 
 
 " See that, now ! "Well, glory be to God ; but 
 that's fine all out!" 
 
 " Bravo, Jerry ! be gor its true for yees. Oh, the 
 divil sweep the whole crew of them ! Sure its well 
 we know it's not what's right they're studyin'." 
 
 " What's right enagh ? No I but it's plottin' how 
 they can circumvint the poor, they are, all day long." 
 
 " But the brazen-faced lies of them is what kills 
 me : callin' every other nation despots and them 
 selves lovers of liberty." 
 
 " Oh, the lyin' divils ! Sure they couldn't tell the 
 truth if they tried, so they couldn't." 
 
 This wooden-legged old man was Jerry O'Hara, 
 who had served many years in the British army as 
 an artillery-man, had been all through the Peninsu 
 lar war, and had finally lost a leg at Waterloo, for 
 which he received a pension, and lived comfortably 
 in his native village of Ardmore. Having little to 
 occupy his time, " Lame Jerry," as he was usually 
 called, spent most of his time reading ; and, having 
 a retentive memory, he was a perfect oracle among 
 the peasantry, and an ever welcome visitor to their 
 firesides. 
 
 Although a most faithful soldier when in service, 
 now that he was out of it Jerry was accustomed to 
 deliver his opinions very freely on the short-comings
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 143 
 
 of the Government, and especially the abominable 
 laws relating to landlord and tenant, and the odious 
 Church Establishment. 
 
 In order to strengthen his arguments Jerry hunted 
 up every work which treated on the subject of land 
 tenures in all the countries of Europe, and was quite 
 familiar with the modes of tillage, the products, and 
 particularly the relative positions of landlord and 
 tenant in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. 
 On the occasion in question he was detailing to his 
 listeners, in a high-flown strain of eloquence, the 
 condition of the serfs in Russia, which he had been 
 making his study of late, and contrasting them with 
 the Irish peasantry under the free and enlightened 
 British Government. " The -Russian serf," said Lame 
 Jerry laying down the case on the palm of his left 
 hand with the two forefingers of his right " the 
 Russian serf is elevated far in condition beyond the 
 Irish peasant. He never experienced the bitterness 
 of beggary. In his days of misfortune he has not 
 suffered the agony of choosing between the alterna 
 tive of being separated from every tie of affection, 
 which is next to death, or of dying of starvation. 
 The serfs wife is his wife, and he can keep his vowa 
 to her as God has willed it. The serfs children are 
 his children, and he can watch over them from child-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAK. 
 
 hood to manhood." (Jerry was probably alluding 
 to the cruel separation of husband and wife, parents 
 and children, in the Government poor-houses in Ire 
 land.) 
 
 ; ' In all Russia there is not a single work-house, 
 a single poor-law board, or a single pauper. The 
 cow of the Russian serf is never distrained for 
 rent or taxes. The cabin of the Russian serf is 
 never thrown down unless another is built in its 
 stead. If he is prostrated by sickness, he is cared 
 and tended at the cost of the lord of the soil. If 
 murrain destroys his cattle, or a bad season blights 
 his harvest, the noble has to replace his stock or 
 sow his land. The serf pays no county cess, or 
 poor rate, or income tax ; nothing but his obiok or 
 head rent. For this the proprietor gives up his 
 domain to the serfs for cultivation and management. 
 For this he is accountable for their losses and for 
 their support in sickness and in age. And those 
 people are called serfs, and their monarch a despot ! 
 And what do you think, but the present emperor 
 is trying his best to free them even from the name of 
 serfs, and give them a right to the land for ever, to 
 be purchased by them in fee simple, if they desire 
 to do so, by installments. Now contrast this coun 
 try with Russia, and see the difference ! You will
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 14:5 
 
 find the welfare of the people the study of the sove 
 reign in Russia ; but show me where you ever 
 found the welfare of the Irish people an object of 
 solicitude to an English monarch ? Even the welfare 
 of the English people is a matter of little anxiety 
 to them. In the city of London, where the mon 
 arch resides, there is more poverty than in the whole 
 of the Russian empire ! The whole aim of the British 
 Government has ever been to oppress the Irish people 
 and squeeze out of them the last shilling ; and yet 
 their newspapers are ever lauding the glorious 
 British constitution, and they are particularly elo 
 quent when they come to denounce the shocking 
 despotism of the Russian Czar ! So I lay it down as 
 a fact that can defy contradiction, that Ireland, 
 which God made one of the richest countries on the 
 face of the earth, both in agricultural and mineral 
 productions, is the poorest and worst governed por 
 tion of the globe, under the thrice accursed British 
 ule." * 
 
 A round of applause greeted these concluding 
 ^ntiments, to which every heart responded, when a 
 noise was heard behind the ditch as of a man leap 
 ing down and rustling amongst the hawthorn to 
 disen^re himself from its grasp. 
 
 * Dublin Irishman.
 
 14:6 THE BTENE3 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 One of Jerry's auditors, a fine athletic young man, 
 catching the branch of a crab-apple tree which 
 inclined somewhat to the road, swung himself on to 
 the ditch and leaned over, just in time to catch 
 the retreating figure of Sandy McGlauren. who was 
 passing over a stile into a neighboring field. The 
 young fellow on the ditch, shaking his fist after him, 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " That the divil may come jumpin' for you, and 
 break every bone in your body, for an ould spy in' 
 thief!" 
 
 "Who is it, Darby?" 
 
 " Arrah ! tell us who it is, Darby ?" cried several 
 voices, and all started to their feet. 
 
 " Musha ! "Who would it be but that divil of a 
 Sandy." 
 
 A chorus of groans followed the announcement, 
 and then a volley of back-handed prapers were 
 uttered in his behalf, many of which consigned him 
 to a perpetual residence in a remarkably warm cli 
 mate, not forgetting to request that he should be 
 accompanied by his clerical master, as it would be 
 a pity to separate such a lovin' couple ; more 
 betoken it would be the sin of the world to spoil 
 two houses with them. 
 
 Alternately perpetrating witticisms, making puns,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 147 
 
 and praying backwards, at the expense of the uncon 
 scious Sandy, the party, with Lame Jerry in the 
 centre, wended their way down the mountain and 
 dispersed to their homes. The remainder of the 
 week was spent by the Misses Biggs in making an 
 especial visit to the farm-houses of the " tenants at 
 will," requesting in a most emphatic manner that 
 the will of their reverend brother should be com 
 plied with in sending their children to the school he 
 had established for them, and to no other. He ex 
 pected it, they said, and would take no refusal. 
 
 Monday came, however, and with it came three 
 pupils all Protestants. So, as may be supposed, 
 the labors of the male and female teachers, and the 
 Misses Biggs, were not of a very arduous character ; 
 indeed, as Sain Weller would saj r , " it is just possible 
 they could surwive it."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE day before the September gale (29th) a for 
 mal and very stiff note was received by Mr. De 
 Courcy from the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, order 
 ing Mr. De C, to notify the tenantry that his rev 
 erence required each and every one of them to send 
 their children to his school, and he would take no 
 excuse. Mr. De Courcy took not the slightest no 
 tice of the mandate, and made no observation what 
 ever relating to the school to any of the tenants. 
 He received their rents and gave them their receipts 
 as usual, and they departed for their homes. In a 
 few days afterwards, however, he paid a visit to 
 Father Esmond, showed him the landlord's imperti 
 nent missive, and informed him the time had come 
 when he should resign the agency, as lie had re 
 deemed his promise, having kept it as long as it was 
 possible to do any good to the tenantry and retain 
 his own self-respect. ZTiatw&sno longer possible. 
 And now he had determined to resign it, but would 
 not do so without acquainting Father Esmond. 
 
 The venerable old priest at once saw the impossi
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 149 
 
 bill ty of any honorable-minded man retaining such an 
 office under such a landlord ; and, while he acquiesced 
 in his decision, he gave him many thanks and praises 
 for his great forbearance. " It is happy for me, my 
 dear friend," said the priest, " that your good and 
 respected father so considerately purchased this 
 ground for me, and also my schoolhouse, through 
 his influence with old Sir Thomas Plover, or I too 
 should be at the mercy of this tyrant, and my poor 
 people left without a temple to worship in. And, 
 thanks to your further consideration, you obtained a 
 similar privilege for us from the late Sir Charles, so 
 that we have our chapel of ease on the hill, and no 
 thanks to the present incumbent. May God give 
 us all patience ! There will be sad hearts all over 
 the estate when the news of your resignation reach 
 es the tenants. Oh, my poor, persecuted children ! 
 my peaceable, happy flock ! to be torn by wolves, 
 and worried by hypocritical wretches, with the name 
 of the tender and loving God upon their lips, and 
 their hearts filled with malignity !" 
 
 Poor old Father Esmond paced the room, his 
 hands behind his back, and his eyes fixed on the 
 floor, as he gave utterance to these expressions : 
 
 " God protect us all ! And he calls himself a 
 Christian minister, and writes reverend to his name,
 
 150 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAII. 
 
 and quotes scripture! Oh, God help us! God help 
 us!" 
 
 " I am really burning with shame, Father Esmond, 
 as a Protestant, to think such things can be done 
 with impunity by one of our ministers, and we are 
 silent, both press and people. If we -only heard of 
 one individual Protestant being persecuted in a Cath 
 olic country, what bursts of eloquence would come 
 daily from our press ! what vast indignation meet 
 ings would be held! what fine speeches made, and 
 flourishing correspondence carried on bet \veen the 
 British envoy and the secretary of state ! I am 
 thoroughly disgusted with such flagrant injustice. 
 There is no fair play for my Catholic fellow-country 
 man I see that very plainly no liberty of con 
 science for him. Acts of barbarous cruelty are per 
 petrated daily upon simple, unoffending people 
 merely because they are Catholics. And men other 
 wise honorable members of society are content to 
 shrug their shoulders and wash their hands of it. It 
 sickens me to the soul to see it. As a sincere Pro 
 testant, I am determined not to rest satisfied until I 
 get this Biggs disgraced from his sacred office. I 
 believe there is truth and justice still to be found 
 amongst our clergy, and I mean to put it to the test. 
 You smile incredulously, Father Esmond ; but I do
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 151 
 
 hope to make my voice heard, both with respect tc 
 liberty of conscience and a satisfactory adjustment 
 of the landlord and tenant question." 
 
 " Well, God speed you, my dear friend ! If you 
 succeed you will confer a priceless benefit on society. 
 I am sure no cause ever had a nobler or more sincere 
 advocate. You will have the most fervent prayers 
 of an old man, though I have not the slightest faith 
 in your success." 
 
 The day after this interview Mr. De Courey's foot 
 man left the following note at Glengoulah Castle : 
 
 " Mr. De Courcy, having received a very imperti 
 nent communication on the 27th September last 
 from the Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs, wishes to in 
 form that individual that he, Mr. De Courcy, held 
 the agency of the Glengoulah estates under the lato 
 Sir Charles Plover for twenty-five years, but he has 
 never yet been agent for a proselytizing institution, 
 nor does he intend lending his services for so vile a 
 purpose. 
 
 " Mr. De Courcy further informs the above-named 
 person that from the 29th of said month he has 
 ceased to be the agent for the Glengoulah estates, as 
 he purposes never to have his name connected with 
 any man who has not the instincts of a gentleman. 
 
 *' CASCADE MILLS, October 3, 18 ."
 
 152 THE BYRXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Next morning Sandy McGlauren called at the 
 office for the accounts and documents relating to 
 the estates, which were delivered to him by one of 
 the clerks. And so Glengoulah Castle and estates 
 passed from all honest hands, and the hundreds of 
 hard-working, upright peasantry who dwelt thereon 
 were altogether in the unholy keeping of knaves 
 and tyrants. 
 
 Great the grief and loud the lamentations of that 
 once happy tenantry when the intelligence was pro 
 claimed that their much-loved Mr. De Courcy had 
 ceased to be connected with Glengoulah. Tears 
 bedewed every face, and a wail arose from every 
 homestead, such as in Egypt of old awoke Pharaoh 
 from his dream of security when heart-broken 
 mothers and grief-stricken fathers mourned with a 
 great cry the death of their first-born. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Wilson Biggs did not remain 
 long without an agent. He appointed one Jacob 
 Margin as his representative with the tenantry of 
 Glengoulah. He could scarcely have shown a wiser 
 discrimination in his choice, for there never was a 
 more fitting representative of his master, or a more 
 convenient tool to perform any disreputable deed. 
 It will be here necessary to give a short sketch of 
 Mr. Jacob Margin's doings before he was appointed
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 153 
 
 agent for the Glengonlah estates. This hoary old 
 miscreant was both dreaded and detested by every 
 one of his poorer neighbors. Public report said he 
 could not tell who his own father was. It is certain, 
 however, he was of low extraction, for he was 
 brought from a distant county years ago as a land 
 steward to the estate of a Colonel Ranford, an ab 
 sentee, who had spent his fortune at the Cheltenham 
 Waters in England. Margin arose by trickery until 
 he became agent to the Clonbeggin estate (Colonel 
 Ranford's property), and also to the Bannow Navi 
 gation Company, and finally to the mining company 
 of the neighboring district. Having made himself 
 thoroughly acquainted with the state of Colonel 
 Ranford's finances, and finding he indulged in play, 
 Margin strongly advised him to remain in England, 
 representing it as an impossibility that any gentle 
 man could reside in Ireland in consequence of the 
 lawless condition of the people. It was not his 
 fault if this statement were incorrect, for he tried 
 his best to drive the whole country to distraction, 
 and partially succeeded with the Clonbeggin tenan 
 try, and with all the cottiers, laborers and miners 
 who had the misfortune to come under his sway. 
 He had not been more than five years installed as 
 agent to Clonbeggin when Colonel Ranford found 
 
 7*
 
 154: THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 himself in very embarrassed circumstances, with an 
 army of duns at his heels. Making some ineffectual 
 efforts to curtail his expenses, he ordered Margin to 
 sell a portion of his unentailed property, and so year 
 by year and bit by bit he sold all his ancestral acres 
 which the law would allow him to dispose of, at an 
 immense sacrifice the agent declaring it was a most 
 difficult matter to find purchasers, owing to the dis 
 turbed state of the country. The colonel then or 
 dered the entailed portion to be mortgaged, and at 
 the end of fifteen years he was so hopelessly involved 
 as to be obliged to fly to the Continent to avoid his 
 creditors. Just at this period his only son came of 
 age, and, in order to check any aspirations after ex 
 pensive pleasures, the colonel told him the desperate 
 state of his affairs. 
 
 Mr. Horatio Ran ford, who was blessed with more 
 sense than his father, decided upon starting at once 
 for Ireland, and try to manage the estate himself. 
 We may imagine, but cannot describe, his indigna 
 tion on finding that Mr. Jacob Margin or Jab, as 
 he was nicknamed by the peasantry had been 
 enriching himself at his father's expense. Every 
 portion of Col. Ranford's property which had been 
 sold had been purchased by Margin himself. Every 
 pound which had been advanced upon the mortga
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 155 
 
 ges came from the pocket of Margin at a ruinous 
 interest. 
 
 Many a noble tree, too, in the beautiful wood of 
 Clonbeggin, which clothed the hillside overhanging 
 the river Bannow, was cut down and sold, and 
 many more were marked for destruction. Such was 
 the state of affairs at Clonbeggin when Mr. Horatio 
 Ranford arrived from England. 
 
 Transported with fury when he discovered the 
 perfidy of Margin, he at once dismissed him from 
 the agency, and immediately employed a lawyer to 
 investigate matters, and, if possible, prosecute the 
 old scoundrel ; but the wily rascal had every docu 
 ment so legally drawn up that he defied prosecution, 
 and coolly presented his accounts, showing Colonel 
 Ranford to be 1,500 in his debt. The colonel's 
 estate lay contiguous to that part of the County Wick- 
 low where the coal mines -were situated, and, as 
 " Jab" was of a very industrious turn of mind, he 
 took contracts to work them from the mining com 
 pany. His transactions with this company were 
 worthy the genius of the demon himself. He 
 worked the mines so expensively that for a good 
 while it was all outlay and no return. The com 
 pany grumbled, became disheartened, and at length 
 stopped the works. To facilitate matters, " Jab"
 
 156 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 succeeded in damming up the course of a stream 
 which ran by his house, and thus overflowed the 
 whole mines, including the pits on the estate of 
 Lord "Wallingford, which extended for miles on the 
 slope of the hill below the water-course. 
 
 Upon the plea of removing an evil which he pre 
 tended very much to deplore, old " Jab" built a 
 wall around an island in the river, called " Moll 
 Cody's island " (from an old crone who dwelt there 
 alone). It actually belonged to the County AVexford, 
 but " Jab" filled up the stream on the Wicklow side, 
 and deepened the bed of the river behind it, so that 
 the stream changed its course, the island disappear 
 ed, or rather became the main land, and formed a 
 portion of the farm of Mr. Jacob Margin. 
 
 It was apparently an insignificant addition to his 
 possessions, being only a couple of acres in extent. 
 But of Margin it might be truly said he looked 
 below the surface of things, for his experienced eye 
 saw that a valuable bed of coal lay underneath the 
 island, which he intended to turn to good account. 
 While he protested " the everlasting gratitude of the 
 people was due to him for spending both time and 
 money turning the course of the stream in order to 
 free the pits from water and give employment to 
 the miners, it made his heart ache to see so many
 
 Til K DVUNKS OF GLENGOULAH. 157 
 
 hundreds thrown out of work." Notwithstanding 
 all his protestations, however, the water did not 
 move from the pits, and Lord Wallingford's engi 
 neers were ungrateful enough to say he did it to 
 enrich himself. 
 
 His lordship thereupon commenced a law-suit 
 with Margin for abstracting a portion of the Coun 
 ty Wexford contrary to statutes made and provided. 
 He employed barristers of high standing to plead 
 'his cause, and, feeling confidence in its integrity, 
 with the calm demeanor of a gentleman he awaited 
 the decision of the court. 
 
 Not so his opponent. His course was quite differ 
 ent. Every species of chicanery and fraud, no mat 
 ter how brazen, was resorted to, provided only he 
 kept clear of the meshes of the law. He had around 
 him a set of sycophants of the most degraded char 
 acter, and these he employed to serve as witnesses 
 and swear the exact reverse of all that had been 
 proved by the testimony of the other side. What 
 was of still more importance, he had made himself 
 a favorite with the Government for various little 
 services rendered, more easily understood than ex 
 plained, so that he counted on success as certain, 
 as well he might under the circumstances. The 
 trial came on ; and, after various motions and post-
 
 158 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ponements, and finally changing the venue, and 
 going through the whole form again in another 
 county, was twice decided in Margin's favor. All 
 the country people predicted this decision from the 
 commencement, as they said " Jab was never beat 
 yet, no matter who was against him, for the devil 
 always takes care of his own." Lord Wallingford, 
 becoming disgusted with such low trickery, aban 
 doned the case, and would have no more to do with 
 it. 
 
 Now came the turning point in old " Jab's" life 
 the point for which he had toiled and schemed 
 and planned and robbed with an indomitable energy 
 which should put to the blush those who are striving 
 for an everlasting reward. Few are the Christians 
 indeed who work half so hard for the Eternal King 
 dom as this unfortunate wretch worked to gain a 
 position for a few years in this perishable world. 
 He allowed the pits to remain under water about 
 six months longer to save appearances, and the 
 amount of destitution and suffering in the mines 
 was appalling. Hundreds emigrated to America, 
 and hundreds more passed from the earth like shad 
 ows, worn out with typhus and various other appa 
 rent diseases, but in reality dying by inches from 
 long suffering and hope deferred. Having at length
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 159 
 
 satisfied himself that the mining company were 
 pretty well tired of the mines, Margin laid before 
 them a proposition : it was to rent the whole of the 
 mines belonging to the company at a low estimate, 
 in consideration of the great risk incurred " which 
 risk, however, he was willing to undertake merely 
 from a benevolent motive to give employment." 
 Out of every 1 which the pits produced he would 
 give them 2s. 6d., or one-eighth. 
 
 After pondering on it for a while, and remember 
 ing the losses they had already sustained, they agreed 
 to the proposal. A magnificent engine, which cost 
 the company over 3,000, and had long been lying 
 there apparently useless, he purchased from them 
 for 800. To work he went now, and soon the 
 water disappeared from the pits. Men, horses and 
 machinery toiled night and day, and untold wealth 
 was brought up from the bowels of the earth.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THIS Margin had a wife the very reverse of him 
 self. A more kind-hearted being never breathed the 
 breath of life, or one more full of sympathy for the 
 suffering poor. This good woman was ever on the 
 watch when her husband's back was turned to see 
 what amount of relief she could distribute. Often 
 would she hide away in a closet the wife of some 
 poor cottier on Jab's unexpected return, and on let 
 ting her out through the back gate she would slip a 
 fine cut of bacon under her cloak, in addition to the 
 well-filled bag of meal slung across her shoulder. 
 The fiercer the wind blew or the more incessant the 
 down-pouring rain, the more surely was the excel 
 lent Mrs. Margin to be seen straining her eyea 
 through the window-panes, and ever and anon dart 
 ing out in the storm to look up and down the road, 
 hoping to catch a glimpse of her dear poor, and 
 most lovingly would she take the shivering hands 
 and lead the drenched forms to the warm kitchen 
 hearth. 
 
 It is said there is an angel in every house, and
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 161 
 
 most assuredly there was for a time an angel of 
 mercy under the roof-tree of this incorrigible villain. 
 Many a half-uttered curse was stifled on the lips of 
 the goaded peasantry when they remembered this 
 gentle being. 
 
 At a subsequent period, when the people, driven 
 to distraction, formed a secret society, old " Jab " 
 was tried by one of their tribunals and condemned 
 to die for his atrocious robberies and wholesale mur 
 ders of the poor. A silence for many minutes 
 reigned in that rough assembly, until one gaunt- 
 looking man, with a blackened face and hollow voice, 
 proposed that the sentence should be reversed " for 
 the sake of his wife, the best and kindest woman 
 that ever lived." The motion passed unanimously, 
 and the world was for a while longer cursed by the 
 old miscreant. - Margin had two sons and three 
 daughters, nearly all like himself. Besides his own 
 immediate family, he imported a whole colony of 
 nephews from his native county, whom he established 
 in various branches of business. Two had general 
 stores or shops in different ends of the mines, where 
 every article was kept, " from a needle to an anchor." 
 Another was transformed into a doctor, and imme 
 diately installed in the county dispensary at a good 
 salary. Another established a mill. One of his
 
 162 THE BTENES OF GLEN<K>ULAH. 
 
 sons he made a lawyer. The other, in conjunction 
 with one of his nephews, founded a " Loan Bank," 
 one of the greatest curses ever introduced into a 
 country. This was ostensibly a great accommoda 
 tion to the miners, as they could borrow small sums, 
 from one to ten pounds, with which they could buy 
 a few loads of coal, and by the sale make a little 
 profit to help in the support of their families. For 
 this accommodation they paid twenty per cent, in 
 terest, which was, of course, deducted from the 
 principal before it was paid over. The payments 
 were made by weekly installments, and should be all 
 refunded in twenty weeks. If but one week was 
 omitted there was a fine, and for three the whole 
 was forfeited. Two solvent names besides the bor 
 rower's should be on the paper for security, and this 
 document should be laid before the board for a week 
 before the important question could be decided 
 whether the poor, trembling applicant would be re 
 fused or not. Many a time the little speculation 
 turned out a failure, or at least did not become avail 
 able in time to meet the weekly payments, and then 
 the poor wife might be seen trudging her weary way 
 over the hills to the nearest post-town where there 
 was a pawn-office, with her best blue cloak. Next 
 hei husband's Sunday frize would go, then their
 
 THE BYRNES OF OLENGOULAH. 163 
 
 poor bed-covering, until they were perfectly bare. 
 The applicant should first apply to the doctor, ma 
 king known the amount he required, the purpose 
 for which he wanted it, the names of his securities, 
 etc. If the doctor approved, he would then sign the 
 application, and lay it before the board. They 
 could afterward accept or reject it as they pleased. 
 For this small act of courtesy the doctor demand 
 ed pay not directly, but indirectly. For instance, 
 he would make it his business to ride past the cabin 
 of such applicant on his way home from the dispen 
 sary, and if a clutch of young ducks, or chickens, 
 or a couple of geese, happened to be waddling round, 
 he would call out the poor woman and order them 
 to be sent to his house, stating that he would set 
 tle for them with her husband. Woe betide her, 
 however, if she dared ever to remind him of the 
 debt ; for her husband or her son would be turned 
 out of the uncle's employment, or their wages cut 
 down, or some species of paltry revenge taken. A 
 few such examples effectually silenced all demands 
 for payment for poultry. The only course left was 
 to hide them ; and many a half-naked little boy 
 with bleached hair standing erect as a stubble field, 
 would be perched on a ditch, from which a view 
 of the dispensary could be obtained, watching the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOTTLAH. 
 
 door to see which way the doctor's horse would turn. 
 If seen approaching, the poor little urchin would fly 
 like the wind to warn his mother, and ducks, tur 
 keys and all would be driven into the cabin and 
 the door shut, to make believe there was no one in. 
 All the cottiers, miners, laborers, etc., received their 
 pay in orders on the shops, where every article was 
 kept which they could possibly need of course at 
 a good profit. It was with great difficulty they 
 could prevail upon their task-masters to give them 
 a little money at Christmas and Easter to pay their 
 dues for the support of their clergy. It was a reg 
 ular habit of the whole Margin tribe to meet at 
 " Jab's " house at stated periods and take counsel 
 together. Each one would then report progress ; 
 and if there was a farm that one of them coveted, or 
 a poor cabin formed an eyesore to the landscape 
 from their residences, or any other such trifle 
 stood in their way, all would put their wicked wits 
 to work to find out how they could circumvent the 
 occupiers of such farm or cabin, and then become 
 the owners themselves. Knowing the importance 
 of having a friend in high places, it was their con 
 stant study to curry favor with the British Govern 
 ment by denouncing the disaffected, and every other 
 means in their power a task not at all difficult
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 165 
 
 among a people goaded to madness, and who were 
 often driven to crime from sheer desperation. Thus 
 the Margin family became literally the autocrats 
 of that immense district, so rich in mineral wealth, 
 and the mass of the people held their very existence by 
 the breath of those merciless wretches. Many an 
 unfortunate " small" farmer whose well-tilled fields 
 they coveted, was, by a series of petty persecutions, 
 induced to join the brigade of Captain Starlight, or 
 some other illegal association. His footsteps were 
 dogged by night and day, until he was finally de 
 nounced by some of the Margin crew to the minions 
 of the law, and sent to languish out ten or fourteen 
 years in penal servitude, in all probability never 
 more to behold " friends and sacred homes." 
 
 As soon as the excitement cooled down, Margin, 
 by some contrivance, would get hold of the cov 
 eted fields, and the broken-hearted wife and children 
 would be sent to the road, or worse the workhouse. 
 One well-remembered circumstance will serve as an 
 illustration for many, many similar ones. A poor, 
 wretched man had been denounced in the way above 
 mentioned and transported. He had never been 
 more than an humble cottier who worked with the 
 neighboring farmers, and who, before and aftei 
 hours, tried to till one little potato field behind his
 
 166 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULA.H. 
 
 cabin. The miserable cabin and poor potato patch 
 were, however, painfully visible from Margin's par 
 lor windows, and every expedient was resorted to 
 in order to get possession of them. This poor man's 
 father and grandfather before him had been cottiers, 
 and contentedly tilled the same field and inhabited 
 the same cabin. It was the only home he ever knew, 
 and he loved it as dearly as the rich man loves his 
 ancestral halls ; perhaps more dearly, for it was all 
 the world to him. Here he was born ; here he was 
 married ; and here his seven little ones first saw the 
 light. Margin tried to purchase it, but he would 
 not sell. He then coaxed, wheedled, threatened all 
 in vain. Thereupon " Jab" commenced to perse 
 cute, and a series of petty annoyances each of 
 which would take a volume to describe we re set 
 to work, until the unfortunate creature was driven 
 to join an illegal society, then in full operation in. 
 the neighborhood, and which promised him redress. 
 His was the very voice that begged Margin's life 
 might be spared " for his good wife's sake," while 
 the wretched old villain was tracking his footsteps 
 like a blood-hound. The unfortunate man was dis 
 covered with illegal papers on his person, and Margin 
 on the trial represented him as a very lawless char 
 acter and a disturber of the public peace. He was
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. _ 167 
 
 therefore, of course, sentenced to serve for ten years 
 beyond the seas. 
 
 Immediately after his departure a great council 
 of the Margin tribe was held, and the subject under 
 discussion was how to get this cabin out of sight. 
 It might be done eventually by the power of the 
 law, but it would take time ; and, as one of the 
 nephews was about to make a very wealthy match, 
 it was quite indispensable to have such an unsightly 
 object removed before the wedding took place. The 
 doctor proposed to take forcible possession, knock it 
 down, and let the wife then go to law if she could 
 a contingency which her poverty made impossible. 
 
 This proposition was received with great favor 
 and agreed to be acted upon, but old " Jab" recom 
 mended that some weeks should be allowed to 
 elapse until some fresh calamity had abated the 
 public sympathy for this worse than widow and her 
 orphans ; and for this purpose it would be necessary 
 to create a kind of panic. Accordingly a false re 
 port was spread one morning, about a month later, 
 that Margin's farm-house and mill had been entered 
 and robbed the night before. Many names were 
 mentioned as being suspected, and all were in con 
 sternation, for the ukase had gone forth that ho 
 would stop all the works for a month if the robbers
 
 168 THE BYBNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 could not be found and stopping the employment 
 was the same as a sentence of death to hundreds. 
 Everybody, therefore, was perplexed how to act, and 
 was trembling for his own fate. In the midst of the 
 general confusion a set of strange men, unknown in 
 that part of the country, came from Margin's farm 
 with picks and crowbars to the coveted cabin, and, 
 coolly handing out the wretched furniture, finally 
 dragged out the unfortunate wife and her seven 
 children into the road, pulled off the thatch, broke 
 down the walls, quenched the fire on the hearth, 
 and demolished every vestige of their home ; for, 
 however humble, it was home, after all, and around 
 it their fondest affections were entwined. 
 
 Doctor Margin presided in person over this inhu 
 man transaction done, too, without even the sem 
 blance of a vile law to sustain it. Calling her 
 desolate children round her this heart-broken poor 
 woman knelt down, and, throwing her arms up to 
 heaven, while tears rained down her cheeks, prayed 
 that the wrath of an angry God might descend upon 
 every member of the Margin family except the one 
 of whom he was not worthy that they might be 
 accursed both in this world and the world to come ! 
 It was a terrible scene. Arising, she shook the 
 dust from her feet, and, casting one last look on the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 169 
 
 heap of ruins she loved so well, she and her misera 
 ble little flock took their way with cries and sobs to 
 the house of the parish priest. 
 
 The good pastor brought them to his fireside, gave 
 them all the consolation he could, and what tempo 
 rary relief was in his power. When she told him 
 the curse she had pronounced upon the Margins, he 
 shook his head sorrowfully, and said he regretted 
 she had committed such a sin. 
 
 " Father, honey ! don't say another word to me ! " 
 exclaimed the bereaved creature. " I don't believe 
 that the good and marciful God will ever lay it upon 
 my sowl ; because my heart was blistered and He saw 
 it my good God saw it and he knows that the 
 same breed tore the father from my poor childer, 
 and I tried to bear it and never cursed them then. 
 But when they tore down my poor cabin, and put out 
 the fire where I had warmed many a desolate cray- 
 thur for His sake, and when my heart-broken or 
 phans were turned upon the cowld road, I should 
 spake or I'd bust ; and I know my blessed Father 
 in heaven will hear my prayer and will never have 
 it afore my sowl. I didn't do it to offind him. Oh, 
 God forbid ! " And the poor soul burst into a pas 
 sionate flood of grief.*
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Mr. Jacob Margin made a smiling garden where 
 tli s poor home once stood, and beautiful flowers of 
 brilliant hue exhaled their fragrance and opened 
 their petals to the sun, and the birds came there and 
 sang thfiir little hymns of praise, never knowing the 
 bitter sorrow that had wrung burning curses on that 
 very spot from a heart seared with human agony 
 curses which arose from that broken heart to the 
 throne of the Most High, and which will assuredly, 
 in God's own good time, bear fruit. A few months 
 later it was gazetted that " Mr. Jacob Margin had 
 been appointed to the commission of the peace, his 
 excellency the lord lieutenant having no doubt he 
 would make an energetic and efficient magistrate," 
 
 O O ' 
 
 and thus the low-born wretch became Jacob Mar 
 gin, Esq., J. P. 
 
 God help poor Ireland ! 
 
 I would here apologize to my readers for introduc 
 ing Mr. Margin to their notice. I am painfully 
 sensible he is not by any means a respectable ac 
 quaintance. But as we pass through life we must 
 brush against villains sometimes; and as the man 
 lived and figured in many of the sad events recorded 
 in these pages, it is necessary he should be known 
 and his character understood, especially as his 
 nephews and sons are still living, and enjoying the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 171 
 
 fruits of his knavery. Many a one now in exile 
 through his means, and many who have, thank God ! 
 outlived his treachery, will recognize the portrait. 
 
 Again I say, God help poor Ireland ! and God 
 comfort her oppressed people ! 
 
 In the long catalogue of the robberies committed 
 upon them by English law or by Government fa 
 vorites without any law there is none so much to 
 be deplored as robbing them of their independent 
 spirit. It is galling to the soul to see them, hat in 
 hand, craving as a boon what the meanest serfs in 
 Europe receive as a right namely, a, livelihood out 
 of the soil on which God has placed them. But it is 
 a thousand times more galling to hear those who 
 ought to know better condemning them for so doing. 
 They cannot help it. Their very lives and the lives 
 of their little ones depend upon their submission to 
 the great man of the district most frequently a 
 miserable upstart, inferior to themselves in every 
 thing but wealth. Many fanners who hold large 
 farms of fine productive land, and who often have 
 money in bank, are afraid to ride a good horse or 
 allow their wives or daughters to appear much betr 
 ter dressed than their poor neighbors lest it should 
 be suspected they had money, for a raise in the rent 
 would surely be the consequence.
 
 172 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOTJLAH. 
 
 The poor cottiers tremble to be discovered with a 
 flock of geese or turkeys, or a litter of young pigs. 
 We have seen from the acts of Doctor Margin how 
 necessary it is to hide them away (unfortunately he 
 has many imitators), and thus the practice of dissim 
 ulation is early implanted. Falsehood belongs to 
 the whole system of British rule in Ireland, and is 
 perfectly inseparable from the odious and infamous 
 laws relating to land tenures. Prevarications are 
 essential to the existence of the peasantry under the 
 present order of things. Let those, therefore, who 
 condemn them see if they be not guilty themselves 
 before they cast the first stone at the wronged and 
 friendless poor ; and when they hear of some outrage 
 committed by the " Whiteboys," or some such ille 
 gal association, let them pause before pronouncing 
 their eloquent denunciations, remembering the in 
 tolerable burdens and foul oppressions heaped on the 
 people. 
 
 I am not the advocate of secret societies, nor do I 
 believe there is much good affected by them ; but it 
 would be well if those who pass such severe judg 
 ment on their members would bear in mind that the 
 provocations of the Irish peasant are beyond human 
 endurance, and quite sufficient to excuse his seeking 
 redress after any fashion, or to palliate any excess
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 173 
 
 he might commit. They should further bear in 
 mind that no other people under heaven could pass 
 through such a terrible ordeal for centuries, and 
 come out of it with so many shining virtues untarn 
 ished.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE grief and consternation of the Glengoulah 
 tenantry was indescribable when they heard that 
 Margin had been appointed agent. They knew not 
 what it was to be servile, for they had always been 
 accustomed to being treated by Mr. De Courcy as 
 human beings, whose feelings were worthy of con 
 sideration and respect. It therefore took a long 
 time and a well-planned series of persecutions to 
 bring even a portion of them under subjection, while 
 others were driven into rebellion, many -of whom 
 were formerly remarkable for their orderly, peacea 
 ble dispositions. Margin purchased a small estate 
 as near as possible to Glengoulah Castle, and built 
 a fine house upon it, to which he subsequently re 
 moved. 
 
 About this time his eldest son, the lawyer the 
 only one of her children who possessed anything 
 like the heart of his mother was drowned by the 
 upsetting of a little gig in which he had been taking 
 ?- pleasure sail on the beautiful Ovoca. The sight 
 of the dead body of her firstborn and favorite son
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 175 
 
 preyed upon the mind of the kind and amiable Mrs. 
 Margin, and she did not long survive the blow. 
 
 It is beautifully said, no matter how a man may 
 be debased by sin, he still has some one redeeming 
 trait to show the Divine hand that formed him ; u as 
 in a ruined temple, after long searching among the 
 rubbish, one may discover some broken arch or rem 
 nant of a once finely-chased capital to mark the fin 
 ished genius of the architect."* So it was with 
 this most avaricious old sinner. He had one redeem 
 ing trait, one green spot in the arid desert of his 
 withered heart. It was a great love for his wife and 
 respect for her virtues, which he would never tire ex 
 tolling, but would not try to imitate. He mourned 
 her long and sincerely ; but sorrow, which purifies 
 most natures, seemed only to stir to its depths the 
 bitterness of his accrimonious disposition. He was a 
 tyrant by nature, and since the only virtuous thing he 
 ever loved was taken from him, he devoted all his 
 energies to the acquisition of his idols wealth and 
 power. 
 
 It is unnecessaryto enter into the details of his 
 petty, systematic persecutions, nor would the history 
 be at all edifying. It will be enough to mention 
 that when four years had passed there was a visible 
 
 * Doctor Cahill.
 
 176 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAII. 
 
 change both in the farm-houses and the people of 
 Glengoulah. The rents had been increased again and 
 again, until nearly all their hard earnings went into 
 the pocket of the landlord. Then came the agent's 
 " duty work," which means that all the tenants and 
 their laborers are expected to devote some days, turn 
 about, during the season, to tilling his farm free of 
 cost, under pain of his eternal enmity. Add to these 
 troubles the uncertainty of being left in possession 
 after meeting every demand, and wonder no longer 
 that gates were seen hanging by one hinge, cattle 
 roaming at will or grazing in the ditches, pigs and 
 poultry tresspassing upon neighbors, thereby causing 
 disputes and often lawsuits ; the cattle pens looking 
 shabby, and the whole byre, once so trim and well- 
 kept, dirty and miry, the poor vines and flower-beds 
 drooping and running wild, the very smoke seeming 
 not to curl up as of old in graceful spiral wreaths, 
 but coming out one time in a sullen gust of indig 
 nation, and at another lazily mounting but a little 
 way, and falling back again on the roof of the farm 
 house with a sad, disconsolate air. The landscape, 
 however, lost nothing of its beauty, for the hand of 
 God had piled the beautiful hills peak over peak, 
 and clothed them with the most exquisite variety of 
 shrubs and trees, and the slopes He covered with the
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 177 
 
 softest and greenest of turf. Then he called out the 
 starry buttercups and daisies to spangle it over, as 
 the blue heavens were spangled at night with the 
 myriad worlds of light ; and He filled the groves 
 with bands of feathered musicians ; and He com 
 manded the crystal rills to run singing into the val 
 leys, and the brooks, and the birds, and the flowers 
 all obeyed Him ; and, therefore, no amount of wick 
 edness on the part of man could mar the lovely pros 
 pect. 
 
 Well, it is time, after this long digression, to see 
 how Toney Byrne and his family fared in these al 
 tered times. 
 
 Poor Toney has still the same industrious habits, 
 the same confiding trust in Divine Providence, 
 although there is a great change in his once happy 
 homestead. And death, too, has visited him in the 
 midst of his other cares. His youngest child, Pat 
 rick " the very mott of himself," as his mother used 
 to say a gentle, good-humored, loving boy, was 
 taken down with scarlet fever, as were Andy and 
 Mike likewise, but the two latter recovered, and lit 
 tle Patrick went to play with the angels and bade 
 adieu to sorrow for evermore. It was a sad trial 
 upon his father and mother to part with this quiet, 
 affectionate little fellow. It was the first child thev 
 
 8*
 
 178 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ever buried, and their grief was great to see him 
 die in the morning of life ; but when the first 
 great burst of sorrow had passed, they blessed God 
 for securing their beloved boy a home in His own 
 kingdom, far from the persecutions of their proselyt 
 izing landlord and agent. Those three boys had 
 unconsciously brought great trouble to their parents, 
 for they had been continually harassed by messages 
 from the landlord earnestly requesting they should 
 be sent to the school designed for them. Toney 
 mildly but firmly refused to send them, alleging 
 " he wanted the eldest boy at home to help him on 
 the farm the only time he could spare for learning 
 being at night ; and as a master came to teach him, 
 why, they might as well all learn together." 
 
 Nothing daunted, the Bible-reader of his reve- 
 ence came again to request the two younger ones 
 might be sent. 
 
 Not wishing to exasperate his tyrant, poor Toney 
 said " his second eldest boy was inclined to be frol 
 icsome, and he tried to keep him from other boys as 
 much as possible. He would only be a source of 
 trouble in the school, and he did not wish to let him 
 from under his own eye." 
 
 A third message came and this time it was 
 borne by Miss Biggs herself, in her carriage.
 
 THE BYKNKS OF GLENGOULAH. 179 
 
 " Her reverend brother had sent to request the 
 youngest boy to come to school the following Monday 
 morning, as he understood he possessed a very mild 
 temper." Toney was eating his dinner when she 
 swept in awful grandeur into the farmer's kitchen. 
 He told her " his little boy had never been absent 
 from home without some member of his family ; and, 
 being of a very timid disposition, he would fret and 
 pine among strangers. 
 
 Miss Biggs was very eloquent, and consumed with 
 zeal ; Toney Byrne very mild, but determined. All 
 she could get out of him was, that he would wait 
 until the boy grew older before he would send him 
 to school ; and he bowed the lady very respectfully 
 into her carriage. 
 
 Toney had expressly forbidden Kitty to hold any 
 conversation with those Bible-readers, or any of the 
 Biggs messengers, knowing she would not be able 
 to keep her temper, and would do no good by losing 
 it. Therefore, when they called in his absence, 
 Kitty told them she would tell her husband and let 
 him do as he pleased. Some tried to engage her in 
 a controversy, but she resolutely kept very busy 
 always, and did not remain a moment in the room. 
 
 About a year or two after this, just as school 
 opened one vacation, the three boys took the scarlet
 
 180 THE BYRXES OF GLENGOULAII. 
 
 fever, and the youngest died as we have seen : " a 
 just judgment upon his parents," the Bible-readera 
 and the Misses Biggs said, " for keeping him from 
 the knowledge of the Lord." 
 
 His Christian parents took a very different view, 
 however, of his removal. They deemed it a mark 
 of the tenderest love of their dear Father in Heaven 
 to take the gentle child to His bosom, and thus de 
 prive the voracious Biggs of a prey he intended to 
 devour. There was now no fear of his claiming 
 Mike for a pupil, for some .months at least, a*$ the 
 minister and his family, like all of their class, had a 
 mortal dread of contagion. So Toney enjoyed about 
 six months' peace. 
 
 Winnie still contrived to trail the vines and tend 
 the flowers as of old, for the sake of good Mr. De 
 Courcy, whose gift they were therefore the farm 
 house, in its exterior, looked less changed than most 
 others, but many of its interior comforts were gone. 
 The kitchen roof no longer contained its weighty 
 drapery of flitches of bacon, nor were the bins filled 
 with oatmeal as in former days. Poverty was be 
 coming an inmate where none of God's poor were 
 ever denied relief. But no murmurs nor complaints 
 were heard. Cheerfulness and hospitality still had 
 a shelter around the blazing turf pile, and tales and
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 181 
 
 songs went round ; but often the subjects under dis 
 cussion took a gloomier character than was their 
 wont, and men talked with flash ing eyes of the vast 
 change wrought in Glengoulah since Sir Charles 
 died, but especially since old Margin became agent. 
 
 The bare mention of the agent's name brought 
 curses to their lips, which were but half uttered 
 when a reproof from Toney stopped them : " Boys, 
 boys, honey ! take care what you're sayin' now 
 don't be sinnin' your souls with him lave him to 
 God ; he can't be worse nor he is, and all your hard 
 words wont make him any better." 
 
 " Better eneagli ! Be my sowl, he'll be better when 
 the divil has him, but not till thin." 
 
 " Well, it can't be very long till that time comes, 
 anyway. Sure the divil has a heavy mortgage on 
 his sowl, and he'll pretty soon be lookin' for his own, 
 plaze the pigs." 
 
 " Och ! That he may take him body and bones 
 wid all my heart. Don't be shakin' your head at 
 me now, Mr. Byrne ; throth its sorry I am that cur- 
 sin' is a sin, for its fine, manly talk." 
 
 " Well, purshume to you ! Out of my sight, Tom 
 Moody ; you'd make a dog laugh, so you would. 
 Isn't it to pity the unfortunate wretch ye ought ? 
 I'm sure, wid all his riches, not one of us would swap
 
 182 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 places with him, poor as we are (and sure, we could 
 be a great dale worse, glory be to God) ; would we 
 now ? " 
 
 " Is it to swap with old Jab ? Oh, no ! Faix, if 
 we have empty pockets, we have light heels and 
 Bound ones too, the Lord be praised ! " 
 
 This was in allusion to a running sore of long 
 standing which Obliged Jab always to appear astride 
 a little, stout-built, black pony, which same animal 
 was often earnestly recojj*mended by passing pedes- 
 
 TB^*" 3 *" 
 
 trians to stumble aya break its master's neck a re 
 commendation, however, the sure-footed little animal 
 heard in dignified silence. 
 
 " Well, he can't have very long to run now, him 
 self or his ould leg; let him do his best. There wont 
 be many brealSip' hearts after he goes, that's one 
 comfort." 
 
 " Be dad, your right there, Peter ; for he'll break 
 them all afore he goes, I'm thinkin'." 
 
 This last remark was made by Bryan Dempsey, 
 the young farmer who evinced so much sympathy 
 for Toney Byrne the day Mr. De Courcy announced 
 so unwillingly the first increase in the rents, and 
 the landlord's refusal to sign the leases. Little did 
 poor Bryan dream how very prophetic his words 
 were, as far as concerned him and all he loved most
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 183 
 
 dearly. He had become a constant visitor at Toney's 
 farm-house ever since that day, and had endeared 
 himself to every one in the house by his efforts tc 
 make them forget their sorrows. 
 
 At this present time, however, since the truth 
 must be told, he had a little personal interest to for 
 ward there too, for his heart had been attracted to the 
 joyous nature of the pretty, blooming Winnie, now 
 emerging into womanhood. Somehow or other, 
 whatever way it happened, Bryan too had become 
 dearer to Winnie than all the world besides. No 
 doubt it was all because of his great respect for her 
 father. Of course she would not acknowledge such 
 a weakness for any consideration, and was always 
 ready to repel with indignation such a very foolish 
 charge. Nevertheless, a close observer might easily 
 detect how her ear quickened when his visiting hour 
 came in the evening ; how her cheeks flushed when 
 a step came into the little porch and the latch was 
 raised ; how her heart " fell down into her shoes " 
 when some other head Tom Moody's for instance 
 appeared with its " God save all here ;" how she 
 tossed her head, looked at the fire, gave a very un 
 necessary jerk to her spinning-wheel, and had hard 
 ly a civil word for poor Tom, who, taking a seat be- 
 eide her, tried his very best to be entertaining ; how
 
 184 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOTTLAH. 
 
 another step, and the right head this time, made her 
 pure blood mount to the temples, and how very sud 
 denly she became all attention to Tom's narrative, 
 laughing at his jokes, and asking him many ques 
 tions, being very careful meantime to avoid the 
 particular spot where Bryan sat. 
 
 Yes, indeed, to any observer who knew anything 
 of that mysterious fountain of truest human aifec- 
 tion a woman's heart it was very plain that the 
 teasing, laughter-loving singing-bird of the hills was 
 caged at last. Accordingly, after a little show of 
 resistance on Winnie's part, and many an anxious 
 sigh on the part of Toney, who would fain have seen 
 Bryan's affairs in a more flourishing condition for 
 the sake of his favorite child, as well as for the sake 
 of her brave young suitor whom he loved as a son, 
 Bryan and Winnie were married. 
 
 Toney had long since surrendered all hope of leases 
 ever being given by the parson, but he trusted that, 
 seeing how peaceable and industrious they all were, 
 he would leave them in undisturbed possession. 
 
 Mrs. Byrne, although she owned Bryan Dempsey 
 to be a great pet of hers, made divers moans at the 
 idea of parting with her only daughter ; and al 
 though the whitewashed farm-house of Bryan could 
 be distinctly seen about a mile up the hill peeping
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 185 
 
 through the trees from the spot where Mrs. Byrne 
 so often sat spinning, yet she shook her fist at Bryan 
 and called him a " hard-hearted, cruel boy to rob 
 her of her only daughter, her last remaining com 
 fort. She might now sit alone and spin, and who 
 would she have to talk to ? Sure all the world and 
 his wife knew boys were not fit companions for a 
 mother," etc., etc. 
 
 But the wedding took place nevertheless, and a 
 very pleasant wedding it was too, in spite of their 
 altered circumstances. Nor did the guests find 
 much difference in the quality or quantity of the 
 viands from the memorable occasion six years before 
 when Margaret Byrne was converted into Mrs. Don- 
 ohoe of Coolanish, County Wexford. The truth was, 
 the same Margaret and her husband, with a thought 
 ful affection creditable alike to head and heart, came 
 to Glengoulah a few days before the marriage of 
 Winnie, bringing four boisterous young urchins and 
 two or three very suspicious-looking hampers. Now 
 there issued from two of those hampers, I can aver 
 most positively, doleful cries for freedom from sev 
 eral chosen specimens of bipeds which had been 
 kept in durance vile the whole journey, and which, 
 sad to relate, had their heads knocked off on being 
 released from confinement. Certain I am I saw with
 
 186 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAII. 
 
 my mortal eyes the bodies of three gigantic l 
 hanging by the heels at the end of the hoase, while 
 the perseverance with which the smaller poultry 
 struggled and begged for life was worthy of a better 
 cause. I also received reliable information that a 
 whole sheep and a side of beef were found in con 
 cealed parts of the market-wagon on a close inspec 
 tion. What the other hamper contained must for 
 ever remain a secret to outsiders. So 
 
 " All went merry as a marriage bell." 
 
 Darby Wholahan was there sporting bran new 
 pipes for the occasion, rolling his sightless orbs and 
 making all sorts of grimaces for the amusement 
 of the junior Donohoes and sundry other youngsters 
 who were never done admiring the squeezing of 
 that merry bag of wind, diving every half minute 
 underneath on an exploring expedition to see where 
 the music came from, and always going off in an 
 ecstasy of delight when Darby would make it squeak 
 like a young pig. Ah, but the jigs and reels ! You 
 should have been there to see, for my pen fails. " The 
 New Married Bride," " Cover the Buckle," " Hush 
 the Cat," and innumerable others, were done to perfec 
 tion. 
 
 " Now Felix Magee puts bis pipe to his knee, 
 And with flourish so free sets each couple in motion, 
 With a cheer and a hound larln patter the ground, 
 The maids move around just like .->wai!3 in the ocean,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULAH. 187 
 
 Cheek? bright as the rose, feet light as the doe'a, 
 Now coyly retiring, now boldly advancing 
 Search tho world all around, from the sky to the ground, 
 No such sight can be found as an Irish lass dancing." 
 
 "Well ! well ! The brightest sun that ever shone 
 upon this world but lends his brightness for a little, 
 and then fades into the deep night. All earthly 
 joys must end ; and so the happy wedding-party of 
 Winnie and Bryan was broken up, when, at the dawn 
 of day, the whole company in a body walked up 
 the hill and took a loving farewell of the young 
 couple at the door of the white farmhouse that 
 peeped through the clump of trees.
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 A FEW years passed away, the Protestant bishop 
 of the diocese died, and the Rev. Samuel Wilson 
 Biggs was appointed his successor in the Episcopal 
 dignity. It was considered good news by the ten 
 antry on the Glengoulah estate, for they hoped he 
 would remove to the Episcopal palace, where his 
 predecessor always resided, but they were doomed 
 to disappointment. 
 
 His newly-created lordship declared it was his in 
 tention to reside permanently at Glengoulah Castle. 
 " He could not think," he said, " of abandoning the 
 Lord's pasturage, now that new sheep were daily 
 flocking to feed upon the fatness thereof." 
 
 The solution of this mystery was that the storm 
 BO long threatening was now about to burst. Noti 
 ces to quit were served upon every one of the ten 
 ants whose leases had expired ; and though they diJ 
 not owe one farthing of rent, yet were they all to 
 be ejected from the homes occupied by so many 
 generations of their ancestors. Grief and conster 
 nation dwelt in every house. "Where were they .to 
 turn to ? What was to become of their children 1
 
 THE BYKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 189 
 
 On the townland of Driniraure the tenantry held 
 a meeting among themselves, and discussed the 
 question : " Should their children be sacrificed ? " 
 Fear unhappily prevailed over their better judg 
 ment, and the agreement come to was that the chil 
 dren, should be given up. The next day the bailiffs 
 came amid the loud and prolonged lamentations of 
 the parents, many mothers tearing their hair and 
 throwing themselves frantically on the earth. The 
 children were given up, and no more was heard of 
 the ejectment on that townland,* with one excep 
 tion. No one knew better than his lordship how, 
 for this dereliction of duty, those unfortunate crea 
 tures were racked by the bitterest remorse of con 
 science ; and were, of course, most justly excluded 
 by their pastor from partaking of the holy sacra 
 ments. Little he cared for the pangs he caused the 
 poor his paramount determination was to crush 
 the benign influence of the true faith, and to destroy 
 the affection existing between the people and their 
 pastors. Senseless wretch ! As well might he try to 
 prevent the green moss from clinging to the change 
 less rock which supports it, and which it beautifies 
 by its dependent love. 
 
 I have said there was one exception on the town- 
 
 * See the account of the Partry evictions, 1857.
 
 190 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 land of Drinimure, which I must relate. A man 
 named Cormac held a fine farm on that townland, 
 and his ancestors before him for more than two hun 
 dred years ! He was a man proud of his ancient 
 race, whose spirit chafed against these petty transac 
 tions. The accession of Biggs to the estate made 
 him rear and plunge like a war-horse, but the ap 
 pointment of Margin to the agency broke his heart. 
 Every time they came in contact they openly quar 
 relled, for Cormac never could brook Margin's inso 
 lent sneering manner. Happily for poor Cormac, 
 before the expiration of Margin's first year of office 
 he died, commending his widow and only child to 
 God. Mrs. Cormac was a woman of high spirit, 
 and she bravely toiled to keep herself and child in 
 respectability, although the frequent raisings of her 
 rent made it a difficult matter to perform. Her lit 
 tle daughter, Norah, was a sweet child, and went 
 regularly every day to the convent-school of Ard- 
 more, a distance of six miles. Being a talented, 
 amiable child, she was much beloved by the nuns. 
 She had a fine voice, and they taught her to sing 
 many beautiful hymns, and often accepted her ser 
 vices in their choir on festive occasions. 
 
 Judge the feelings of this widowed mother when 
 she was called upon for the last time to resign her
 
 TIIE BYKNES OF GLENGO.ULAH. 191 
 
 loved and carefully-instructed child, now about four 
 teen years old, to the care of the Misses Biggs, or 
 give up the time-honored home of the Cormacs for 
 ever and become an outcast on the bounty of stran 
 gers. Fancy may imagine but no pen could por 
 tray the anguish of that mother's heart. Though a 
 young woman, her hair became blanched, and many 
 an hour in the dead of ni^ht she would kneel at the 
 
 o 
 
 foot of a picture of the " Mater Dolorosa," where all 
 the emblems of the sacred passion were represented, 
 lying before the sinless Virgin ; again, she would 
 arise and pace the floor, moaning and wringing her 
 hands. Ah, poor mother! who can blame you if 
 for a brief space the tempter triumphed ! When 
 the bailiffs entered the house, accompanied by a 
 Bible-reader named Faulkner, Mrs. Cormac fixed 
 her eyes upon them, glaring like a chained lioness ; 
 her lips were compressed and her arms tightly 
 crossed upon her bosom, as if to keep them from 
 doing bodily harm to the wretches. 
 
 Turning to her child she said, in a harsh, hurried 
 voice, " Go with them, Norah !" 
 
 Norah looked wildly at her mother for a moment, 
 and then, uttering a piercing shriek, which never 
 afterward left her mother's ears, she sped down the 
 road like an arrow from a bow, and reaching the
 
 192 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 banks of the Ovoca flung herself into its now deep 
 and rapid waters, for it was the month of November. 
 Another of the tenants, named Fitzpatrick, who 
 was coming up the road at the moment, saw the ac 
 tion, jumped in and saved her ! * He carried her 
 out, and placed her living though senseless form in 
 the arms of her mother, who just reached the spot 
 in a state of distraction. The neighbors helped 
 both to their home. After the application of re 
 storatives the little girl opened her eyes, and seeing 
 her mother leaning over her, clasped her fondly and 
 looked lovingly in her face with a childish smile. 
 The mother was consoled, and blessed God that she 
 was restored to her. Poor soul ! she did not then 
 know, what she soon learned, that the dear child, 
 though ever loving and gentle, was an idiot ! The 
 light of reason had fled those timid but ever smil 
 ing eyes. A few days afterward the Bible-reader 
 called to demand the child again. Norah, shaking 
 from head to foot, cowered behind her mother's 
 chair like a terrified fawn. Mrs. Cormac, confront 
 ing Faulkner, exclaimed indignantly 
 
 " Begone, Satan ! Tell your hell-hound of a mas 
 ter that I spit upon his notices, and defy his threats ! " 
 
 * " A boy, son of John Fitzpatrick, tried to drown himself rather than be 
 victimized, bat was rescued by his fattier." From Father Lavelle's Letter 
 on Partry Evictions, 1858.
 
 THE BYJBNES OF GLENGOULAH. 193 
 
 Seeing the unearthly light that shone in the out 
 raged woman's eyes, the sneaking Bible-reader 
 turned and fled. 
 
 The following Sunday night the dwellings of tho 
 poor laborers in the town of Ardmore and its 
 neighborhood were invaded by the emissaries of 
 the sheriff, offering the sum of 2 to any man who 
 would assist in the evictions. They met a blunt 
 refusal in many places, notwithstanding the evident 
 destitution under which the poor people svere suffer 
 ing. In one instance a father and his son were 
 offered 4; and another man with two sons was 
 offered 6. Those who have seen the bitter povertj 
 of the poor laborers in Ireland can justly estimate 
 the fortitude and even heroism necessary to refuse 
 such a temptation. 
 
 When the recruiting general found he could not 
 succeed he changed his tactics, representing that 
 " they were only required at the castle for a day's 
 little business." 
 
 The poor wives of these men, on inquiry, discovered 
 the artifice, and flung themselves on their knees be 
 fore their husbands, entreating them to reject the 
 bribe. They declared they were satisfied to endure 
 with patience the starvation they and their little 
 ones were suffering, while they had a shelter, even 
 
 9
 
 194 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 without fire, as they were that cold weather. The 
 men were also offered with the bounty a strong es 
 cort of police from the outside of the town until 
 they would return at night, and were told they 
 would be flanked by two divisions of her majesty's 
 20th regiment, with loaded muskets and screwed 
 bayonets, while they were levelling the houses. The 
 pooi- fellows said it was not the dread of man that 
 deterred them, but the fear of God, and that they 
 had already too many proofs of the desolation brought 
 on by the accursed crowbarism\\\ the neighborhood.* 
 
 After some delay his lordship procured ten men, 
 the offscourings of the lanes and alleys of Dublin, 
 to be imported for the work of desolation. On the 
 26th of November the rain fell in torrents, when 
 there passed through the town of Tinmanogue a 
 body of two hundred mounted constabulary, a troop 
 of infantry, a troop of dragoons, and two pieces of 
 artillery, on their way to the townland of Drinimure 
 to evict therefrom the only evil-disposed tenant on 
 that part of the estate, widow Cormac and her idiot 
 child. 
 
 The poor woman had had a succession of fainting 
 fits from the time she discovered her beloved and 
 only child was bereft of reason, and now lay very 
 
 * See Caetleton Papers, November, 1869. Partry Evictions.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULAH. 195 
 
 ill. Every exertion had been made by Father 
 O'Tool (who was a kinsman of her late husband), 
 and by Father Esmond, to have this virtuous and 
 injured woman left in her home ; but the rev 
 erend lord was inexorable. A widow lady who 
 lived a mile or two from this place, but who hap 
 pily was a tenant to the Dublin Mining Company, 
 brought a car with a feather-bed, protected as far as 
 possible from the incessant down-pour, and placed 
 upon it the dying woman and her idiot daughter. 
 She carried them to her home, and tended them 
 carefully and lovingly as became a Christian, for 
 which may God forever bless her. 
 
 Besides the military and police present to over 
 awe the just indignation of an outraged people, 
 Margin was there on his black pony, and his right- 
 hand man, Faulkner, the Bible-reader. A fiendish 
 grin seemed to lurk around the mouths of the 
 vile pair, upon perceiving which Mrs. Dargan, the 
 widow lady above referred to, walked up to Margin 
 and told him whatever might be the fate of Mrs. 
 Cormac, she (Mrs. Dargan) would live to see his 
 power laid in the dust, for she warned him his judg 
 ment was not far off. 
 
 He laughed scornfully, but her words came liber 
 ally true. Poor Mrs. Cormac lingered four weeks
 
 396 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAII. 
 
 on a sick bed, and on Christmas Eve her Heavenly 
 Father sent his angels to carry this poor victim of a 
 landlord's intolerance to the throne prepared for her 
 in His own celestial kingdom. Fortified for her 
 journey by the reception of the holy sacraments, and 
 with the venerable Father Esmond giving her the 
 absolution for the dying, she peacefully drew her 
 last sigh. 
 
 All day on the festival of Christmas poor Norah 
 watched beside the bed on which lay the silent, 
 wasted form of her loved mother. She would smile 
 and courtesy to the candles, to the crucifix at the 
 head of the bed, and to the neighbors as they came 
 noiselessly in ; then, fixing her eyes upon her mother 
 she would sing in a subdued tone a verse from a 
 beautiful Christmas carol taught her by the nuns : 
 
 " God rest ye all good Christians, 
 Upon this blessed morn 
 The Lord of all good Christians 
 Was of a woman born. 
 Now all your sorrows He doth heal. 
 Your sins He takes away ; 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day." 
 
 No one remembered to have told her it was 
 Christmas day ; but with that intuitive knowledge 
 peculiar to idiots she seemed to know and compre 
 hend it all. Might it be that those sinless children 
 of earth, who are dcbarre 1 from worldly wisdom,
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 197 
 
 being more akin to the angels, derive knowledge 
 from them? Who can fathom? On the feast of 
 St. Stephen, the first martyr, the bell in the great 
 elm tree of Tinmanogue Chapel tolled mournful 
 sounds through the snow-covered groves and ravines 
 of those beautiful hills. How sadly they fell on the 
 hearts of those crowded in small rooms in the villa 
 ges, who but a few weeks before were the occupants 
 of comfortable farm-houses now levelled with the 
 earth ! Not a few wished to be laid to rest in that 
 old familiar graveyard whither the neighbors were 
 with measured tread conveying a widow of the once 
 princely house of Cormac ! 
 
 Well, to return to the 26th of November. 
 
 After the noble exploit of levelling the house of 
 the widow, and driving her and her idiot child upon 
 the charity of the faithful, the great army marched 
 in all the pride of military pomp to the townlands 
 of Drissmore, Tinmanogue and Ardmore. House 
 after house was levelled, and the occupants flung out 
 like weeds on the highway. Two children, sick with 
 the scarlet fever, were carried out by the bailiffs 
 and laid in the ditch with hardly any covering, 
 while their mother, a poor widow, awoke the echoes 
 with her cries. One of them died during the night. 
 
 " Their cot was unroofed, yet they strove to hide 
 In its walla till the fever was passed :
 
 198 THE BYKNKS OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Their crime was found out, and the cold ditch side 
 Was their hospital at last. 
 Slowly they went to the poor-house and grave, 
 But the Lord they bent to their souls will save." 
 
 Some of the best dwellings and the choicest farms 
 were reserved for the pets of the landlord. 
 
 Always desiring to appear humane and merciful 
 while he played the tyrant, Lord Biggs racked his 
 brain to devise some excuse for evicting Toney Byrne, 
 whom he knew the whole country regarded as the 
 rightful owner of those broad acres and that stately 
 castle which he desecrated by his hypocritical pres 
 ence. 
 
 The name of an O'Byrne was hateful to his ears, 
 and he vowed mentally to get rid of the whole 
 " nest of vipers " off the estate. If little Patrick 
 had lived all would be easy enough ; but now Andy 
 and Mike were too much grown to go to school, and 
 Winnie's children were too young. What was to 
 be done ? He consulted Margin, and that worthy 
 individual came at once to the rescue. He advised 
 his lordship to send Bible-readers to instruct such 
 families as had no children fit for school, and to be 
 guided by their treatment of those " Apostolic 
 men ;" " for I think, my lord, with all due respect 
 for your lordship's better judgment, these adults, 
 
 iiiir (according to nature) nearer their end than
 
 THE BVJiNES OF GLEtfGOULAlf. 199 
 
 the younger ones, require as much, yea, even more, 
 to be regaled and strengthened by ' the Word.' >: 
 
 " Thou art a very Solomon, my good Margin," 
 exclaimed Lord Biggs in an ecstasy; " it is a most 
 sage advice, and shall be acted upon without delay. 
 Send Faulkner to me." 
 
 Margin went off gleefully, rubbing his hands as 
 was his wont when pleased with himself. 
 
 Next day Faulkner commenced his labors. He 
 was ordered to go every day to certain families 
 named, and to read and expound for them the Holy 
 Scriptures. Toney Byrne saw immediately the drift 
 of this proceeding. He accordingly took every 
 day to the fields his two sons, and kept them 
 by him. He enjoined his wife to keep her ears 
 stuffed with cotton or wool, and to continue what 
 ever employment she was at, never heeding the ex 
 pounder. 
 
 Things continued thus for a while. But one day 
 Andy complained of feeling sick, and came home 
 from the field about eleven o'clock for the purpose 
 of lying down on the bed. 
 
 Faulkner had just finished his exposition and was 
 leaving, when he espied the scapular which Mrs. 
 Byrne usually wore, and which had escaped from 
 her dress. Like a tiger he sprang forward, and, with-
 
 200 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 out a word of warning, tore it from her neck.* Mrs. 
 Byrne screamed, and Andy, jumping on the Bible- 
 reader, pounded him until he cried for mercy. An 
 dy then seized his Bible, tore it in flitters, and cast 
 both it and the expounder out of the back door un 
 til he landed them on a heap of manure in the pig 
 yard. This sealed the doom of the Byrnes, but To- 
 ney never regretted it. He would always avoid 
 quarrels ; but when the proper time came for defend 
 ing the right he was not the one to flinch. 
 
 Lord Biggs professed to act with great leniency in 
 not prosecuting the Byrnes after such atrocious con 
 duct, merely contenting himself with dispossessing 
 such evil-disposed, disorderly tenants from his estate. 
 
 * See Partry Evictions.
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 THE sorrow and compassion felt for the Byrnes 
 was greater than for all the other tenantry put to 
 gether. Loud were the wail ings and deep the 
 curses when " notice to quit" was served on Anthony 
 Byrne. A day or two before the arrival of "the 
 crow-bar brigade," every species of vehicle, from Mr. 
 De Courcy's carriage to the market-carts of the 
 farmers on the neighboring estates, and jaunting- 
 cars from the towns around, were tendered to Toney 
 Byrne to convey him and his family away before 
 the bailiffs would come. 
 
 His daughter Margaret Donohoe and her husband 
 also came and brought three wagons to convey her 
 parents and brothers, also Winnie and Bryan Demp- 
 sey and their little family, to their home not wish 
 ing Margin to have the satisfaction of putting them 
 out. These testimonies of respect and affection 
 deeply touched the heart of Toney, and made his 
 eyes fill to overflowing ; but he stoutly refused to be 
 treated differently from the other tenants. 
 
 " No, sir ; I humbly thank you from my heart 
 
 9*
 
 202 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 out for your great consideration and wonderful 
 kindness, but I can't accept of it. I am but a sim 
 pie poor man, like the rest, and if I come of the old 
 stock it is only another reason why I should stand 
 by my people. He is but a sorry captain, sir, that 
 abandons his men in the hour of danger, and it 
 would badly become an O 'Byrne to desert the old 
 neighbors." 
 
 Such was the substance of Toney's reply to all ; 
 and this noble unselfishness but made the wail of 
 grief the deeper when he stepped out in the torrents 
 of rain that chill November morning, leaning on the 
 arm of his daughter Margaret the rest of the family 
 following in silence, except poor Mrs. Byrne, whose 
 half-stifled sobs were echoed by the women around. 
 
 When he got a short distance up the hill Toney 
 stopped, determined to watch to the last the destruc 
 tion of his home, but it was not levelled. Margin 
 after fastening the windows and doors, put the key 
 in his pocket. 
 
 A fortnight subsequently it was taken posses 
 sion of by Sandy McGlauren, the Scotch steward. 
 Toney and his family were carried by Margaret 
 and her husband to Coolanish, where they were joy 
 fully welcomed by all the Donohoes and their hon 
 est neighbors, and where they tried to make them-
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAII. 203 
 
 selves useful as possible in their altered sphere. 
 Bryan Dempsey, Winnie, their children, and his 
 blind father and paralyzed grandmother were also 
 evicted in the torrents of rain, and were taken by a 
 cousin of his to his farm some eight miles distant. 
 
 Subsequently Bryan Dempsey rented a small cot 
 tage and garden in the suburbs of Ardmore, and as 
 he had still left a horse, cart, and a couple of cows, 
 he worked about with the neighboring farmers and 
 kept his family pretty comfortable. 
 
 Every one vied in showing kindness to Bryan, for 
 the} 7 all loved and respected him for his affectionate 
 attention to his decrepid relatives, as well as for his 
 cheerful countenance and child-like simplicity of 
 character. Winnie, too, was a great favorite, and 
 was as dutiful and respectful to her father-in-law arid 
 to old granny as Bryan could desire. 
 
 Many of the other tenants opened little shops in 
 the provision line and public houses in the neigh 
 boring towns and villages. Many more emigrated 
 to America, where the yellow fever and the malaria 
 of the swamps, where they worked building rail 
 ways or canals, soon hurried them to the grave. 
 
 Oh ! if the record of each could only be kept, 
 what a tale it would reveal! But I must narrate 
 the events that befell the Byrnes.
 
 204: THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Toney Byrne rented a few acres of land from 
 Tom Donohoe, for he would not live in a state of 
 dependence while able to work, so they got on in 
 peace and virtue, and blessed God for the comforts 
 they enjoyed ; but his heart yearned in spite of him 
 for the hills of Wicklow, which were dear to him as 
 beautiful Grenada to the sorrowing Moor, and for 
 the old homestead in Glengoulah, which was his 
 Alhamhra. 
 
 One night, the first week in January, that same 
 homestead was discovered to be on fire ; and while the 
 Scotchman and his family were trying to extinguish 
 the flames in one place it suddenly broke out with 
 even more violence in another and another. And as 
 the wind was in a frolicsome humor that night, he 
 roared up the broad chimneys and danced along ;he 
 flaming roof, sticking out tongues of flame through the 
 window-frames, and, rolling up the burning thatch, 
 carried off great bundles, letting them spitefully fall 
 in the farm-yard, where the cattle were assembled. 
 He played all sorts of pranks in the hay-loft and sta 
 ble going wild with delight when the terrified 
 horses reared and plunged with extended eye-balls. 
 The neighbors came running from all sides, but 
 whether they got suddenly weak at the prospect, or 
 from whatever cause, they gave but little assistance
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 205 
 
 in saving the house, contenting themselves with car 
 rying out of danger the cattle, farming implements, 
 etc., and in preventing the fire from spreading be 
 yond the premises. The flames ceased not until the 
 home of Toney Byrne, from which the poor and the 
 stranger never turned without receiving comfort, 
 was laid in ashes. The pretty garden and flower 
 beds were trampled under the feet of men and horses, 
 while the beautiful evergreens, the gift of Mr. De 
 Courcy, stood like charred and blackened sentinels 
 presiding over the destruction of the smiling garden 
 they once contributed to adorn. 
 
 His reverend lordship turned up the whites of hia 
 eyes in holy horror at the depravity of the human 
 heart, declaring he made.no doubt it was "that 
 wily Byrne who seA^jiis emissaries to destroy the 
 house he could no longer occupy, and he felt con 
 vinced he was instigated to commit the deed by that 
 old prist, who would, of course, give him absolution 
 for it." 
 
 The real truth was, poor Toney was almost the 
 only one who did not rejoice when the news spread 
 that Byrne's farm-house was burned, and that Sandy 
 had to find another home. 
 
 " Divil's cure to him P'-was the invariable response. 
 " He grudged a dacent man the last foothold he had
 
 206 THE BYBNE3 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 on wliat belonged to all his generations since the 
 time of the Phynasians. He was etarnally stickin' 
 his nose about Byrne's farm, and measurin' the house 
 wid his eye, and he could not speed better bad-luck 
 to all of his sort." 
 
 "Be my conscience, then, boys, ye have no raison 
 to rejoice," cried Lame Jeny, " for if ye knew but 
 all, its just what Sandy wanted. M}"self thinks as 
 the divil tak.es care of his own, his black majesty 
 set fire to it to oblige him. Didn't he tell Perry 
 Deacon, the bailiff, in my own hearin', though he 
 didn't see me, that he liked the farm mighty well, 
 but found the house unconvanient ; the ladies of 
 his family would like a better house." 
 
 " Oh ! then the divil choke his impudence ! The 
 ladies, eneagh ! Ha, ha, ha ! Throughth, its enough 
 to make a dog laugh, let alone a Christian." 
 
 " Well, take it aisey now, avic ! I'll lay my life 
 Lord Biggs (ahem, God bless the mark !) will be 
 soon buildin' him a fine house to compensate him 
 for the wickedness of these house-burnin' Papists ; 
 and ten to one but Margin will be layin' a present 
 ment before the grand jury to levy the expenses off 
 the county as it was the work of an incendiary. 
 Take Jerry O'Hara's word for it, ye'll be made 
 amenable for this crime, and Lord Biggs, Margin
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 207 
 
 and Sandy will pnt their tongues in their cheek. 
 My friends, they're all arcades ambo / but, as ye 
 don't understand Greek, I'll be biddin' ye good 
 morn in'." 
 
 \Ve may well surmise that this state of things, 
 made secret societies flourish where they never took 
 root before. Nightly meetings were held in church 
 yards, ruined buildings, and oftenest on the heap of 
 rubbish which marked the spot of a once happy 
 home. Those societies were unknown in Gleniroulah 
 during the agency of Mr. De Courcy, while they 
 were in full blast in the neighboring mining districts 
 under the management of Margin. 
 
 Now all the evicted tenantry were invited to join 
 them. Many did so, and others refused to have any 
 thing to do with midnight assemblies and secret 
 oaths. Among the latter was Bryan Dempsey, who 
 would never listen to their solicitations. As to To- 
 ney Byrne, they never even dared to name it to him, 
 his religious principles being too well known. 
 
 One night a meeting of this kind was held, and 
 " the Right Reverend Samuel Wilson Biggs, Lord 
 Bishop of Ardihore and Glengoulah by the grace 
 of Act of Parliament, was indicted before Judge 
 Starlight for the wilful murder of the widow Cor- 
 mac, the widow Hynes's child, and Peter, Mary and
 
 20S THE BYRNES OF GLENQOULAH. 
 
 Bridget Flannigan, besides many, many others, too 
 numerous to mention ; also, for depriving Norah 
 Cormacof her reason by brutal treatment in forcing 
 her to attend his proselytizing school, etc., etc." 
 
 Witnesses were called and duly examined, but as 
 these cases are already known to the reader it is un 
 necessary to repeat them here. 
 
 The last witness who gave his testimony was Mi 
 chael Flannigau. He was an old man, with bent 
 form, and hair white as snow. He tottered forward 
 and took from his breast pocket a soiled and torn 
 letter, blotched in many places by the blistering 
 tears dropped upon it. The sight of it sent a shiver 
 through his aged frame, and, as soon as he could 
 speak, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Boys, ye all know my fine, manly boy Peter, 
 turned of three and twenty, and my two putty little 
 girls that couldn't brook to see their mother and me 
 in hardship. When we were put out of the ould 
 place they all emigrated to America, lavin' us for a 
 while on my cousin Jack Flannigan's floor. A good 
 friend he ever proved to me and mine God bless 
 him for it ! We were only one week turned out 
 when they went to America. Read this letter ; they 
 wrote it to the mother and me from Liverpool." 
 
 One of the men stepped forward and read the let-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 209 
 
 ter. It was, as usual with Irish letters, brimful ot 
 the heart, every second line being dear father and 
 mother : " Don't fret for us, dear father and mother ; 
 we are young and strong, thanks be to God for it. 
 We will soon earn a comfortable home for ye both, 
 dear father and mother a home where old Bigga 
 can't get us, and ye'll end your days in pace, plaze 
 God. Keep up your hearts, dear father and mother ; 
 time wont be long passin', we'll soon see one an 
 other again. Pray to God and his Blessed Mother 
 for us we're to sail to-morrow, dear father and 
 mother, in a fine ship called the 'Ocean Spray.' 
 They say she goes a'most as fast as a steamer, and 
 looks grand on the water. God bless yo-u, dear pa 
 rents ; you'll soon hear again, plaze God, from your 
 lovin' children. Till death. 
 
 " PETER, MART, AND BRIDGET FLANNIGAN." 
 After a few moments the old man, whose head 
 was bowed to his knees and covered with his hands 
 while the letter was reading, rose up again and said, 
 in a trembling voice : " My children never seen the 
 American shore : the ship went down in the Irish 
 say, where she came agin a steamer in a fog, and 
 over four hundred emigrants perished.* My heart's 
 treasures were drowned in sight of the very hills 
 
 * A fact.
 
 210 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAFI. 
 
 where they were born and played through many a 
 summer day. 
 
 " I buried their mother in three weeks in Tinma- 
 nogue her heart broke; and now I'm childless, 
 homeless, and well nigh upon seventy years. If 
 they were left in the ould place, and not forced by 
 a tyrant to transport themselves, my children would 
 be alive to-day ; and I now accuse ould Biggs of be 
 ing their murderer." 
 
 " What did he eject you for ? " asked Judge Star 
 light. " Did you pay your rent ? " " Yes, to the 
 farthin' ; here is my last resate." 
 
 " Well, you had no child young enough to go to 
 school. I don't see what excuse he had to put you 
 out." " The bailiff told me he said I was a danger 
 ous character, because I lent Father O'Tool a 
 cart" * 
 
 Curses loud and deep fell from every lip. Flan- 
 nigan resumed : " I know an ould man like me, 
 wid one foot in the grave, ought not to be thin kin' 
 of revenge, but I can't help it. I wander over the 
 ruins of my ould home and think I see before me 
 the fire-side, and my children sittin' round it in 
 comfort still ; then I start up. And when the wind 
 shakes the trees I think I hear them cryin' and 
 
 * See Partry Evictions, 1860
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOCLAH. 211 
 
 strugglin' for life in the dark, deep say ! O God pity 
 and look down upon me ! " Tears streamed from 
 the old man's eyes, and in that rough assembly, 
 where all were ready for deeds of violence per 
 chance some already stained with blood every 
 heart was touched, and many a coarse sleeve was 
 drawn hastily across the eyes. Judge Starlight 
 nrose, summed up the evidence, and called upon the 
 jury to decide upon his guilt or innocence. A ver 
 dict of guilty was rendered in five minutes. Then 
 the judge in a solemn voice pronounced upon him 
 " the sentence of Death ! to be executed at the 
 earliest and best opportunity by some one of the 
 present assembly allotted and sworn for the purpose." 
 Then followed the drawing of lots ; and one being 
 appointed, a terrible oath was put to him that, with 
 out fear or pity, he would execute that sentence zs> 
 directed the first opportunity, he being furnished 
 bv the society with fire-arms for the purpose.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 CHRISTMAS came with a great fall of snow, the 
 greatest that had been seen for a number of years ; 
 but Glengoulah Castle was unusually gay. The 
 lord bishop who ruled there had gone to visit 
 his home in England the previous summer, taking 
 with him her right reverend ladyship and his two 
 sisters. 
 
 They returned in time to enjoy the Christmas fes 
 tivities, and brought with them a large party of 
 fashionable visitors. Among those visitors were two 
 young ladies in the bloom of youth and beauty, 
 nieces of her ladyship. They were the daughters 
 of Sir Harold Menville, ofMenville Hall, Middlesex, 
 and their mother was sister to her reverend ladyship. 
 The elder of those girls, though a very estimable 
 young lady, was a stately beauty, and a good deal 
 more worldly than her sister ; but Clara was a laugh 
 ter-loving, mischievous young brunette, all impulse, 
 and with a heart brimful of merriment and kindly 
 feelings. They were enchanted with the lovely 
 scenery, even though the charming hills were covered
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 2 13 
 
 with snow, and the swollen Ovoca stole darkly and 
 silently along through the leafless groves. There 
 was a dash of romance about their excursions up the 
 mount ains that pleased their fancy, and the pic 
 turesque costume of the peasantry set them into ec- 
 stacies, especially Clara. She loved to go into the 
 farmhouses and cottages and converse with the in 
 mates, especially the children. Soon finding out she 
 was of a different stamp from the Biggs tribe, the 
 women told! her and her sister of the many visits 
 paid them by the Misses Biggs to draw them from 
 their faith. Though very indignant to hear it, both 
 sisters made it a subject of amusement to them dur 
 ing their stay. They first complained to their aunt, 
 hoping she would put a stop to it ; but they found 
 she was a party in the scheme, and, to their great 
 regret, they were forbidden to visit any more in Irish 
 cottages unless accompanied by the Misses Biggs. 
 
 Clara vowed revenge, and never ceased to tanta 
 lize the spinster sisters. She would irreverently sing 
 snatches of hymns through her nose ; quote all the 
 passages she could hunt up in the Bible which con 
 demned women preachers, and recount for their ed 
 ification the number of their aristocratic friends in 
 England who had of late embraced Catholicism, and 
 
 o / 
 
 wish she had courage enough to follow their example,
 
 214: THE BYKNES OB 1 GLENGOULAH. 
 
 as she certainly would before long ; not that she had 
 really ever bothered herself on a subject so serious, 
 but just for mischief. 
 
 The Misses Biggs, though boiling over, were forced 
 to be silent. 
 
 There was to be a grand dinner-party on Christ 
 mas day at the castle, and a great ball on St. 
 Stephen's day. Numbers of guests had been invited 
 some from Dublin for the occasion; and the cas 
 tle shone resplendent from the servants' hall to the 
 battlements, from which the " Union Jack " proudly 
 floated. 
 
 On the night of Christmas eve the English guests 
 were all assembled in the great drawing-room of 
 the castle. Muffed chandeliers shed a flood of mel 
 low light on the silken hangings of pale amber. 
 Carpets of the softest Persian texture, gorgeous 
 mirrors shaded off with French lace, inlaid tables 
 of inestimable value, and luxurious ottomans, made 
 this noble apartment a tit abode for royalty. Splen 
 did fires blazed in the ample grates of polished steel 
 that stood within mantel pieces of the most elabor 
 ate antique carving, each of which was in itself a 
 gem of art. At one of the inlaid tables, in a nook 
 beside the fire, sat his lordship with the Honorable 
 Augustus Kiskdale. Between them was a Chinese
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENQOULAH. 215 
 
 chess-board of exquisite workmanship both were 
 most intent on the game. Dowagers and " men of 
 high degree" played at whist or chatted in groups 
 around the room. A bunch of young beauties were 
 laughing merrily with a troop of young military 
 gentlemen. 
 
 Miss Menville was turning the leaves of a scrap- 
 book, which was gallantly held for her by a youthful 
 officer of artillery. Her sister Clara was seated at 
 a magnificent harp, the strings of which she softly 
 swept with a master touch, often stopping to enjoy 
 a burst of merry laughter at the remarks of a stiff, 
 formal-looking baronet, who was turning the leaves 
 of her music and giving utterance to some sombre 
 love speeches of his own peculiar invention. Here 
 was a picture of life, with all its comforts with all 
 its luxuries. 
 
 Without, a wild storm was raging. The wind 
 roared up the chimneys, crashed furiously against 
 the heavy stone casements, and ran tearing and 
 tumbling along the battlements as if meditating the 
 destruction of the whole building. Then would 
 come a lull of ominous import, as if the elements 
 were mustering their forces for a fresh attack. 
 Hark ! What's that ? A wild gust of snow, sleet, 
 wind, and driving rain, came gushing madly against
 
 216 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 the shutters of the drawing-room, which however 
 were of great strength and securely fastened, but 
 they could not shut out a blinding flash of forked 
 lightning, followed instantaneously by a tremendous 
 crash of thunder which rocked the castle to its foun 
 dations and made the high-born guests turn pale and 
 shiver with fear. His right reverend lordship, who 
 had just captured a "king's bishop " from his oppo 
 nent, covered his face with his trembling hands. 
 
 Another clap and crash on the battlements split 
 the flag-staff through the centre, tore the Union 
 Jack in shreds, and brought down a stack of chim 
 neys in the back part of the building. The ladies 
 gathered in a terrified group around the fire-place 
 near which his lordship sat, excepting the Misses 
 Menville, who quite enjoyed the scene. The mirth- 
 loving Clara fairly danced with glee. " Oh, how 
 grand ! " she cried. " Howl on, old storm ; 1 love 
 your music! Oh, for a ramble up the mountains 
 to-night ! "What say you, Sir William ? " she said 
 to her grim admirer, who sat stiff and pale with 
 fright. 
 
 A rueful smile lighted up the baronet's face. 
 
 " You are full of mirth to-night, Miss Clara." 
 
 " Upon my honor I am perfectly serious, sir baro 
 net." And the young mischief dropped him a stately
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 217 
 
 courtesy. " I command you as a true and faithful 
 knight to follow me. Will you ? or will you not ? " 
 
 Before he had time to fashion a reply, sundry 
 screams and the flight of the ladies to the farthest 
 corner of the drawing-room made both turn. The 
 door had been softly opened, and on its threshold 
 stood a slight girlish form with bare and bleeding 
 feet, dressed in a long white gown, her dark chest 
 nut hair flowed down to her waist, and she was per 
 fectly drenched by the storm. 
 
 Even Clara for a moment shrank back appalled 
 by the apparition. Advancing into the apartment 
 she seemed to take no notice of the company, but 
 smiled and courtesied to the chandeliers one by one. 
 Just then the great bell in the tower chimed foi 
 midnight. All at once she burst forth in a wild 
 sweet voice : 
 
 " God rest ye. merry Christians, 
 
 Upon this blessed morn 
 The Lord of all good Christiana 
 
 Was of a woman bora. 
 Now all your sorrows he doth heal, 
 
 Yonr sins he takes away, 
 For Jesna Christ our Saviour 
 
 Was boru on Christmas Day. 
 
 It was poor Norah Cormac. No one had seen 
 her enter the castle, but she came unheeding the 
 wild elements, and stood face to face with the wretch 
 who had robbed her of home, kindred, and reason
 
 218 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAII. 
 
 He saw her now by the light of the chandeliers and 
 knew her perfectly. His eyes scowled like a demon's, 
 and he cowered over his inlaid table and shaded his 
 wan face with his hands. JN"orah heeded him not 
 she was still smiling, nodding, and conversing with 
 the soft lights shining down on her dripping form. 
 
 Clara was the first to approach her. Being satis 
 fied it was no spirit, she at once surmised her to be 
 some poor idiot, and her heart was touched with 
 pity. Advancing toward her she said : ki What is the 
 matter with you, my poor girl ? You are thoroughly 
 drenched ; wont you have some dry clothes and a 
 good supper ? Norah again sang her favorite hymn, 
 " God rest ye all," etc. 
 
 The ladies were quite horrified when Clara ap 
 proached the unearthly-looking being, who seemed 
 so unconscious of the presence in which she stood. 
 "When they saw, however, how young she was, they 
 began to revive, and her pitiable condition excited 
 their commiseration. Her reverend ladyship rang 
 for the servants, greatly to the relief of her reverend 
 lord, who would have given a goodly sum for the re 
 moval of Norah. The servants gathered around her 
 in a group, and their lady ordered them to take her 
 to the kitchen, and to provide her with dry, warm 
 clothes, and a comfortable supper ; but the order
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 219 
 
 was easier given than executed. Norah would not 
 move a step for all their entreaties ; she had fixed 
 her attention on one particular globe in the chande 
 lier, and kept nodding and speaking rapidly to it in 
 a low tone. 
 
 The bishop feared to speak, but he motioned to 
 the servants to carry her off at once. The burley 
 coachman was selected as the ablest, though he ex 
 hibited the strongest symptoms of disgust at the 
 idea of lifting that dripping form in his fine clothes. 
 " My heyes ! " he exclaimed ; " but ain't she wet 
 though ? my welvet smalls and silken hose will be 
 utterly ruined ! What shall I do ? " Hereupon he 
 heaved a deep sigh and made a despairing grab at 
 Norah. In an instant his powdered wig was flying 
 into the fire, and his eyes blinded by a dash of long 
 wet hair. The unfortunate coachman ran for his 
 life down stairs, upsetting the housemaid in his 
 rapid descent, and causing such fright and consterna 
 tion among the rest of the servants that none of 
 them would enter the room again for anybody's 
 order.
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 OLAKA again approached the maniac girl and said, 
 gently, " My poor child, I wish to be your friend," 
 and she took her cold wet hand in hers; "do come 
 with me to the warm fire, and let me give you dry 
 clothes. Now I know you will come with me," and 
 she tried to draw her gently. Norah was like a 
 lamb in her hands until she moved ; but she then re 
 sisted, and exclaimed : " Oh, no, no ! I could not eat 
 here. I wont have dry clothing ! I will never be 
 warm again ! Oh ! you don't know where I was to 
 night. When the wind was tearing up the trees* 
 and the thunder crashing as if all the heavens were 
 falling, I was sitting calm and quiet on her grave 
 singing ! You did not know her, she's gone to God ; 
 she died this night, and she always makes me sing 
 that hymn." Here she again sang softly " God rest 
 ye," etc. Clara once more tried to draw her away ; 
 but Norah frowned, and again cried : " No, no ! 
 Not for all the world would I sit by his fire ! If I 
 ate a bit it would choke me ! She was my mother ; 
 and she had no one to love but me. I sat on her
 
 THE BYKNKS OF GLKNGOULAH. 221 
 
 grave to-night in Tinmanogue in all the storm, and 
 she bid me come and see him. No one knows how 
 I got into the castle ! Ha, ha, ha ! I wont tell that ; 
 no, no, he'll never know that ! Ha, ha, ha ! It was 
 he sent her to the grave and left me lonely !" And 
 the poor girl looked so woe-begone up in Clara's face 
 that the young lady's eyes filled with tears. " Who 
 left you lonely, my poor girl ?" 
 
 " Biggs ; old Biggs over there !" arid she tossed her 
 head in the direction of the splendid chessboard, 
 whose kings and knights now lay unheeded, for the 
 whole company were listening in breathless silence 
 to the wailings of the young maniac. " He's a bishop 
 now, they say. Ha, ha, ha ! He turned her out on 
 the road as cold and as wet a day as this, and she 
 died from it. She bid rne come and let him put me 
 out again ; and then I'll go home to God. That's 
 what brought me here to-night. He must do it 
 himself ; I'll make him ! Ha, ha, ha ! God rest 
 ye," etc. 
 
 " My poor girl, your fears are groundless ; the 
 bishop would not harm you." She grasped Clara's 
 arm. " Not harm me ? You don't know him. He 
 offered my mother a lease forever of the home owned 
 by the Cormacs for 200 years if she'd sell my soul to 
 the Protestants, but she would not do it for all the
 
 222 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 gold he has, and he put her out in the torrents of 
 rain in her sick bed. Mrs. Dargan took us both to 
 her house for the love of God, but my mother died 
 on Christinas eve." 
 
 " But, my poor child, he would not harm, you." 
 Clara's tears flowed down her cheeks. 
 
 " I will tell you it was me he wanted. Didn't he 
 send Faulkner, the Bible-reader, to bring me along to 
 school ? But he couldn't catch me, though. Ha, ha, 
 ha! He chased me; but he couldn't catch me. Ha, 
 ha, ha ! When I think of it I laugh 'till I cry again. 
 I thought of it sitting on her grave to-night, and I 
 roared out laughing, only the thunder smothered my 
 voice." The laugh of this poor maniac was perfectly 
 appalling, and made the wretched tyrant shiver with 
 terror. 
 
 Norah continued : " Do you know what I did ? 
 That lightning flash did not speed quicker through 
 the black heavens to-night than I flew till I got to 
 the river bank, and in I jumped. It was high water 
 too, and I was swept down, down I don't know any 
 more ; and I never could remember anything since. 
 There was always some confusion here" (putting her 
 hands to her temples), " but it all came back to me 
 to-night the storm brought it all back, and she told 
 me how we were dragged out in the torrents from
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 223 
 
 our home. I took a fancy to dress in white always ; 
 I think it a pretty dress." (And she looked down 
 complacently at, her wet and tattered garment.) 
 " The boys used to call me white lady, some of them ; 
 others called me crazy Norah, and all sorts of names, 
 in fun ; but they never hurt me." Clara caught at 
 the idea. " Well, ISTorah, I have a sweet white dress 
 of my own, wliich I will give you ; come, let us try 
 it on, and see if it will fit." Lord Biggs would have 
 given half his estate to be out of the room, but he 
 feared to stir. Now, however, he took the opportunity 
 of the change in her conversation, and was gliding 
 quietly to the door. In a twinkling Norah was hold 
 ing on to his arm with a death grasp. His teeth ac 
 tually chattered with dread. " Ha, ha, ha ! Old 
 Biggs ! did you think you could escape me f Do 
 you think I crossed the mountains to-night with 
 torn and bleeding feet, in all the wild storm, to let 
 you oif without doing her bidding ? I'd tear you 
 in bits easier than your bull dog tore my dress, if 
 you didn't do her bidding ! " Her eyes gleamed on 
 him with a maniac tire that froze the blood in his 
 veins. " She bid me not leave the castle until you 
 put me out in the torrents, as you did before from 
 our home ; and then you'll see me no more, for God 
 said he'd take me to His home then. Do you hear
 
 224: THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULA.H. 
 
 me, Biggs ? " (And she shook the wretched man with 
 that supernatural strength peculiar to maniacs. 
 
 " Come, come on ! God's messengers are waiting 
 for me, and her bidding must be done." 
 
 He looked imploringly around. A young officer 
 made an adroit movement to pinion her arms be 
 hind, but she blinded him, as she did the burly 
 coachman, by a slap of her long wet hair. 
 
 All drew back in terror. Clara alone seemed to 
 retain her presence of mind. 
 
 "Lead her down, uncle," she said ; "humor her 
 and when she's once outside I will go with her down 
 the steps and coax her around to the kitchen door." 
 
 " Come, come ! " cried Norah, clutching his arm ; 
 '* I can't let you wait." So down he led her to the 
 great hall, followed closely by Clara, who flew into 
 the back hall and secured a couple of cloaks. Her 
 aunt, shaking like one in an ague fit, watched the 
 scene amid her guests from the grand staircase. 
 
 Biggs opened the door, and Norah once more 
 singing out 
 
 " God rest ye, merry Christians," 
 
 walked out into the wild storm. Clara was spring 
 ing after her, but her uncle pushed her back, slam 
 med the door violently, locked it, and then fell 
 fainting to the floor.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 225 
 
 In a moment be was surrounded by bis sympa 
 thizing friends, who raised and supported him to a 
 seat. 
 
 Terrific flashes of lurid lightning and crashing 
 thunder now followed in quick succession. 
 
 " Oh ! God of Heaven ! Think of that poor idiot 
 child out in such a storm ! " cried Clara ; " she will 
 die ! Oh ! let me follow and save her ! " 
 
 She ran to the door ; but the guests interposed, 
 and her aunt, turning upon her a withering look, 
 exclaimed 
 
 " Miss Clara Menville, I order you to your room 
 instantly. You have made a sufficient fool of your 
 self to-night." 
 
 Poor Clara burst into a passion of tears, and 
 Lieutenant Cordell (the same who tried to pinion 
 Norah) approaching, assured her in a low, rapid 
 voice that he would go out and seek the idiot girl. 
 So Clara was forced to retire to her room. 
 
 The young lieutenant was true to his word. Ac 
 companied by a brother officer, and a couple of 
 servants bearing lanterns, they searched the whole 
 demesne and could find no trace of the poor ma 
 niac wanderer. They returned to the castle per 
 fectly drenched. 
 
 Meantime his lordship was conveyed to his bed- 
 
 10*
 
 226 THE BYRNES OF GLKXGOULAH. 
 
 room, where restoratives were administered by his 
 valet. The unhappy man was really sick with ter 
 ror, and shook on his couch of down like one in a 
 palsy. 
 
 Two hours later the wind gradually subsided and 
 died away in hoarse murmurs, and the rain was suc 
 ceeded by a thick fall of drifting snow. 
 
 About four o'clock in the morning every inmate 
 of the castle which was now dark and still was 
 aroused by a low mournful cry. It sounded like 
 nothing they had ever heard before ; half like the 
 howl of a dog, and half like a human shriek low 
 in its tones, yet piercing to the very heart. So dis 
 tinctly was it heard by all that each one fancied it 
 came from some being outside his own window. 
 
 A few minutes silence ensued, and, as they list 
 ened for a repetition, was heard a faint voice sing 
 ing slowly 
 
 " Now all my sorrows He will heal, 
 
 My sins He'll take away, 
 For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, 
 Was born on Christmas day." 
 
 An interval of a few seconds, and the voice again 
 sang slower and fainter 
 
 " Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day!'* 
 
 In vain they listened it was heard no more. 
 
 Clara had lain down, but c >uld not sleep lor
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 227 
 
 thinking of the 'poor maniac, and now she was 
 quite delighted to hear her voice once more. 
 
 Arising, she went to the window, softly opened 
 the shutters, and tried to peer out into the darkness. 
 Pier window looked out upon the Ovoca, and that 
 enchanting valley " where the bright waters meet." 
 
 The dark river, swollen by the late rains, rushed 
 rapidly and silently on ; the winds were all hushed, 
 a peaceful calm rested on the lovely hills, while the 
 enow fell in great soft flakes, arraying them in robes 
 of white on that blessed Christmas morn. 
 
 Clara closed her window very softly, and stole 
 back to bed. Her heart was comforted to think 
 poor Norah had not been lost in that frightful 
 storm ; then her thoughts turned upon the revela 
 tions of the maniac girl, and she writhed with 
 indignation and shame to think any of her con 
 nections should persecute people for worshipping 
 God in the old faith of Christian Europe ; then her 
 thoughts flew back to that very night twelve months 
 ago, when, in the city of London, she accompanied a 
 party of friends of high rank (who had become con- 
 verts)to midnight mass, and heard in one of those 
 beautiful churches erected by Pugin the grand or 
 gan rolling in glorious harmony through the vaulted 
 roof as the choir sang that magnificent hymn that
 
 228 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 fell from the lips of angels through the golden 
 clouds of morn eighteen hundred years ago : 
 
 " Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will I " 
 
 Clara's eyes filled with tears and her heart with a 
 new emotion. She resolved to leave no exertion 
 untried to create a new order of things on her 
 uncle's estate, and to begin by hunting up Norah 
 next day and providing everything for her comfort. 
 The great clock of the castle struck five, and Clara, 
 thinking and resolving, fell gradually off to sleep. 
 She dreamed she was again going to midnight mass 
 in London, but she had no carriage as before ; the 
 snow fell fast as she found herself traversing alone 
 the sedgy banks of the Ovoca, half blinded by the 
 snow and cutting her feet with the briars and stones. 
 After weary travelling she seemed to reach the 
 church, and a bright light shone around. She lis 
 tened entranced to the grand choir singing. Look 
 ing up she could see no organ, no roof but soft 
 clouds of translucent light seemed to open, and a 
 troop of angels, with rapturous adoration, sang : 
 
 " Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will 1 " 
 
 "Watching those celestial forms she was surprised 
 to see that one smiled down upon her who had 
 bleeding feet and a tattered white garment. Gaz 
 ing at the countenance she recognized the features
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 229 
 
 of the young maniac girl, but her face was now ra 
 diant as the sun, and a wreath of glory rested on her 
 long dark hair. Every moment she seemed to grow 
 brighter, and to ascend higher and higher, until the 
 clouds closed beneath her blistered feet and dark 
 ness reigned around. 
 
 Clara, turning upon her side, fell into a deeper 
 sleep, from which she did not awaken until the 
 great bell rang to summon the household to break 
 fast.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Clara's door gently opened, and her maid peeped 
 in. 
 
 " I am awake, Palmer," she said ; " come along." 
 Emma Palmer came in and busied herself about her 
 young lady, but Clara saw she was troubled by some 
 secret which she was dying to relate. Guessing it to 
 be the supernatural cry which had been heard in 
 the night, she good-naturedly resolved to gratify her. 
 " What's the matter, Palmer ?" " Oh, nothing, Miss 
 Clara ; I hops you slept well last night, Miss." 
 
 " Why, Emma child, you must certainly feel sick, 
 for you are pale as a ghost, and drawing great heavy 
 sighs constantly ; are you in any pain ?" 
 
 " Oh, Miss Clara, I am not in any pain ; but I wish 
 we was back again safe in England." 
 
 " What are you afraid of, child ?" 
 
 " Oh, Miss Clara, I feel so nervous ; I shall never 
 enjoy nothing in this country any more. They say the 
 castle is haunted ; we all heard the most dolefulest 
 cries last night after the rain ceased ! I'm sure such 
 Bounds never came from the lips of any human crea-
 
 THE I5YUXES OF GLENGOULAH. 2ol 
 
 ture it was a most awful cry ; then a voice began 
 to sing. Oh, Miss Clara, my heart runs cold I can't 
 tell you what was found on the front steps of the 
 hall door !" 
 
 " Tell me instantly, Palmer ; what do you mean ?' 
 speak ! 
 
 " Oh, Miss Clara, don't be angry with me. "When 
 the stable-boy went to clear the snow off the marble 
 steps this morning he seed a great pile of snow, as he 
 thought, and took his shovel to it, but could not 
 move it. He called the groom ; and what did they 
 find, think you ? Oh, Miss Clara, it was that poor 
 crazy girl, frozen to death !" 
 
 " Oh, God ! Don't tell me she is dead ! " cried 
 Clara, springing to her feet. 
 
 " Miss Clara, I seed her myself," sobbed Palmer ; 
 " she's stone dead." 
 
 " Oh God, have mercy on me ! Oh why did I not 
 fly to her when I heard her singing why, why did 
 I let her perish ? " And Clara wrung her hands and 
 wept bitterly. "Does the bishop know about this, 
 Palmer ? " 
 
 " No, Miss Clara ; the valet said he was so nervous 
 and frightened last night that no one should tell 
 him ; and they sent for a doctor, and the coroner, 
 and the magistrates."
 
 232 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " Who did all this ? " 
 
 " Mr. Margin, the agent ; please you, Miss Clara." 
 
 " Well, the bishop must be told of it ; he has a 
 duty to fulfil. I will go to him instantly, and tell 
 him myself. I do not care for his displeasure." 
 
 Away flew Clara in her dressing-gown. Thomp 
 son, the valet, opened the door at her knock, and told 
 her his lordship was dressing. 
 
 " Well, he wont mind me. I must see him." 
 
 She rushed past Thompson and, unannounced, 
 confronted the bishop, who was sitting at his toilet 
 table. 
 
 " Oh, uncle ! 1 w-aet to tell your lordship some 
 thing most important." 
 
 For a few moments sobs choked her utterance and 
 large tears rolled down her cheeks. 
 
 " Have the goodness to explain yourself, Miss," 
 exclaimed the bishop, in a cold, authoritative voice, 
 which roused Clara's indignation. 
 
 " My lord, the unfortunate maniac girl whom you 
 prevented me from accompanying last night lies 
 frozen to death at your door ! " 
 
 " Well, what if she does ? I did my best to shel 
 ter and save her, but she was wilfully bent on her 
 own destruction. You were a witness to that your 
 self."
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 233 
 
 " No, no I my lord ; she would not accept a shel 
 ter here, but I could have brought her to some other 
 and saved her." 
 
 He pretended not to hear her, and affected com 
 posure. 
 
 "Thompson, send immediately for Mr. Margin, 
 and let him see to all that is necessary." 
 
 *' He has been here an hour ago, my lord, and 
 done all you would wish." 
 
 " I am much obliged to him. Then let the mat 
 ter be mentioned to me no more, unless the coroner 
 should need my testimony." 
 
 His frigid indifference provoked Clara beyond en 
 durance. 
 
 " My lord, my lord ; I fear there has been a foul 
 wrong done somewhere." 
 
 The face of the bishop grew livid with rage, and 
 the old tiger-light flashed from his eyes. 
 
 Thompson withdrew to the outer room, but took 
 care to be in good hearing distance. 
 
 " Did you come here to dictate to me, madam ? 
 I do not forget your conduct last night. Only for 
 your low propensities, I could have had that pauper 
 instantly dismissed from my presence ; but you fos 
 tered and encouraged her idle, malicious tales in the 
 very presence of ray guests. Yes, madam, to in-
 
 231 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 dulge your morbid sensibility, you allowed a driv 
 elling idiot to falsify the character of your own re 
 lation, who is, moreover, an elderly dignitary of the 
 Church, and that in his own house." 
 
 " It is false ! utterly false ! " exclaimed Clara. 
 " When the poor victim first spoke of her wrongs 
 I had no idea who her persecutor was. My lord, 
 ' children and fools speak truth,' and I now believe 
 all she said. I also believe the Almighty would not 
 sufter an innocent sheep to perish at the door of the 
 pastor if he were worthy of the name." 
 
 She walked indignantly from the room and 
 slammed the door after her like a cannon ball. 
 
 Now all his pretended indifference vanished ; he 
 shook convulsively, and clutched at the table for 
 support. Wretched tyrant ! He writhed under the 
 lash of public opinion, for he drank in those bitter 
 words of Clara : " Children and idiots speak truth." 
 Well he knew that old adage had passed through 
 more minds than her's ; he read it in the faces of 
 his guests in the drawing-room last night, all worldly 
 though most of them were. And now Oh ! that 
 dreaded inquest the thought was torture. All his 
 long catalogue of extortions and persecutions would 
 become common topics of conversation, and his as 
 sumed mask of sanctity would be rudely torn away
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGODLAH. 235 
 
 Finding himself unable to support those bitter re 
 flections and yet appear calm, he resolved to remain 
 in his room and play the compassionate pastor, over 
 come by his feelings for one of his lost flock who 
 would not be saved. Accordingly Thompson brought 
 him up a dainty breakfast in a service of silver and 
 gold. 
 
 About noon the coroner arrived, and a dense 
 crowd of people from town and country. It was 
 many a long day since the noble lawn before the 
 castle was filled by so many honest faces and feeling 
 hearts. Among the rest was the venerable Father 
 Esmond in the carriage with Mr. De Courcy. Al 
 though scarce able to breathe, he came with the 
 sympathizing crowd to honor that old branch of the 
 Cormacs. Mrs. Dargan and her son were also there 
 in their jaunting car, with a hearse following behind 
 them containing a handsome coffin and white plumes. 
 
 The report had spread like wildfire that Biggs had 
 pushed the idiot girl out in the storm, and that she 
 lay down on the threshold and died of cold ! 
 
 The coroner, who was an upright man, and anxious 
 to elicit truth, summoned every inmate of the castle 
 to give evidence. 
 
 Lord Biggs made a great show of regret at the 
 obstinacy of the crazy girl, declaring that no father
 
 236 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH". 
 
 could be more anxious for the welfare of his child, 
 but no effort of his or of his household could save 
 her. 
 
 The testimony of her ladyship and the guests and 
 the servants followed ; but the spectators were little 
 inclined to believe any of them until Clara came 
 forward ; and her evidence was given with so much 
 straightforwardness and real feeling that all hearts 
 were inclined in her favor. 
 
 "When requested by Mr. De Courcy to state if she 
 could account for the idiot girl seeming to feel 
 kindly toward her, yet refusing her proffered assist 
 ance, Clara hesitated a im aent, and then said 
 
 "The poor child evir'jntly harbored the impres 
 sion that his lordship .,iad injured her, and nothing 
 could induce her to accept his hospitality, although 
 the bishop was most anxious to have every attention 
 paid her." 
 
 Lieutenant Cordell testified to Miss Menville's 
 desire to accompany the girl, and how she had pro 
 vided cloaks for the purpose, but was prevented by 
 her friends from sacrificing her life on such a ter 
 rific night but that he and Capt. Windham had 
 taken a couple of servants and lanterns and gone 
 over the whole domain without finding a trace of 
 her. The people at the different lodges declared
 
 THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 237 
 
 she did not pass through the gates, so he was satis 
 fied she had hidden away somewhere, and that a 
 further search was useless. He said he had no doubt, 
 like many maniacs, she had had a presentiment of 
 her approaching death, and had taken the resolution 
 of dying at the door of one whom (no doubt) her 
 overwrought imagination had deemed her persecutor. 
 Biggs withdrew immediately after Clara's testimony. 
 A verdict was returned of " Death caused by expos 
 ure to the cold and wet." 
 
 After the verdict was rendered Margin came for 
 ward, and said " it was his lordship's wish to have 
 everything regarding the funeral conducted in the 
 most becoming manner and at his expense." A 
 storm of voices replied, " No, no, never ! "We'll bury 
 her ourselves. "We want none of his money !" 
 Here Mrs. Dargan's son came forward, and said his 
 mother had already provided a coffin and hearse to 
 carry her home ; and at her house all who respected 
 the house of Cormac could see the remains of the 
 young maniac laid out as became a Christian. 
 
 This announcement was received with murmurs of 
 applause cheers were dispensed with out of respect 
 to the departed. The remains were tenderly borne 
 to Mrs. Dargau's, and having been waked for two 
 nights, according to custom, were carried to Tin
 
 238 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 manogue on the shoulders of the neighbors the 
 empty hearse following after and deposited be 
 side those of her father and mother. 
 
 The funeral cortege was the longest seen in that 
 part of the country since the death of Mr. de 
 Courcy's father. 
 
 Glengoulah Castle was shut up and the blinds 
 drawn down. His lordship dispatched messengers 
 postponing the festivities indefinitely, and most of 
 the guests departed for their homes.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE Misses Menville wrote to their father request 
 ing to be taken home. Pending their father's reply 
 the young ladies were scarcely noticed by their aunt 
 and uncle. 
 
 Taking advantage of the liberty thus afforded 
 they frequently drove out in a little pony phaeton, 
 accompanied only by a footman. They one day 
 visited the Presentation convent of Ardmore, and 
 were perfectly delighted with the whole establish 
 ment, especially the schools attached to it, where the 
 beautiful lace fabrics and straw-plaiting, made by 
 the children, excited their wonder and admiration. 
 
 Here was the lie direct given to the oft-repeated 
 tales of the wilful ignorance of the Irish people, and 
 the lamentable darkness in which they were kept by 
 their priests. Both young ladies questioned many 
 of the children on different subjects, and were sur 
 prised at the quick intelligence of their replies, as 
 well as their respectful and polite demeanor. 
 
 They confessed to each other the superiority in 
 this respect of the Irish peasantry over those of their
 
 24:0 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 own country; and could not help contrasting the 
 difference in the mode of education, and the happy 
 looks of the children, with their uncle's false and 
 forced system. 
 
 They drew from the superioress the whole partic 
 ulars of Norah Cormac's birth and education. She 
 seemed at first unwilling to speak harshly of Lord 
 Biggs out of respect to their feelings, but Clara told 
 her what the maniac girl had said about the Bible- 
 reader and their subsequent ejectment from their 
 home, so the superioress then told them the whole 
 truth, and the sorrows and persecutions endured by 
 the whole Catholic population who were under his 
 lordship's dominion. They left a large donation for 
 the schools and returned. 
 
 Clara came once again alone. She said her 
 father had written and would be there next day, so 
 they would be leaving immediately for England. 
 
 " I came to ask a favor of you, Reverend Mother," 
 she said, blushing deeply. " It is to remember me 
 in your prayers. Mother, I am not happy ; my 
 mind is not at rest ; " and her eyes filled with tears, 
 as did those of the good mother. 
 
 " My dear young lady, calm yourself," she re 
 plied ; " I feel assured you are very dear to the sa 
 cred heart of Jesus, and that he has great designs
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAII. 24:1 
 
 on your soul. "We have anticipated your wishes 
 already, dear child, and daily recite a bead for you 
 and your sister, to whose generosity we are so much 
 indebted ; but we will say additional prayers for 
 you especially for the future. And now I want you 
 to confer a small favor on me in return." 
 
 As she spoke she unlocked an escritoire which 
 stood in a recess, and took from one of the compart 
 ments a gold medal of Mary Immaculate. Present 
 ing it to Clara, she said : " Now promise me, dear 
 young lady, to wear this constantly, and daily recite 
 one ' Hail Mary' for light to guide you to the right 
 path." Do not let sneers or frowns deter you from 
 wearing this holy medal, which is blessed in the 
 Catholic Church, remembering the words of Scrip 
 ture ' Every creature of God is good, and nothing 
 to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving, 
 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.' 
 
 " Should any of your friends laugh at you for 
 venerating a bit of metal, remind them how the 
 Israelites were cured of a venomous bite by looking 
 on a piece of metal made in the form of a serpent." 
 
 Clara, sobbing, promised faithfully- to fulfil the 
 request of the nun. 
 
 The superioress embraced her warmly and they 
 parted. 
 
 11
 
 242 THE BYKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 The following year Clara had the happiness to be 
 come acquainted in London with dear Father Faber 
 the very angel of converts and under his spiritual 
 guidance she, with the consent of her father, entered 
 the one sheepfold of the one shepherd ! 
 
 The death of Norah Cormac, under such circum 
 stances, did not serve to increase the popularity of 
 Biggs he became more obnoxious than ever; and, 
 as if to defy public opinion still more, he showed his 
 petty malignity by impounding every cow and pig 
 that grazed along the road belonging to the poor 
 cottiers. It was whispered in circles, too, where his 
 habits were best known, that his applications to the 
 madeira and claret in his cellar were more frequent 
 than appeared seemly for a preacher of the gospel 
 it was so quietly conducted, however, that, but for 
 Mr. Thompson's confidential communications to the 
 housekeeper, this weakness in such a shining pillar 
 of the Church would never be known. 
 
 Some months passed away his lady and sisters 
 were on a visit to some friends in England, and were 
 not expected home until Christmas. 
 
 In the month of November Lord Biggs went to a 
 dinner-party at Colonel Dickson's, whose estate lay 
 contiguous to Glengoulah. 
 
 As he was returning home, about an hour after
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 243 
 
 midnight, a shot was fired at him. He was riding 
 in a small carriage, driven by the brave Jacob, so 
 noted for his slender understandings. 
 
 The carriage had passed through the great gate, 
 and his lordship, expressing a wish to alight, was as 
 sisted from it by the porter at the lodge, and he 
 walked up the avenue. He had ascended the steps 
 and knocked at the hall door, when he heard the re 
 port of the gun and saw a man running. He ran 
 down the steps and tried o overtake the man, but 
 fell in the attempt. On getting up he screamed for 
 help, and then the door was opened and lights 
 brought out, but the intended assassin was beyond 
 their reach. A posse of police were sent for in- 
 stanter, and while one portion were detailed to follow 
 in the direction taken by the man who fired the shot, 
 another portion, acting as a body-guard, accompanied 
 his lordship to a magistrate to make depositions. 
 
 The bishop expressed a wish to make his charges 
 to Mr. De Courcy, for malignant reasons of his own, 
 and they accordingly proceeded to Cascade House. 
 Mr. De Courcy and his household were all in bed, 
 but the servants were soon aroused and showed the 
 party into the library. 
 
 On learning their errand Mr. De Courcy came 
 down in his dressing gown, and bowed coldly and
 
 244 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 formally to his lordship. The bishop addressed him 
 immediately : 
 
 " Sir, one of your immaculate peasantry has at 
 tempted to murder me this night." 
 
 Mr. De Courcy unlocked his escritoire, seated 
 himself, pen in hand, and, calling upon the constab 
 ulary present to act as witnesses, said to the bishop : 
 
 " You wish to make depositions, I presume." 
 
 " It was for that purpose I came here." 
 
 " Haley " (to one of the policemen), " please present 
 that Bible to his lordship. You will please swear 
 to the truth of the statement you are going to make." 
 
 " I can have no hesitation in doing so ; " and he 
 touched the book with his lips. 
 
 He then detailed the circumstances as just related. 
 
 " Do you think from the report was it a pistol, my 
 lord, or a gun, which was fired at you ? " 
 
 " It was a gun." 
 
 " You judge so from the report ? " 
 
 " Not that alone ; I saw the gun in the villain's 
 hand." 
 
 " Oh, you saw him, then ? " 
 
 " Yes ; most distinctly. I saw his countenance 
 fully, and looked at his profile. His face is indelibly 
 fixed on my mind.. There was no moon, but it was 
 dusk, or darkish twilight."
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 245 
 
 " Do you know who he is ? " 
 
 " No ; the scoundrel is a stranger to me." 
 
 " Have you reason to suspect any one, my lord ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir. You well know I have reason to suspect 
 the whole vile crew of my tenantry, any one of whom 
 would gladly take my life ; but this wretch, I pre 
 sume, is a stranger, whom they hired to murder me, 
 being too cowardly to do it themselves. I have no 
 doubt that it is a plot that has been long in contem 
 plation." 
 
 Mr. De Courcy turned upon him a stern look.- 
 " My lord, you must confine yourself to facts. I can 
 not notice your comments. This is not the place for 
 them. Has your lordship any further facts to re 
 late?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 The deposition having been duly read over, wit 
 nessed, and signed, his lordship and guard took their 
 departure. 
 
 As Mr. De Courcy sat at breakfast next morning 
 with his family, he was surprised to see the bishop's 
 carriage stopping at the door, and his lordship and 
 guard alighting from it. He received them in the 
 library as before. 
 
 " I have come, sir, to make a new statement," 
 said Biggs.
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy again opened his escritoire, and 
 prepared to write. 
 
 " I was so confused last night from excitement," 
 proceeded his lordship, " that I could not .recollect 
 who my intended murderer was ; but when alone in 
 the silence of my chamber since I recalled his fea 
 tures, and remembered him to be a man whom I 
 ejected from my land some few years ago. He has 
 been prowling about this neighborhood ever since, 
 as a laborer. His name is Dempsey Bryan Demp- 
 Bey." 
 
 Mr. De Courcy fixed a scrutinizing look upon the 
 bishop as he uttered these words, and demanded 
 
 " My lord, have you been drinking strong liquors 
 since I took your deposition ? " 
 
 " Certainly not." 
 
 " Do you remember you swore point blank, in the 
 presence of witnesses, that you had a perfect view 
 of the man's face, that his countenance was indeli 
 bly fixed on your mind, and that he was a stranger 
 to you ? " 
 
 " Yes ; but I recalled his features since." 
 
 " And you would now swear that what you swore 
 a few hours ago was untrue? " 
 
 " I tell you I recollected his features since." 
 
 Mr. De Courcy closed his escritoire.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULAII. 247 
 
 " My lord bishop, I must remind you I am a mag 
 istrate, and not accustomed to allow any man to 
 treat me with indignity." 
 
 " Then yon refuse to take my deposition ? " 
 
 "Most decidedly. You must go elsewhere with 
 your trifling ; it will receive no toleration from me." 
 
 He departed, foaming with rage, and betook him 
 self to Margin, in whom he found a willing tool.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 IT was two o'clock in the cottage of Bryan Demp- 
 eey. He and Winnie, with their three youngest 
 children, had just sat down to dinner the two 
 older ones were at school in Tinmanogue with Mr. 
 Rafferty. 
 
 One little girl of four years sat beside her father, 
 who peeled her potatoes and divided Ins attentions 
 between her and a blooming little fellow of two 
 years, who sat opposite, beside his mother. Winnie 
 held the baby a fine infant of five months on her 
 lap, and fed it and herself together. 
 
 Winnie still looked very young and pretty, and 
 was always neat and tidy in her person and house. 
 Their little cottage contained but two rooms. The 
 inner one, which you caught, a glimpse of through 
 the half-open door, contained a good old-fashioned 
 bed, with curtains of dark chintz and fringed pillow 
 slip. Beside it was a kneeling-chair, or Prie Dieu, 
 of painted wood. Those were the gifts of her 
 mother to Winnie on her marriage. 
 
 Over this chair, suspended on the wall, hunjj
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 249 
 
 several little framed pictures around a large-sized 
 one of the Crucifixion, which formed a centre-piece. 
 Our Blessed Lady repairing a child's garment, St. 
 Joseph planing a board, and the Divine Infant be 
 tween both, crumbling with his tiny lingers a piece 
 of bread among a group of little chickens, formed 
 the subject of one of the small pictures rudely ex 
 ecuted, but exquisitely touching in design. Another 
 was the infant St. John carrying a lamb bigger 
 than himself. A third was St. Patrick, dressed in 
 full pontificals, standing in a commanding attitude 
 with his finger pointing to the ocean, while a whole 
 crowd of snakes, toads, and serpents, bounded or 
 crawled as quickly as they could into the foaming 
 waves, apparently very glad to escape from his for 
 midable-looking crozier. A fourth was St. Bridget, 
 wrapt in meditation before her inextinguishable fire 
 in the " Holy Fane of Kildare." 
 
 A font of white delf hung close to the bed's head 
 containing holy water, and a rosary hanging upon 
 it completed the spiritual ornaments. The re 
 mainder of the furniture was humble but comforta 
 ble. 
 
 In the outer room or kitchen the ample fire-place 
 had its usual pile of blazing turf. 
 
 Before this fire Bryan and Winnie were now eat- 
 
 11*
 
 25 > THE BYRNES OF GLENG^ULAU. 
 
 ing their mid-day meal, as it is called, though it was 
 two o'clock, the hour when all the laboring people 
 take their dinner. 
 
 Opposite the front door of the cottage was another 
 door leading to the little garden and potatoe- 
 patch. A. short partition protruded a little from 
 this door, which hid from observation a settle bed 
 that came down at night and accommodated the lit 
 tle boys with a sleeping apartment, and folded up 
 in the day under a curtain effectually concealing it. 
 The whole wall at this side was covered by a dresser, 
 the pride of Winnie's heart, and the admiration of 
 all who saw it. Here burnished tin, copper, delft, 
 and china, contended for mastery. Each shelf was 
 a study, and the coup cPoeil a mass of brilliancy per 
 fectly dazzling to look upon. 
 
 lu a nook near by was an alarm clock, which kept 
 time to perfection, and two shelves containing their 
 limited library. 
 
 A table white as snow stood under the window, 
 and chairs white as the table were disposed around 
 the apartment. 
 
 Over the fire-place was a portrait of a burly look 
 ing gentleman with a massive head, good humored 
 face, and twinkling eye, dressed in a coat of bright 
 green while a scroll in his hand labeled " Repeal"
 
 TH 1C P.YKXKH OF GLKNGOULAH. 251 
 
 told plainly as possible that it was the portrait of 
 the renowned Daniel O'Connell, Esq.,M. P. Beside 
 this picture was another of a lady dressed in the 
 height of fashion sitting before a looking-glass, giv 
 ing, as we may suppose, the last finishing touch to 
 her complexion, when she discovers, reflected in the 
 looking-glass, the figure of a great gaunt skeleton 
 close beside her, leaning on a scythe of very ex 
 tensive dimensions. Without further ceremony he 
 informs her she has to go with him. while she, not 
 at all relishing the invitation, remonstrates in most 
 moving language, to which he replies in terms more 
 convincing than entertaining. The dialogue being 
 printed underneath was a source of great edification 
 to Bryan's visitors, who considered it a neat and 
 instructive composition. 
 
 The outside of the cottage was literally covered 
 with woodbine and Siberian honeysuckles, wherein 
 Winnie displayed her early taste ; and among the 
 vines hung three cages, containing a lark, a gold 
 finch, and a thrush, whose combined voices kept the 
 neighborhood in melodious strains " from early morn 
 till set of sun." 
 
 Winnie herself often helped the feathered song 
 sters. 
 
 When washing or scouring off her tables
 
 252 1HE BYKNES OF GLENGODLAH. 
 
 chairs she would rattle off " The Rakes of Kildare,'' 
 " Kitty's Rambles," or some other equally lively 
 air ; or she would sing for the baby as a lullaby that 
 beautiful old melody, " I'm asleep and don't awaken 
 me," till the birds sat thoughtfully o . their perches 
 and listened. .It was a pleasant little home, though 
 not a rich one, for peace and virtue dwelt beneath 
 its roof. 
 
 " Ah, then, Bryan," said Winnie, " did you think 
 of asking Mrs. Keigan how she felt the rheumatics 
 this year ?" 
 
 " 'Deed, then, it never once crost my mind." 
 
 " Oh, shame on you, Bryan ; and you two nights 
 under the same roof with Jier ! How in the world 
 did you forget it ?" 
 
 " Well, I didn't hear her complainin' ; and then, I 
 didn't think of it. Anyway she was as spry as any 
 of us, around the fire every night, singin' songs and 
 tellin' ghost stories we did not go to bed era night 
 till past ten o'clock." 
 
 " Is that the work you were at ? Indeed I heard 
 some of John Keigan's ghost adventures before now 
 and laughed till I cried again he's the devil all out, 
 at invention. Did he tell you about the night him- 
 self and Pat Rourke met the big buck goat down 
 by Kitturnen church-yui d ?"
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOTJLAH. 253 
 
 " Did he ? Ha, ha, ha, ha ! Sure I thought my 
 sides would split. Pershume to you, for one John 
 every time I think of it I have to go off. Ha, ha, ha, 
 ha ! The laugh was contagious, for Winnie threw 
 back her head in a kink, while the baby kicked and 
 crowed, and the other little ones laughed uproar 
 iously. 
 
 "Winnie wiped her eyes in her apron and was just 
 resuming her dinner when a shadow crossed the 
 open door and a constable entered the cottage. 
 
 Alas for poor Winnie and her little ones ! That 
 shadow was the most woeful that ever fell upon 
 their lives. Long did the memory of that heartfelt 
 laugh of poor Bryan's ring through the pleasant cot 
 tage, now dark forevermore that laugh, so indica 
 tive of a peaceful conscience, for truly does the poet 
 sing: 
 
 " I never heard a hearty laugh 
 Come out a villain's throat." 
 
 At sight of the constable Winnie turned pale as 
 death. She had never seen one, since their eviction 
 from their farm, without an inward ejaculation ; and 
 now again the baneful shadow stood within their 
 home and all strength left her. 
 
 Bryan, though he had as little love foi the genus 
 as Winnie, was too mindful of his hospitable 
 duties, and possessed too much of that inborn refine-
 
 254 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 inent so remarkable in all Irishmen from the hum 
 blest peasant in his cot to the lord in his palace to 
 appear embarrassed, nor did he feel so in reality, for 
 his soul was guiltless. 
 
 " God save you, honest man ! " he cried cheerfully ; 
 " wont you sit and take share of our meal ? It 
 is not much, but it's the best we have, and you're 
 kindly welcome to it." 
 
 " Thank you, no ! Does Bryan Dempsey live 
 here?" 
 
 " Bedad he does, sure enough ; that's my name, 
 sir." 
 
 " You will have to come with me to Mr. Margin's 
 office." 
 
 "Mr. Margin's office? I think there must be 
 some mistake. I have no dealings with Mr. Margin, 
 nor hadn't for years." 
 
 " Didn't you hear the news, Mr. Dempsey ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I heard no news." 
 
 " The lord bishop of Glengoulah was shot at last 
 night." 
 
 "Good God! was he though? And is he killed ?" 
 
 "No. He had a narrow escape of death." 
 
 " Thank God ! I'm glad the unlucky old sinner 
 wasn't killed in his sins." 
 
 The constable eyed him narrowly.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 255 
 
 " They think you know something about it, Demp- 
 sey." 
 
 " Me, sir? Oh, bedad ; you're jokin' now in earnest. 
 If he wasn't to die till I'd shoot him, he'd be a 
 long-lived man ; and don't they know who done it ? " 
 
 " I can't tell yet ; but I was ordered to bring you 
 to Margin's office. If you feel you are innocent, you 
 can't object to come with me." 
 
 " Oh, sorra an objection I have. I wasn't even at 
 home since last Tuesday. I was eight miles from 
 here at a cousin's of my own, diggin' their potatoes. 
 I'm only in town since nine o'clock this mornin', 
 God be praised ! " 
 
 " Well, my good man, you can state all this on 
 your examination ; it is useless to tell me." It is 
 evident the constable was prepossessed in favor of 
 the man from his transparent honesty. Bryan arose 
 and took his hat. Winnie had not uttered a word 
 since the constable came in, but sat with lips apart 
 and dilated eye-balls, catching every word that fell 
 from him. Now, that she saw her loved husband 
 about to depart with him, an undefined sense 
 of harm to come took possession of her mind, 
 and restored to her a momentary strength. She 
 started wildly from her seat, hurriedly laid her baby 
 in its cradle, and clasping him frantically in her
 
 256 THE BYK-NE3 OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 arms, exclaimed : " Brvan ! Brvan, asthore : machree 1 
 
 * / 
 
 Don't go near them. Don't you know that villainous 
 Biggs thirsts for my father's blood ? and seeiu' him 
 beyond his reach, he will murder him through you! 
 Darlin' of my heart, he will never let you out of his 
 clutches, and your poor Winnie will see you no 
 more! Oh, God pity me! Bryan, don't go near 
 them blood-hounds ; they're on your track ! I see it 
 all before me ; your innocence wont save you with 
 them they don't care for guilt or innocence ; they 
 want the poor man's blood, and little trouble they'll 
 take to find out the truth so as they have the victim 1 " 
 
 " Winnie, my poor colleen ! " said Bryan, tenderly. 
 " Don't let your fears make you spake so foolish. 
 Don't you know there's law in the land ? and it's 
 against common sense to think they can swear 
 away my life, when I have plenty to prove I was 
 eight miles from the place where they say the crime 
 was committed! Nonsense, Winnie ! have sense. 
 I'll be home wid you to-night, or to-morrow at 
 furthest, please God." 
 
 " Oh Bryan, my own true husband ! " and Winnie 
 wept convulsively on his breast. The children all 
 commenced screaming as they saw their mother cry. 
 
 Poor Bryan went from one to another, embraced 
 Ihem hastily, and hurried away with the constable.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 MANY of the neighbors had gathered in when 
 they heard the cries and saw Bryan Dempsey in the 
 company of a constable. Curses, heavy and deep, 
 were unsparingly bestowed upon "Biggs, and the 
 whole crew of murdherin' thieves." The shadow 
 of a doubt of Bryan's innocence never crossed the 
 mind of one individual; he had not an enemy on 
 earth but the wretches in whose presence he was 
 about to stand, nor did even they hate him person 
 ally ; he was but a tool used for the maintenance of 
 the sordid landed interest. When he arrived at 
 Margin's a posse of policemen were waiting to con 
 vey him to the castle, in the hall of which were 
 assembled some country people and several magis 
 trates. Margin, taking Dempsey by the shoulder, 
 placed him among about twenty country people, 
 and then proceeded with the farce of an examina 
 tion. 
 
 " Now, my lord, cast your eyes over yondei 
 crowd and see if you can recognize your intended 
 murderer."
 
 258 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 " Yes ; I see him there among the crowd. It is 
 Bryan Dempsey. He is the man who knocked me 
 down with a horse-pistol. I now recognize him 
 fully; he repeated the blow five or six times. I 
 struggled with him, and knocked him down once." 
 
 A warrant was issued immediately for the arrest 
 and imprisonment of Bryan Dempsey in Ardmore 
 jail. Before night people of wealth and position 
 offered any amount of bail for the temporary release 
 of Bryan until the day of trial, but no bail would be 
 taken. 
 
 It would be vain to attempt describing the an 
 guish of poor Winnie, although she was surrounded 
 by that sympathizing charity so abundant in the 
 Irish heart for those in misfortune. One of the 
 neighbors had started oif for her parents and soon 
 she had her loved family about her, but their very 
 presence seemed to make her miss him more. She 
 would start every moment, thinking she heard his 
 step, or the sound of his voice, and going to the door 
 would strain her eyes wildly down the Ardmore 
 road, and return moaning bitterly, exclaiming, " Oh, 
 no ! no ! My heart's life, you'll never come that road 
 again ! " To reason with her was vain. She said 
 her heart told her the face of Bryan Dempsey would 
 never more be seen alive in their little home.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 259 
 
 Father Esmond, now bent by age and iriinniities, 
 was confined to his bed by a severe attack of asthma. 
 When he heard of the arrest of Bryan Dempsey foi 
 such a crime he immediately sent Father O'Tool 
 to offer every consolation in his power to his afflicted 
 children. He had known both from childhood, 
 and well knew the} 7 would not injure the humblest 
 of God's creatures. Perhaps, of all the tenantry 
 evicted four years ago from the Glengoulah estates, 
 the one who murmured least was poor Bryan not 
 that he suffered less than others, for he had an old 
 grandmother who was over ninety years, and was 
 bed-ridden for five years before ; and he had a father 
 who was stone blind, not to speak of his young wife 
 and three children, to all of whom he was devotedly 
 attached but his nature was of that cheery, hope 
 ful character which always looks at the bright side 
 of the picture, and his song was ever of " the good 
 time coining." Even now in his prison cell, though 
 he chafed over it when alone, he ever spoke cheer 
 fully to his friends, especially to "Winnie, telling her 
 pleasantly she was a little goose to be making a 
 sprinkling-pot of her eyes, for he would be soon at 
 home with her, rocking the cradle, and smoking in 
 the chimney corner. He did really believe so him 
 self ; and how could he think otherwise ?
 
 200 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 He was arrested on the 19th of November, and 
 remained in prison until the following January, when 
 a special commission \vas appointed to try the case. 
 For the benefit of those who are unacquainted witli 
 the customs relating to the trial of prisoners in Ire- 
 laud, I may as well state that there are two general 
 assizes held throughout the country one in spring 
 and one in summer at each of which two judges 
 preside, one to try civil and the other criminal cases. 
 All minor offenders are disposed of at the quarter 
 sessions held in each county town. If, however, the 
 crime be of a very aggravated character, and the 
 country in such a state of disturbance as to alarm 
 the peaceably disposed, the loyal gentry convene a 
 meeting and petition the chief governor, or lord 
 lieutenant, as he is called, to order a special com 
 mission to be held, in order to strike terror into the 
 evil doers. This is a very expensive proceeding, and, 
 as the tax for its payment is levied off the county, it 
 is always a very unpopular one, and only resorted to 
 in cases of the most urgent necessity. The present 
 case was deemed one of that nature. The person of 
 a dignitary of the Church by law established had 
 been murderously assailed, and the inviolability of 
 the whole landlord class had been struck at through 
 him. Such a state of things was not to be borne.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULA.H. 261 
 
 A great meeting of the landed interest was held at 
 Ardmore, and a deputation sent to Dublin Castle, 
 praying his excellency to appoint a special commis 
 sion to try By ran Dempsey, as it was essential to 
 strike terror into all evil disposed tenants. Accord 
 ingly the commission was appointed, to be opened 
 on Tuesday, January 20th, 1846.* 
 
 The court opened at eleven o'clock A. M., when the 
 chief justice of common pleas and the chief baron of 
 the exchequer took their seats on the bench. The 
 town was crowded from, an early hour by people 
 from all parts of the surrounding counties, who were 
 most anxious about the result of the proceedings. 
 
 An immense number of constabulary were col 
 lected in the town, both horse and foot. Notwith 
 standing the declaration of the landlords that the 
 country was plunged in agrarian outrages, the only 
 case of any importance on the calendar was that of 
 firing at the Right Reverend Bishop Biggs, of Glen- 
 goulah Castle. 
 
 A large number of Catholic clergy of the sur 
 rounding districts were present during the trial. 
 The court was thronged from an early hour by the 
 gentry of the county. A vast number in fact all 
 
 * See the account of Bryan Seery's trial, January 20th, 1846 (' for an at 
 tempt to murder Sir Fras>. Hopkins, Bart."), by special commission held 
 at Mullingar, County Meath, Ireland.
 
 262 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 the jurors of the county were summoned, and a very 
 full attendance of both grand and petit jurors was 
 the result. 
 
 When the writ of commission was read by the 
 clerk of the crown the long jury panel was called, 
 and a number of gentlemen sworn in on the grand 
 jury. The chief justice of common pleas then 
 charged them. He said : " Gentlemen of the grand 
 jury, I very much regret that the state of this 
 county has been such for the last five months as to 
 render it expedient for you to assemble at this unu 
 sual period, and within a few weeks of your being 
 impanelled at the approaching assizes. On looking, 
 however, at the official return of the outrages that 
 have been perpetrated since the last assizes, I am 
 not surprised that those who naturally feel the deep 
 est interest in the welfare of this county should 
 endeavor speedily to put an end to this state of 
 things, and by a prompt administration of the law 
 to overawe the disturbers of the public peace, and 
 to afford security and protection to the unoffending 
 and industrious, and to restore tranquillity and order. 
 Gentlemen, it is not my intention to enlarge on the 
 disastrous consequences which would result from 
 permitting your county to remain any longer in the 
 Btate in which it unhappily has been for some
 
 THE BYBNES OF GLENGOULAH. 263 
 
 months past. I purposely and studiously abstain 
 from doing so, because I am anxious to avoid advert 
 ing to any topic calculated to inflame or disturb 
 that calmness with which it is so desirable that all 
 who take part in the administration of the criminal 
 law should approach the discharge of their solemn 
 duties. Gentlemen, from the experience I have so 
 frequently had of the manner in which you discharge 
 your duties as grand jurors, I feel that you do not 
 require any explanation or instruction from the 
 court. I have the fullest reliance on the intelligence 
 and intention with which you will proceed in the 
 examination of the different charges which will be 
 brought before you. You will not, I am satisfied, 
 suifer any indignation at the outrages that have been 
 committed, to excite a prejudice m. your minds 
 when you are weighing the evidence against each 
 individual accused ; and, however those who have 
 been engaged in the offences which we deplore may 
 have insulted and violated the laws, I hope we shall 
 let them see that those laws will be administered on 
 the present occasion not more for the detection and 
 punishment of the guilty than for the protection and 
 safety of the innocent, or even those with respect to 
 whose guilt there can exist a rational doubt. With 
 these few observations I shall dismiss vou for the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 consideration of the business which is prepared to 
 be laid before you." 
 
 The grand jury then retired. Bills were sent be 
 fore them, and immediately " a true bill " was found 
 against Dempsey for shooting at Bishop Biggs. 
 Dempsey was then placed at the bar. The indictment 
 contained twelve counts. After twenty challenges 
 on the part of the prisoner a jury was sworn. 
 
 The clerk of the crown, having read over an ab 
 stract of the usual indictment, asked the usual ques 
 tion. The prisoner in a firm voice pleaded " not 
 guilty." The long jury panel was then called over, 
 and eighty-four gentlemen answered to their names. 
 A jury was selected frem them, four of whom were 
 magistrates.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 BRYAN DEMPSEY was indicted in the usual form : 
 " For that he, on the 18th day of November, not 
 having the fear of God before his eyes, aided by 
 some person unknown, unlawfully and maliciously 
 did cut and wound the Right Rev. Samuel Wilson 
 Biggs, Lord Bishop of Glengoulah and Ardmore, 
 with the intent to kill and murder him," etc. The 
 attorney-general then arose a.nd said : " It appeared 
 to him to be a case where all the witnesses should be 
 removed from the court." 
 
 Chief Baron " Very well ; let all the witnesses 
 withdraw ; if they remain they will be fined." 
 
 The witnesses accordingly retired. 
 
 The attorney-general proceeded to state the case. 
 He said : " From the abstract of the indictment 
 which they (the jury) had heard read, they would be 
 able to understand the general nature of the offence 
 with which the prisoner at the bar, Bryan Dempsey, 
 stood charged before them. It was one of many 
 cases which unfortunately had occurred in the county 
 in a short perio 1, and which disgraced it. From the 
 
 12
 
 266 THE BYENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 nature and number of these offences it was deemed 
 expedient to call the county together on this very 
 extraordinary occasion, with a hope that by a 
 prompt and effective administration of the law 
 the progress of such crimes might be arrested. It 
 was thought necessary to issue a special commission, 
 in order to investigate the case now before them a 
 case in which the evidence appeared to him to be of 
 so clear and satisfactory a nature as to warrant an 
 expectation that the perpetrators of the offence would 
 be brought to speedy justice. The present case was 
 of that class for most, and the crown did, not call on 
 the jury for a verdict unless the evidence was of that 
 nature to render it clear. He was sure the jury 
 would give the matter their fullest consideration, and 
 unless the evidence for the crown was much shaken 
 with regard to truth, they would find a verdict of 
 guilty. Of course, if they had any reasonable doubt 
 of the guilt of the prisoner, they would give it to him, 
 and find a verdict of not guilty." He then pro 
 ceeded to call the witnesses. The first witness 
 called was the Lord Bishop Biggs, who was exam 
 ined by Sergeant Poker. 
 
 " I live at Glengoulah Castle, in this county, four 
 miles from Ardmore. I recoilect the 18th of Novem 
 ber last, and went out to dinner at 7 o'clock in a
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 267 
 
 small carriage driven by an English servant. I 
 dined at Colonel Dickson's, and left it at 25 minutes 
 past 12 o'clock. I suppose there were about twenty 
 persons at the party. I was perfectly sober. There 
 was no moon, but it was dusk or darkish twilight. 
 I got out of the carriage in the avenue, and walked 
 up to the hall door. I then walked up the steps, rang 
 the bell, and when turning around heard a shot and 
 saw the smoke. I saw a man, who ran. I followed 
 him, and in the distance of about thirty yards came 
 up with him. There is a bank there, and I fell ; 
 the man fell also. I got up, saw him with a gun, 
 seized it, and then throttled him. I saw his counte 
 nance full, and looked at his profile. The man's face 
 is indelibly imprinted on my mind. I took hold of 
 him, looked over my shoulder, aud saw a second 
 man. I let go the lirst, and the second presented a 
 pistol at me. He pulled the trigger, but fortunately 
 it did not go off. I knocked him down with my 
 left hand, and struggled with him. The second man 
 knocked me down, and repeated the blow five or six 
 times. The blow was with a horse-pistol. I cried 
 out ' Help.' The hall door was opened ; and when a, 
 light was brought, the man ran away. I saw the 
 man the next day, and BJC him now in the dock it 
 is Dempsey. I know him for eight years. He was
 
 268 THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULAH. 
 
 a tenant of mine, and was evicted about font years 
 ago. He was a peaceable tenant. When I dis 
 possessed him I promised to get him another farm 
 and pay a year's rent for it. He never said he was 
 dissatisfied. When I seized him he had no hat on 
 the hat he used to wear had a peculiar cut, and 
 any one would know it. I saw it at Glengoulah 
 next morning it is the same he used to wear be 
 fore. I saw a coat next morning it was the pris 
 oner's. I got five wounds in the head, and Dr. 
 Ferguson attended me in an hour. I took means 
 next morning to have the party arrested." 
 
 Court " Did you communicate the name to any 
 one?" 
 
 Prisoner's counsel objected, but the court allowed 
 the question to be put, and witness replied : 
 
 " I described the person, and in consequence the 
 prisoner was arrested (identified the hat and coat). 
 That is like the hat the prisoner always wore when 
 I saw him." 
 
 Counsel " You swore two informations next morn- 
 ing?" 
 
 " Yes. Can't say I mentioned about the hat." 
 
 Counsel handed the witness one of the informa 
 tions and told him to read it, which he did, and 
 uaid : " There is nothing about a hat in this."
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 269 
 
 " Read the second information." 
 
 " There is nothing about a hat in this either. I 
 swore the second information after I remembered it 
 was Bryan Dempsey who had fired at me. I know 
 him for years, and saw him t'he following afternoon, 
 about five o'clock, at Glengoulah, when he was 
 brought into the hall. There were several magis 
 trates there, and several country people also. There 
 was only one man among them that I recognized. 
 They put Dempsey among the country people. 
 Don't know what magistrate did that. Thomas Sel 
 ling, my butler, gave me the hat. I don't know if 
 he is in town at present. The sergeant of police 
 showed me the coat. I think I saw it in his hands 
 first the following day at five o'clock. The butler 
 gave me the hat in the morning. I did not see the 
 coat until five o'clock. Don't know what the ser 
 geant has sworn to now, if he has sworn at all. I 
 have heard that he did swear an information. I 
 have no means of knowing the fact. I don't know 
 if he is to be a witness here. I don't know if Con 
 stable Dougherty has sworn an information. I nev 
 er heard his name before. Never heard there was 
 a joint information sworn by the constables. Did 
 not speak to the sergeant about the hat. Sergeant 
 heard me say I knew the coat. Dempsey was my
 
 270 THE BYKNES OF GLENGODLAH. 
 
 tenant, and surrendered his farm peaceably. We 
 parted apparent!}' good friends. I don't know where 
 the coat is. It was twenty minutes to one when I 
 came home on the night in question. I had no rea 
 son to complain of the prisoner's character or con 
 duct while my tenant. If he had had capital, I 
 would have continued him. I never heard any 
 complaint against him." 
 
 Three servants of Lord Biggs were examined to 
 prove the finding of the hat and coat near the scene 
 of the attack. Two policemen and Sandy McGlau- 
 ren swore positively the hat belonged to Dempsey. 
 
 Mr. Clements, Q. 0., then addressed the jury on 
 behalf of the prisoner. He dwelt much on the quiet, 
 peaceable character given of him by the landlord 
 himself, who declared he never appeared dissatisfied, 
 nor grumbled at his being ejected, all which .tended 
 to prove he could have no motive for perpetrating 
 the crime laid to his charge. He said the whole 
 case rested on the evidence of identification given 
 by his lordship, who had an opportunity of seeing 
 the person only in the dark and dead hour of night, 
 after coming from a party. The bishop swore an 
 information next morning, but the name of the 
 prisoner he never mentioned (he here read the in 
 formation). Would they credit an humble peasant
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 271 
 
 who would swear such an information ? The pris 
 oner was a tenant of the bishop, and did he in his 
 information ever state that Dempsey was the man 
 who tired at him ? Ilis lordship had made a mis 
 take ; and he (Mr. Clements) was prepared to prove 
 it. With reference to the evidence given by the 
 policeman, it was painful to witness the exhibition 
 made there that day. It' human lives *were to de 
 pend on such evidence as that given by them no 
 man in society would be safe. They never had the 
 hat in their hands and only saw it once, but when 
 or where they could not tell ; and yet the jury were 
 called on to take away the life of the prisoner at the 
 bar on the proof of identity of a peasant's hat ! God 
 forbid people's lives should depend on such evidence, 
 or that a jury could be found to convict a man of 
 capital felony on such swearing ! It was even six 
 days after the prisoner was arrested that the informa 
 tions were sworn by the policemen and land-steward 
 about the hat. He would ask them, as honest, con 
 scientious men, could they find a verdict against the 
 prisoner. He would now proceed to give proofs 
 which would save the prisoner's life, without even 
 the shadow of a doubt as to his guilt. He would 
 account for the prisoner on that night by persons of 
 respectability, and beyond doubt. The evidence
 
 272 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 that would be given was, that the prisoner, after 
 leaving his farm, took potato ground from his uncle, 
 a man named Keigan, and a most respectable fanner. 
 On the Monday before the outrage the prisoner went 
 to dig his potatoes, and was asleep eight miles away 
 from Glengoulah at the time the bishop was attacked. 
 He would now prove his case. 
 
 Bridget Keigan swore that on the night of the 
 attack Dempsey slept at "her house. She saw him 
 at ten o'clock on the Monday night, and after lock 
 ing the doors went to bed. On getting up next 
 morning she found them still locked as she left them 
 The prisoner came down stairs with her son some 
 time after. He slept there on Tuesday night also. 
 Glengoulah is eight miles from where Mrs. Keigan 
 lives. Mary and Catharine Keigan, daughters of 
 the last witness, corroborated her statement in every 
 particular. 
 
 John Keigan examined : Remembers the time 
 Bishop Biggs was fired at, and when the prisoner 
 was arrested. Gave the same account of the tran 
 sactions mentioned by the other witnesses. He 
 said the prisoner slept with him on Monday night 
 and on Tuesday night. The witness got up on 
 Tuesday morning at daylight, and the prisoner got 
 up also.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGuUL.YU. 273 
 
 Mr. Gordon " On your oath, from the time you 
 went to bed on Monday night, until you got up, did 
 Bryan Dempsey leave the room ? " 
 
 " He did not leave the room that night, nor could 
 not without my knowing if. I was never at Glen- 
 goulah Castle, but I know where it is. It is eight 
 miles from my father's ; and a person going there 
 must either*go that distance, or fly across the lake." 
 
 Some other witnesses were examined, but their 
 evidence was totally void of public interest.* 
 
 * This account of the trial is taken verbatim from the Dublin Nation 
 newspaper of January, 1846, and February. 
 
 12*
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE Reverend Father Esmond, though gasping 
 with asthma, and leaning for support upon the arm 
 of Mr. De Courcy, arose and gave a very high char 
 acter to the prisoner, having known him from child 
 hood. He said : " His filial piety to a blind father 
 and a paralyzed grandmother were the admiration 
 of all who knew him. When a mere stripling he 
 was deprived by death of a mother's care, and yet 
 lie seemed to cling with all the more tenderness, and 
 a gentleness almost feminine, to the infirm beings 
 whom Heaven had left dependent on his youthful 
 care. For many years he was seen, by hundreds 
 now listening, every Sunday at the chapel of Tin- 
 manogue, lifting his helpless parents from the car in 
 which he brought them, and tenderly supporting 
 them to the seat provided for them near the altar. 
 This attention he never slackened, even when he 
 became a husband and a father, or when evicted 
 from his farm and placed in altered circumstances 
 never until he laid them respectfully to rest among 
 their kindred dead. I have watched him too in
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. Si 75 
 
 the relation of husband, father, neighbor, friend 
 in all he has been the true man ; upright, honest, 
 brave, high-principled. At the time when he was 
 evicted from his farm, when the fire was quenched 
 from his hearth, and his helpless parents carried out 
 in torrents of rain, almost on the eve of Christmas 
 I was an eye-witness of it all the only tongue that 
 uttered no unkind word was that of Bryan Demp- 
 sey. He actually endeavored to turn their misfor 
 tunes into a subject of merriment, trying to infuse a 
 spirit of cheerfulness and hope into the hearts he 
 loved a spirit which I well knew he did not him 
 self feel ; but Bryan Dempsey was a stranger to self 
 he lived only in those he loved. Had I a hundred 
 lives, I would stake all this moment on the inno 
 cence of Bryan Dempsey. He never lifted a hand 
 to injure any man ; nay, I verily believe he never 
 harbored an injurious thought of his greatest enemy. 
 This virtuous man, gentlemen, is a very humble one 
 in the eyes of the world, but very dear to the heart 
 of his Heavenly Father. See you touch not a hair 
 of his head !" The venerable old man became so ex 
 cited during his brief speech that his eyes flashed 
 and his face glowed, while tears streamed down his 
 aged cheeks. At the conclusion of his speech sobs 
 and cries attested the deep feeling which touched
 
 276 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 every heart. Even the very wretches who thirsted 
 for the blood of this virtuous peasant remained si 
 lent for some time for very shame. The gallant 
 prisoner, who bore himself so bravely all through, 
 was so overcome by the noble testimony borne by 
 his venerable friend and spiritual father that he 
 leaned over the dock and sobbed like an infant. Mr. 
 De Courcy then arose, remarking " that it would 
 be superfluous to add another word to the testimony 
 of Father Esmond regarding the prisoner's character, 
 in every sentence of which he concurred, having 
 known Dempsey since he was a baby in his mother's 
 arms." This closed the defence. 
 
 Sergeant Babbett then proceeded to reply on the 
 part of the crown. His observations were confined to 
 the evidence. 
 
 At nine o'clock the chief baron proceeded to sum 
 up the evidence, which he did by reading the testi 
 mony given by the witnesses, and offering a few 
 brief observations as he went along. The jury then 
 retired. 
 
 At half-past ten they came out and said there was 
 little probability of their agreeing, and asked for a 
 tire and their coats. 
 
 Bailiffs were then sworn, and the court adjourned 
 to eight o'clock in the morning.
 
 TIIK BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 277 
 
 Oh ! what a night of anguish for that virtuous 
 family the alternate feelings of hope and despair 
 which scorched their souls ! None thought of sleep, 
 and many of the neighbors came to watch with 
 them. The chief baron said if the jury agreed be 
 fore twelve o'clock he would come and receive the 
 verdict. At eight o'clock on Wednesday morning 
 his lordship sent to know if the jury had agreed, 
 but was answered in the negative. It may be re 
 marked here that the jury panel contained the 
 names of every gentleman who had signed the requisi 
 tion for the issuing of this commission. 
 
 At ten o'clock on Wednesday the chief justice 
 of the common pleas and the chief baron took 
 their seats on the bench, when the jury were called 
 into court. 
 
 Chief Baron " Well, gentlemen, have you agreed 
 to your verdict ? " 
 
 Foreman " No, my lord ; we have not." 
 
 " Is there any likelihood of your agreeing ? " 
 
 " Not the least, my lord." 
 
 " Under these circumstances, gentlemen, you must 
 again retire to your room. There is no alternative ; 
 we have no discretion in the matter." 
 
 " My lord, there is not the least use in our retir 
 ing again, as there is no possibility of our ever agree-
 
 278 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ing. There are ten of us one way, and two another ; 
 so, my lord, you may be good enough to discharge 
 us, for agree we never will on this case. We are now 
 twenty-four hours locked up in our room, with only 
 some water for refreshment, and a very indiffer 
 ent fire, and some of us in very poor health indeed. 
 Our room is more like a dungeon than anything else. 
 If we are confined any longer it may seriously en 
 danger our lives." 
 
 " It is indeed a great hardship, gentlemen, and we 
 feel very much for your situation ; but we have not 
 the power, gentlemen, under the circumstances, to 
 act otherwise. You must again return to your room." 
 
 " My lord, if there was the most remote probabili 
 ty of our agreeing we would not make this applica 
 tion ; besides, we are likely to be starved to death 
 if we are kept any longer confined.'" 
 
 " It is a great hardship, no doubt, and I assure 
 you we feel for your situation ; but we can do noth 
 ing. You must again retire, gentlemen." 
 
 Chief Justice " We feel conscious of the situa 
 tion you are in, and feel very much for your position. 
 Perhaps, if you look over your notes, you may come 
 to some conclusion ; and if you require any assist 
 ance, the learned chief baron who tried the case will 
 render you every assistance."
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 279 
 
 After a short discussion the jury slowly retired, 
 protesting they would be starved. The court or 
 dered a good fire to be put in the jury-room, which 
 being done the jury were again locked up. 
 
 At half-past eight o'clock p. M. the jury, not hav 
 ing agreed to a verdict, were discharged, after hav 
 ing been locked up thirty-six hours. The attorney- 
 general immediately announced that he would again 
 put the prisoner on his trial on the Thursday follow 
 ing. This announcement caused the utmost excite 
 ment throughout the town ; and the friends of the 
 prisoner, who were very numerous and respectable, 
 and even the prisoner's counsel, were taken by sur 
 prise, as they did not anticipate (notwithstanding 
 their declaration of readiness) a second trial of the 
 prisoner at that commission. 
 
 It was quite clear from the time the jury retired, 
 that they would not agree, and the announcement 
 made by the foreman, that there were ten for convic 
 tion and two not, was canvassed very freely as a 
 most extraordinary intimation, and most certainly 
 influenced the prosecutors to bring on the trial again. 
 They determined, no doubt, to mend their hand next 
 time in the selection of a willing jury, and thus se 
 cure a conviction. The general impression was that 
 the prisoner would ha /e been held over until the
 
 280 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAFI. 
 
 Spring Assizes, when the excitement then existing 
 on the subject would have ceased ; but it was no part 
 of the landlord plan to let reflection take the place of 
 passion : a landlord was fired at, and some one mu-st 
 suffer for such a daring crime be he guilty or in 
 nocent it did not matter a pin's point. Assuredly 
 no one could be so mad as to suppose the life of a 
 peasant, however guiltless, could be compared to the 
 atrocious attempt to take the life of Samuel "W. 
 Biggs, Lord Bishop of Glengoulah, with its castle 
 and its broad acres ! The counsel on both sides 
 were in attendance at the sitting of the court. The 
 building was thronged to excess, and the town 
 was tilled with country people to ascertain the result 
 of poor Dem psey's trial. The prisoner's counsel ap 
 plied for a postponement of the case to the Assizes, 
 but were refused. The most barefaced anxiety was 
 expressed for a conviction, and all prudence thrown 
 aside, so much so that the prisoner's most earnest 
 friends gave up all hope of justice. From the 
 judges on the bench to the constables at the doors, 
 all thirsted for the blood of this innocent man. The 
 judge's charge, respecting the outrages so very fre 
 quent in the country, was not only magnified but 
 misrepresented. On Thursday, January 31st, Bry 
 an Dempsey was tried a second time. After hearing
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 281 
 
 a repetition of the evidence adduced on the first trial, 
 and deliberating from eight o'clock to miunight, a 
 verdict of guilty was returned by a packed jury. 
 
 Those present in court that night will never for 
 get the scene to their dying hour. Rain fell in tor 
 rents, but the packed streets bore testimony to the 
 intense anxiety of the people. The silence of the 
 grave fell upon all inside as the foreman, pale and 
 with trembling tongue, uttered the foul falsehood. 
 The very lights seemed to flicker and blink with 
 shame when the chief baron arose and expressed his 
 concurrence with the verdict of the jury. Then put 
 ting on his black cap and gloves he sentenced Bryan 
 Dempsey to be hanged on a day hereafter to be 
 named ! The heroic prisoner received the sentence 
 with the greatest self-posaession and nerve. Bishop 
 Biggs, arising hastily, grasped the arm of the Mar 
 quis of Jastfield, and entered into an earnest conver 
 sation with the judges. The bishop seemed terribly 
 excited. Soon the crowd began to sway from side 
 to side, and whispers were passed from one to an 
 other, a rush was made for the doors, and it required 
 the strongest efforts of the police and military, who 
 were there in great force, to keep anything like 
 order. Large groups of people, with each an im 
 promptu spokesman or two among them, were dis-
 
 282 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 cussing some matter which seemed to cause conflict 
 ing feelings of hope and despair. 
 
 Soon the news spread like wildfire through the town 
 that a man bearing the worst description of charac 
 ter a successful evader of the law, and altogether a 
 desperate ruffian had been seen running from the 
 Judges to Mr. Margin's office, and from Margin's to 
 the priest's, declaring before God that he was the man 
 who fired at Bishop Biggs. He begged the judges, 
 for the love of God, not to hang an innocent man, 
 for that Dempsey had no hand or part in the act, nor 
 did he ever belong to Captain Starlight's company. 
 
 When questioned why he allowed an innocent 
 man to be tried for so foul a crime, he stated " he 
 never dreamed for a moment that any jury could 
 find Dempsey guilty, but if they caught him he 
 would be sure to be condemned. He declared he 
 would have finished the bishop (and was very sorry 
 he did not) but that his lordship was so drunk when 
 knocking at the hall door that he staggered from 
 the knocker to the bell at the side of the door, and 
 he, firing in the interval of the slip, the ball destined 
 for his lordship's body lodged in the door. He en 
 treated they would try him then,, and said he was 
 willing to die to save a just man not in expiation 
 of such an act as shooting at Biggs that he consid-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 283 
 
 ered was no crime, but a virtue to rid the world of 
 such a double-dyed villain a serpent that sucked 
 the life- blood of the poor." 
 
 "Will it be believed : the whole prosecuting crew 
 judges and landlords -affected to believe him crazy, 
 and recommended he should be sent to the lunatic 
 asylum and have his head shorn ! Mr. De Courcy 
 took this man's sworn depositions before two reliable 
 witnesses. He then drew up the draft of a petition 
 to the lord lieutenant, and lost not a moment in 
 getting it numerously and most respectably signed. 
 In fact every man of known worth and integrity 
 was happy to sign such a memorial even one of 
 the jurors signed it. Of course the wretched bigots 
 and persecuting landlords, with a few of those time- 
 servers, plentiful in every country, who fancy it 
 looks fashionable to be opposed to poor people, 
 held aloof, or yet worse, declared against the inno 
 cent man. Be not surprised, dear reader ! they were 
 the Pontius Pilates of this little episode. Such exist 
 in every state of society, and in every country under 
 the sun. Alas ! for human respect. The fear of 
 being "cut" by some little upstart Caesar of the 
 day shuts their souls to every noble sentiment, and 
 extinguishes every spark of principle, without which 
 man is unworthy of the name !
 
 CHAPTEK XXV. 
 
 SOON those legal murderers heard of the petition 
 and immediately took counsel together, and appoint 
 ing a deputation started them to Dublin. The 
 viceroy was already closeted with a deputation of a 
 very different character. Some half dozen gentle 
 men of high character and position, and bearing 
 historic names, came to seek the god-like preroga 
 tive of mercy at the hands of the representative of 
 the sovereign. Among them was the " observed of 
 all observers," the Rev. Father Esmond, now on the 
 verge of one hundred years, emaciated and droop 
 ing, laboring to breathe, and so weak as to be sus 
 tained by the arms of Mr. De Courcy and Sir 
 Lawrence O'Donnell, of Park Castle. His snow- 
 white hair flowed down his shoulders, and nothing 
 could be more affecting than the noble appeal made 
 by the venerable father on behalf of Bryan Demp- 
 sey. The tire of his eloquence seemed to arrest for 
 the time the disease under which he labored. His 
 language flowed with tie force and rapidity of a 
 mountain torrent, tearing to shreds the vile efforts
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 285 
 
 resorted to for obtaining a conviction of guilt; the 
 vindictive motives which impelled Bishop Biggs ; the 
 heart-rending scenes of the eviction ; the wondrous 
 patience of the people ; the firm conviction in every 
 mind of Dempsey's innocence, even before the real 
 murderer had appeared. He then dwelt on the un 
 blemished character, high principles and sterling 
 worth of this poor peasant whose life hung upon the 
 decision of his excellency, and who awaited his fate 
 with the heroism of a martyr. He wound up by 
 Baying : 
 
 " My lord, I beseech you hear my words ! The 
 voice now sounding in your excellency's ear is as a 
 voice from the grave. This is my last appeal to 
 mortal ear ; in a few days more I shall be numbered 
 among the dead. Soothe the dying hours of an old 
 man who has spent nearly a century on earth, and 
 God's blessing will rest upon you forever ! " 
 
 The viceroy listened to him with the deepest at 
 tention, never taking his eyes from the venerable 
 form. It is said he was visibly affected by the ap 
 peal, but yet he gave no decisive answer, merely 
 stating he would consider the petition and give an 
 early reply. " I would beg to remind your excel 
 lency," exclaimed Mr. De Courcy, " there are but a 
 few days left ; the 13th is named for the execution "
 
 286 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 The viceroy bowed, and the deputation left actu 
 ated by conflicting feelings. Some had strong hopes 
 of a pardon ; others hoped and feared alternately. 
 Father Esmond alone felt sure of a refusal. 
 
 " Deceive not yourselves, my dear friends," said 
 he ; " he has to die ; I feel it, and his old priest has to 
 pass him through that ordeal. Well, my God ; your 
 will be done ! I know it. I have that last effort to 
 make for my poor child ; and then, O Lord ! let Thy 
 servant depart in peace ! " Shortly after the friends 
 of justice had departed the landlord deputation were 
 ushered into the presence of the viceroy, whose 
 prejudices they worked upon for their own selfish 
 ends, declaring they could not live in the country 
 if Dempsey were pardoned. 
 
 " It is necessary," said they, " that an example 
 should be made, in order to preserve the future tran 
 quillity and loyalty of the country ; for, if the agita 
 tors can now obtain a triumph, they will burst into 
 open rebellion against her majesty and her liege 
 subjects ! " or, in other words, they said : " It is ex- 
 pedient that one should die for the people. If you 
 miss this man you are no friend of Csesar." 
 
 Could any language be more alike ? 
 
 The viceroy promised an immediate investigation 
 of the case and dismissed them.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 287 
 
 On the next day Father Esmond received an offi 
 cial communication from his excellency's secretary, 
 regretting he could not comply with the prayer of 
 the petitioners regarding the pardon of the prisoner 
 Dempsey. 
 
 All were more or less disappointed, excepting two 
 Father Esmond and Winnie. 
 
 Despair seized on poor Winnie from the moment 
 her eye lighted on the constable as he stood in the 
 doorway of her happy home, throwing a shadow 
 across the cottage floor, and a deeper and more last 
 ing one across her heart. Frequently adverting to 
 that day, she would say to her father : 
 
 " Oh, father ! I wish you saw us that day ; we were 
 so happy. He threw himself back in the chair, and 
 we both laughed from our hearts out. It was our 
 last on earth. The poor little ones all began laugh 
 ing too, even to the baby, who kicked and crowed. 
 That set her father in a kink ; w r hen it seemed as if 
 the sun went out of a sudden. And, och ! och ! it did 
 go out sure enough, and will never rise again for me. 
 Oh, father ! father ! how can I live and think of my 
 brave Bryan dyin' on a gallows ? And how can I 
 look my poor orphans in the face ? Oh, God ! have 
 mercy on my soul ! " 
 
 Her father looking at her, compassion and ro
 
 288 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAII. 
 
 proach mingled in his gentle features, would ex 
 claim : " Oh, Winnie,, my lannah bawn ! what's that 
 you're sayin' ? I know you did not think of yourself, 
 or you would not talk as if it was any disgrace to 
 die a martyr for Him who died as a criminal for us 
 upon a tree. Don't you know well, Winnie, if Bry 
 an was not the heart's blood of a good Catholic he 
 need have no fears of judge or jury ? Do you think 
 if he was an Orangeman, or such a Catholic as could 
 be brought over like some we know they would 
 touch a hair of his head ? ISTo, child ; he would be 
 working his own farm still, and living in the house 
 where he and his generations before him were born. 
 But God forbid child of mine was ever the wife of 
 an unprincipled man. I always loved Bryan Demp- 
 sey ; and a proud man I am this night to think that 
 they could neither buy him with their wealth nor 
 terrify him with their threats. If they hang him he 
 will die a martyr ; but they may not be so bad as 
 you think, after all, Winnie. Don't be givin' way 
 to such black thoughts; God is good." 
 
 " Oh, father ! don't try to raise my hopes; I know 
 \\ eli he has no mercy to expect from them. I know 
 he will die a true and brave martyr. Oh, God ! for 
 give me for repinin'. Father O'Tool was telling 
 me and Bryan yesterday in the jail how they used
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 289 
 
 to hunt priests in the time of Queen Elizabeth ; and 
 how, when they'd catch them, they'd half hang 
 them, then tear their hearts out and they still alive, 
 and cut them up in quarters. It made my heart 
 sick. Father! how can human beings be so cruel ? 
 Sure, that's worse than the brutes." 
 
 " Brutes, child ! I wouldn't name them the same 
 day with brutes. When human beings lose the 
 grace of God they sink below the beasts of the field. 
 Yes, indeed, Winnie, we must belong either to God 
 or the devil ; if God abandons us to our own pas 
 sions, sure we're blacker than any devil. The cross 
 of Chri t 1 e ab'uit us! " and Winnie and her father 
 crossed themselves reverently. The 13th was named 
 for the execution. I will not harrow my readers by 
 describing the parting scene between Winnie and the 
 husband she so devotedly loved, and their five little 
 children. Not a tear came from Winnie, for her 
 grief was past tears. She fainted many times, and 
 was at last carried away insensible, amidst the cries 
 of her little ones, by her afflicted relatives. Father 
 Esmond and Father O'Tool entered the cell soon 
 after Winnie left, and found poor Bryan prostrate 
 on the floor, little more than half alive. This was 
 the evening of the 12th ; and before the jail was 
 closed for the night a declaration was drawn up and 
 13 '
 
 290 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 witnessed by these two reverend gentlemen, two 
 magistrates of the county, the deputy overnor of 
 the jail, and one of Dempsey's legal advisers. The 
 following is a verbatim copy of the document : 
 " County of Wicklow, to wit : 
 
 " I, Bryan Dempsey, now a prisoner in Ardmore 
 jail, and to be on to-morrow executed, do most sol 
 emnly and sincerely declare in the presence of that 
 God before whom I must shortly appear for judg 
 ment, that I never tired at the Right Reverend 
 Bishop Biggs, that I never committed any act tending 
 to injure him in person or property, that I never 
 was cognizant of or party to any conspiracy or plot 
 to shoot or injure the said Right Reverend Bishop 
 Biggs ; and that I am not guilty, directly or in 
 directly, of the crime for which I am to be hanged. 
 
 " Witnessed on this 12th day of February, 184-6, 
 by the undersigned." 
 
 Here followed the signatures. 
 
 Father O'Tool remained all night in the cell of 
 the martyr, praying with him when awake, and for 
 him while he slept. At length the fatal morning 
 dawned. When poor Bryan awoke from his last 
 living sleep his heart died within him, and the room 
 seemed to swim around. Wildly he thought of his 
 loved home and its dear inmates, and his heart
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 yearned to see them once again ; but a mournful 
 voice seemed to sound in bis ears " Never more, 
 Bryan Dempsey ! never more ! To-day you die a 
 felon's death for murder ! " Stretching out his hands, 
 he cried aloud, "Oh, God! it is only a frightful 
 dream ; it cannot be ! " 
 
 Father O'Tool was beside him instantly. " My 
 poor Bryan, have courage ! " 
 
 " Oh ! father dear. Oh ! father asthore, machree ! 
 Sure I never hurted any man in my life ; it can't be 
 they will hang an innocent man ! " 
 
 Father O'Tool silently presented him with the 
 crucifix. He eagerly grasped it, and pressed to his 
 lips the representation of the bleeding feet. Sink 
 ing upon his knees, he exclaimed: " Oh, blessed 
 Jesus ! you died on a felon tree for love of me ; and 
 why should I refuse to die for love of you ! For 
 give the murmuriugs of my weak heart, and give me 
 strength that I may die with the fortitude becoming 
 a Christian. Oh, merciful Lord ! receive my soul 
 into life everlasting." 
 
 Father Esmond arrived early and administered to 
 him the Most Adorable Sacrament for the last time, 
 as he had also done his first Communion. He 
 prayed with him long and tenderly, and told him 
 many anecdotes of the wonderful graces and lights
 
 292 THE BYRNES OF GLKNGOULAH. 
 
 bestowed bj the Almighty upon those who are con 
 demned to death unjustly. Soon as the clock struck 
 twelve they recited the "Angelus" together, and 
 then Father Esmond said : " Bryan, ray child ! your 
 hour of glory is come ! " He answered, in a firm 
 voice : " I am ready. I follow Christ. I declare I 
 am an innocent man ! " He then moved after the 
 governor of the prison to the fatal drop, answering, 
 while Father O'Tool repeated the litany of Jesus: 
 " Lord, have mercy on me ! Christ, have mercy on 
 me ! " "When he came in front of the jail, the pale, 
 haggard face and mournful eyes of him so full of 
 life, and once so gay, smote every heart, and a cry of 
 anguish burst from the few spectators present. 
 Bryan held the crucifix in his hand and exclaimed, 
 in a clear deep voice, which fell upon the heart in 
 tones not to be disbelieved or doubted : " I declare 
 before my God, that I had neither act, hand, part, 
 nor knowledge of the crime for which I am going 
 to die here ! " 
 
 The consummation had not yet come : the victim 
 was kept waiting for his doom for an hour afterward. 
 It was reported that Sir Gideon Chapman, the com 
 mander of the garrison, was expecting a reprieve by 
 the one o'clock Dublin train for a man who was sen 
 tenced to die at twelve! These lying and cruel
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 293 
 
 reports, however, did not move the people to a 
 belief that the overseers'of the tragedy were sincere ; 
 they only made them more despised. One man 
 asked of another in the street if the prisoner had 
 fainted, or was the execution postponed ? " No," 
 was the reply. " He is too strong in his innocence, 
 and they want to keep him on and off for a wldle to 
 see if he'll die like a dog." 
 
 Poor Father Esmond, gasping for breath and 
 shivering in every limb that cold gloomy day, >till 
 stood with the prisoner's hand clasped in his. 
 
 " Oh ! father, asthore ! your reverence is killing 
 yourself for me-; and what are a thousand lives like 
 mine to yours ? Oh ! father, 'honey ! you're almost 
 dead ; won't you go to the fire and sit down ?" 
 
 " No, my poor child ; I thank you most kindly. 
 But you surely do not want to part with your old 
 spiritual father ?" 
 
 " Part ? Oh, would to God I could have you with 
 me before the judgment-seat ; you would plead for 
 my poor soul to the God of mercies." 
 
 " No, Bryan ; you will be alone there ; but you 
 will stand before your Heavenly Father, who loves 
 you more than I could ever do. I too shall In; 
 there very, very soon after you ; we shall not i-o 
 parted long. I feel it here. In a !e\v days we sliali
 
 294 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 meet again, and then then, Bryan, ' eye hath not 
 seen, ear hath not heard, nor hath it entered into 
 the heart of man to conceive the joys our Heavenly 
 Father has waiting for us !' " the eyes of the ven 
 erable saint were fixed on the sky. " Do you not 
 already hear the rushing of the angelic hosts around 
 the throne of our King and our God? Already the 
 far-off strains of celestial harmony strike upon my 
 ear!" 
 
 Bryan fell upon his knees. " Father, give me 
 your last blessing and absolution. I would not ex 
 change this death for the wealth and power of the 
 whole world." 
 
 Father Esmond laid his hand upon his head, and 
 ere the last words died upon his lips the officials 
 came to conduct him to the fatal drop. Both priests 
 warmly clasped his hands; and Father Esmond, 
 raising aloft the crucifix, exclaimed (as Abbe Edge- 
 worth did, in similar words, to Louis XVI.) " Mar 
 tyred victim of tyranny ! go and be tried before a 
 just tribunal ! " 
 
 The old man fainted and was borne away as the 
 drop fell. 
 
 All this time not a sound could be heard in the 
 streets, not a footstep broke the awful stillness ; and, 
 except the clergy in attendance, the law officials, the
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLEKGOULAH. 295 
 
 reporters, and the military, who in large force sur 
 rounded the prison and stopped up every approach 
 to it, not a human eye was bent to see this example 
 of the law's vindication. All business was sus 
 pended; nearly all the shops in Ardmore Protes 
 tants as well as Catholics were closed. Traders, 
 who had come from Dublin to attend the butter and 
 wool market, usually largely supplied on Fridays, 
 were disappointed to find not a single pound offered 
 for sale, and the market as deserted as a wilderness. 
 Deep grief was in every home, and it seemed as if 
 the destroying angel had passed over the town its 
 streets deserted, its look so vacant and death-like. 
 Once in a while a neighbor would pass from one 
 house to another, and in the clenched hands and 
 teeth and passion-dark faces there were signs of 
 a spirit which unjust sentences could not allay. For 
 an hour or two anxious, peering faces and tearful 
 eyes were thrust out watching in the direction of the 
 jail. 
 
 About four o'clock, as the shades of evening were 
 beginning to fall, about twenty men passed through 
 the principal street in the direction of Bryan Demp- 
 sey's home. They kept as much as possible the 
 military step and walked two deep in solemn 
 silence. The four foremost bore on their shoulders
 
 296 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 a bier, on which was a handsome coffin of black 
 velvet, with a silver cross and silver handles. This 
 was provided by Mr. De Courcy. In it were laid 
 the mortal remains of poor Bryan Dempsey. Loud 
 were the wailings and deep the anguish when the 
 mournful cavalcade reached the cottage. When it 
 was set down and the lid raised, Winnie was brought 
 by her father to look upon the body of her young 
 husband. They first all knelt down and joined in 
 prayer for the repose of his soul, and s rength for 
 the bereaved widow. She then approached, shud 
 dering ; but, to the astonishment of fill present, her 
 countenance brightened as she gazed upon him. He 
 was dressed in the brown habit of the scapular, and 
 on his breast, in letters formed of white satin ribbon, 
 were the initials, I. H. S. His hands were clasped 
 together, as if in prayer, and held a small wreath 
 of palm-leaves thj emblem of martyrdom. The 
 hair was brushed back off his forehead, which was 
 white as alabaster, and the handsome, manly fea 
 tures were ca m an i tV.ir as marble. Not a feature 
 was distorted a smile even seemed to linger on the 
 lips. Winnie gazed long in mute admiration. She 
 thought she had never seen anything so beautiful 
 At length, in a low voice, she said : " Father, who 
 did all this for him?"
 
 TUB BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 297 
 
 *' Two ladies, asthore Mrs. De Courcy, and Miss 
 Clara Menville, the young lady that you mind was 
 so kind to Norah Cormac. May God bless them 
 both for it ! " 
 
 The young widow looked in her father's face and 
 then at her dead husband two or three times ; then, 
 uttering a wild cry, she burst into tears. They were 
 the first she had wept since Bryan's arrest. The 
 pent-up fountains seemed closed to all her sorrows ; 
 but this touching tribute to his innocence and 
 worth broke the spell, and tears like the rain fell 
 upon the lifeless remains of him she loved so well 
 blessed tears, which relieved her overcharged heart 
 of its burden of woe, and rejoiced her parents to 
 see.
 
 296 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 a bier, on which was a handsome coffin of black 
 velvet, with a silver cross and silver handles. This 
 was provided by Mr. De Courcy. In it were laid 
 the mortal remains of poor Bryan Dempsey. Loud 
 were the wailings and deep the anguish when the 
 mournful cavalcade reached the cottage. When it 
 was set down and the lid raised, Winnie was brought 
 by her father to look upon the body of her young 
 husband. They first all knelt down and joined in 
 prayer for the repose of his soul, and s rength for 
 the bereaved widow. She then approached, shud 
 dering ; but, to the astonishment of ;ill present, her 
 countenance brightened as she gazed upon him. He 
 was dressed in the brown habit of the scapular, and 
 on his breast, in letters formed of white satin ribbon, 
 were the initials, 1. H. S. His hands were clasped 
 together, as if in prayer, and held a small wreath 
 of palm-leaves thj tmblem of martyrdom. The 
 hair was brushed back off his forehead, which was 
 white as alabaster, and the handsome, manly fea 
 tures were ca m an i fair as marble. Not a feature 
 was distorted a smile even seemed to linger on the 
 lips. Winnie gazed long in mute admiration. She 
 thought she had never seen anything so beautiful 
 At length, in a low voice, she said : " Father, who 
 did all this for him?"
 
 TUB BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 297 
 
 *' Two ladies, asthore Mrs. De Courcy, and Miss 
 Clara Menville, the young lady that you mind was 
 so kind to Norah Cormac. May God bless them 
 both for it ! " 
 
 The young widow looked in her father's face and 
 then at her dead husband two or three times ; then, 
 uttering a wild cry, she burst into tears. They were 
 the first she had wept since Bryan's arrest. The 
 pent-up fountains seemed closed to all her sorrows ; 
 but this touching tribute to his innocence and 
 worth broke the spell, and tears like the rain fell 
 upon the lifeless remains of him she loved so well 
 blessed tears, which relieved her overcharged heart 
 of its burden of woe, and rejoiced her parents to 
 see.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 CLARA MENVILLE had received an account from 
 the superioress of the convent of the progress of 
 the trial. She besought Clara to write, and try to 
 influence her uncle in causing the liberation of this 
 just man, that his blood might not be at his door. 
 Poor Clara was in anguish of mind. She knew a 
 letter would be unavailing ; but if she could only 
 reach Glengoulah she would throw herself on her 
 knees and kiss his feet, and wash them with her 
 tears but, oh ! how was she to reach Ireland ? Her 
 father was spending the winter in Rome, and she 
 and her sister were staying at Toppleton Hall, Che 
 shire, the seat of Viscount Toppleton, a nephew of 
 her father, whose lady, though an excellent woman 
 in her way, was a rigid upholder of all the pro 
 prieties observed by ladies of rank. Clara, though 
 perfectly aware of her weak points, undauntedly 
 flew to her and passionately begged permission to 
 leave by that evening's steamer for Ireland. She 
 rapidly portrayed the heart-rending scenes now pass 
 ing in Wicklow, and urged the impossibility of de-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 299 
 
 laying one night without losing her reason. Lady 
 Toppleton was utterly horror-stricken, at such a 
 breach of etiquette, reminding her how his lordship 
 was absent in Parliament, and no one there who 
 could with propriety accompany her. She would 
 have read her a homily on the importance of ladies 
 of rank being always calm and unmoved, especially 
 by the occurrences of common life ; but Clara, 
 whose thoughts were far away, abruptly asked if 
 she could not travel with her nurse a respectable, 
 middle-aged matron, whom she devotedly loved, 
 and who always had remained with her since the 
 death of her mother. Lady Toppleton, struck dumb 
 with amazement, stared at her as though she feared 
 the contingency hinted at had already taken place, 
 and that her senses were clean gone. She arose and 
 rang the bell, ordering her carriage immediately. 
 
 " Miss Clara Menville, go to your room !" said 
 she, with haughty dignity. "I am going to the par- 
 Bomige to consult with Mr. Audley on this affair, 
 and shall in all probability impart the result on rny 
 return." 
 
 Probably not, Lady Toppleton : nous verrons ! 
 When the carriage was out of sight Clara rang for 
 her nurse, and telling her it was a matter of life and 
 death for her to leave Toppleton Hall and reach the
 
 300 THE BYENES OF GLENQOULAH. 
 
 Liverpool railway station within half an hour, she 
 hastily got packed a few changes of clothing, ordered 
 her pony phaeton to the door, into which she jumped 
 with her nurse, driving herself, as was her custom, 
 witli her " tiger" behind. As Lady Toppleton drove 
 up the avenue from the parsonage she met the boy 
 bringing home the phaeton, and learned from him, 
 to her unspeakable horror, that Miss Clara and Mrs. 
 Bunse were on the road to Liverpool. 
 
 The impulsive Clara thought the train was going 
 at an unusually slow pace, while the truth was it was 
 flying at the rate of forty miles an hour, and was in 
 agonies when it stopped in a town or village. She 
 could neither eat nor sleep. Intent only upon one 
 thought the saving of a fellow-creature's life she 
 threw to the winds the cold barriers .of etiquette 
 and position. Arriving in Dublin late at night, she 
 flew post-hasto to Glengoulah Castle. Day was just 
 breaking on the morning of February 13th as she 
 ascended the castle steps. Here she met a bitter dis 
 appointment : her uncle, they told her, left the castle 
 the night the sentence was passed on Bryan Demp- 
 sey, and was staying at the Club House, Sackville 
 street, Dublin, and the execution was to take place 
 at noon that day. Mrs. Biggs was in England. 
 Poor Clara wept most passionately she saw the
 
 TIIE BYRNES OF GLENGOTJLAH. 301 
 
 hopelessness of achieving her object now. Pacing 
 the floor and wringing her hands, she exclaimed 
 wildly : " Too late ! too late ! My God ! must he 
 die?" Throwing her arms around her nurse, she 
 wept bitterly on her bosom. Then, starting up, a 
 thought seized her she would go to Mr. De Courcy, 
 and see if anything could be done. Requesting 
 Mrs. Bunse to await her at the castle, she ordered a 
 carriage and drove to Mr. De Courcy's. That ex 
 cellent gentleman and his wife received their unex 
 pected guest with a thousand welcomes. They 
 made every exertion to console her, but Clara wept 
 long and sadly all her hopes were dashed to earth 
 all her plans frustrated * 
 
 Mr. De Courcy told her the utter impossibility of 
 getting a reprieve, even had she arrived in time ; 
 explained to her how the real murderer, struck with 
 remorse, had declared himself the guilty party, and 
 was willing now to die in expiation of his crime, and 
 to save this innocent man ; how Father Esmond had 
 gone to Dublin Castle and pleaded for the prisoner 
 in the most moving eloquence before the viceroy 
 himself 1 but all in vain ! Her uncle had sworn 
 point-blank that Dempsey was the man he could 
 not be mistaken so Dempsey must die! Clara's 
 tears again flowed bitterly. u Can I do nothing ?"
 
 302 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 she cried ; " have I fled from my home like a crim 
 inal, to be of no use to any one ? " 
 
 " No, my dear young lady," said Mrs. De Courcy ; 
 "you were not permitted by the Almighty to take 
 a useless voyage. I doubt not you are destined to 
 play a most useful part in this sad drama. If you 
 cannot save the condemned, you can console his 
 young widow and bring comfort to his orphan little 
 ones. We can all take our share in such acts as 
 these." 
 
 " Oh, yes ; thank God ! " said Clara, springing up. 
 " I thank you heartily for the suggestion. Let us go 
 and be doing at once, for I feel that my heart will 
 burst if I cannot do something for this poor victim. 
 Oh, uncle ! uncle ! God pardon you ! " 
 
 Mr. De Courcy insisted upon her taking breakfast 
 before leaving the house; so having swallowed a 
 cup of tea both ladies drove to the Convent of Ard- 
 more first. Clara, on account of her connection 
 with Bishop Biggs, felt a delicacy in intruding her 
 self upon Dempsey's family, and wished to be di 
 rected by the superioress how to act. The reverend 
 mother was overjoyed to see her. 
 
 " Well, ladies," said she, when all were seated, 
 " if ever an earnest prayer to God was quickly re 
 sponded to, surely mine was this morning. I am in
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 303 
 
 such trouble for my poor child Winnie, whom we 
 educated here, that I have been trying to think of 
 every plan to console her. Her mother was here 
 yesterday to ask the prayers of the community for 
 her ; she has not shed a tear since her husband was 
 arrested, and has had frequent fainting fits. I have 
 great fears for her if his body is brought home to her 
 distigured, as I hear is common after strangulation ; 
 and I was just thinking of getting some charitable 
 woman to arrange his features after death, and to 
 dress his body in the habit of Our Blessed Lady. 
 Now the difficulty is to get permission to do this 
 from the authorities. I can get plenty of pious 
 Christians to perform the task, but they are poor, 
 and consequently would not be heeded. I then ap 
 pealed to St. Joseph, earnestly begging through his 
 intercession that I might be directed to some influ 
 ential person who would procure this favor for my 
 employes. I was coming out of the chapel after 
 making my petition for the sixth or seventh time 
 when the door-bell rang, and the moment I saw you 
 both I knew my prayer was heard. God be praised 
 for all His mercies !" 
 
 " Most certainly, reverend mother," replied Mrs. 
 De Courcy. " We can, no doubt, easily obtain 
 your request. Mr. De Courcy has already ordered
 
 304 THE BYKHES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 a handsome coffin to be sent for him through tho 
 same motive." 
 
 " Oh, Heaven reward him ; it is just like him." 
 
 " Reverend mother," said Clara, in a low voice, 
 "have you yet appointed the persons to do this 
 work?" 
 
 " No, Miss Menville ; but I know two respectable 
 women who, I am sure, will do it for the love of 
 God." 
 
 Clara grasped her hand. " Oh, dear mother ! 
 please permit me to be one of the persons and you 
 will confer a favor on me." 
 
 Mother Joseph started. " You? dear child! Oh, 
 no, no ; that would be too much to expect." 
 
 " Ah ! Mother Joseph ! you do not deem me 
 worthy ? " 
 
 The superioress could not speak ; tears streamed 
 down her cheeks ; she clasped the youthful heroine 
 of charity in her arms. 
 
 " Oh, my precious child ! how rich in God's grace ! 
 But it would be too frightful a task for .one so 
 young." 
 
 " No, no, mother ; please do not refuse me. I 
 came a long journey to save the life of this martyr ; 
 but as I have been unable to effect my object, do 
 not refuse me this great favor. Mother, if you do
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 305 
 
 not think me wholly unworthy, reject me not, I 
 beseech you." 
 
 " My dear young lady, who could resist charity 
 like yours ? I shall send a very pious and respecta 
 ble woman to assist you." 
 
 Mrs. De Courcy was struck dumb with astonish 
 ment admiration succeeded ; and as the high born 
 Clara proceeded to beg as a favor a task from which 
 human nature recoiled, she sobbed audibly. She 
 had never seen charity like this before. " My God ! " 
 she cried to herself, " if this be Catholicism, give me 
 light to direct me, that I and all who are dear to 
 me may embrace it." An impulse of God's holy 
 love immediately filled her soul with a feeling en 
 tirely new. The world seemed naught to her, and 
 she felt an unaccountable strength vibrate through 
 every nerve. Something seemed to say for her (as 
 she declares to this day she never could say it her 
 self) : " Mother, I will be that assistant ; I will not 
 be outdone in generosity by this noble young lady, 
 who sets me such an heroic example ! " 
 
 It was long before the tender heart of Mother Jo 
 seph could reply, so entirely was she overcome by 
 her feelings. 
 
 " Oh, wondrous love of God 1 " she at length ex 
 claimed j u what are you not able to eifect ! " Turn-
 
 306 THE BYBNES OF GLENGOCLAH. 
 
 ing her tearful eyes on Mrs. De Courcy, she said : 
 " It shall be as you say, dear lady ; I would not for 
 worlds deprive you of the merit of such an action. 
 Sure I am, Mrs. De Courcy, our Blessed Lord will 
 bestow 011 you also the greatest gift in the treasury 
 of Heaven.'* She brought down the brown habit 
 of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and explained its 
 meaning to Mrs. De Courcy, who had never, seen 
 one before. Miss Menville was familiar with them 
 already, but begged permission to make a wreath 
 of palm-leaves from the garden. They drove to the 
 prison, and had an interview at the governor's house 
 with the high sheriff. Mrs. De Courcy introduced 
 Miss Menville, niece of Lord Biggs. The sheriff 
 bowed profoundly ; and when Clara made her re 
 quest he immediately assented, and directed the 
 governor to send word to the ladies the moment the 
 prisoner's body was cut down, and to have it con 
 veyed to a room in his own house, and everything 
 prepared for their reception. The intermediate 
 time was spent by Clara in the chapel of the 
 convent praying for the soul of him who was 
 about to appear before his Eternal Judge, and beg 
 ging mercy and conversion for her unfortunate 
 uncle. 
 
 The governor came himself to announce that the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 307 
 
 execution was over. Poor Mrs. De Courcy's heart 
 sank within her, and she turned deadly pale. 
 
 " Kneel a moment with me," said Clara. 
 
 She knelt and repeated with her three Hail Marys, 
 " in honor of the tears our Blessed Mother shed when 
 the adorable body of her Divine Son was placed in 
 her arms, that she would procure strength for them 
 to accomplish the task they had undertaken." 
 
 They arose much strengthened and drove rapidly 
 to the prison. Clara knelt beside the body of poor 
 Bryan Dempsey, which was laid upon the floor. 
 She closed his eyes and arranged his features, while 
 Mrs. De Courcy combed back his dark chestnut 
 hair, and was surprised how little horror she ex 
 perienced in performing offices she once imagined 
 she never could fill. Poor Bryan had carefully 
 washed and shaved himself that morning, preparing 
 for the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament, and 
 their task was thus rendered easy. The governor's 
 wife sent her servants to assist the ladies, but they 
 would suffer no one to touch the body only them 
 selves until the coffin came, when they accepted the 
 services of the undertaker's men to put it in its last 
 receptacle. When this was accomplished, they re 
 mained to keep watch beside the body until Toney 
 Byrne, his sons, son-in-law, and a few neighbors came
 
 303 THE BYRNKS OF GLENG: >ULAtt. 
 
 to convey it home. Toney WHS quite surprised to 
 see Mrs. De Courcy in such a place. She drew him 
 aside and told him who the beautiful young lady was 
 standing beside the coffin, and detailed the part she 
 had acted, and its motive, carefully remaining silent 
 on her own share in the transaction. She then 
 brought him to look at Bryan's body. Toney Byrne 
 could not ntter a word ; but kneeling in the midst 
 of friends he prayed silently, while great drops 
 poured down his cheeks. Clara, immediatelj* divin 
 ing who he was, drew back with instinctive delicacy 
 until he had concluded. She then approached, and 
 taking his hand said, " Are you not Mr. Byrne ? " 
 
 " Yes, miss. May God's blessing light upon you. 
 I'll never forget till my dying hour what you have 
 done this day." 
 
 " My good friend, I was not alone ; to Mrs. De 
 Courcy you are more indebted than to me." 
 
 Toney raised his eyes to Heaven ; and again the 
 great tears rolled, but he could not speak. His 
 friends now lifted the coffin, and the mournful caval 
 cade moved on.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 EKYAN DEMPSEY'S body was waked from Friday 
 evening until Sunday. Father O'Tool went there 
 two or three times each day, and members of the 
 Purgatorian and other religious societies kept re 
 lieving each other at stated intervals of the day and 
 night, saying rosaries and litanies for his soul. None 
 others were admitted excepting his immediate rela 
 tives and old neighbors. 
 
 On Sunday the funeral took place at three o'clock 
 p. M. to the chapel yard of Tinmanogue, where 
 all his kindred slept. The procession was immense, 
 and was attended by many gentlemen of rank, who 
 wished to mark their disapprobation of this legalized 
 murder. The tolling of the old bell and the meas 
 ured tread of the silent multitude recalled to many 
 the beautiful lines of Davis : 
 
 " Why rings the knell of the funeral bell 
 From a hundred village shrine?, 
 Thro' broad Fingal where hasten all 
 These long and ordered lines 1 
 With tear and sigh they're passing by, 
 The matron and the maid- 
 Has a hero died is a nation's pride 
 In that cold coffin laid f
 
 310 THE BYRNES OF GLENGODLAH. 
 
 With frown and curse behind the hearse, 
 
 Dark men go tramping on 
 
 Has a tyrant died that they cannot hide 
 
 Their wrath till the rites are done ? 
 
 Ululee ! Ululee ! high on the wind, 
 
 There's a home for the slave where no fetters can bind. 
 
 Woe ! woe 1 to his elayers, comes wildly along 
 
 With the tramping of feet and the funeral song. 
 
 And now more clear 
 
 It swells' on the ear, 
 
 Breathe low and listen 'tis solemn to hear; 
 Ululee ! Ululee ! wail for the dead. 
 Green grow the grass of Fiugal on hip head, 
 And spring flowers blossom ere elsewhere appearing ; 
 And shamrocks grow thick on the martyr for Erin. 
 Ululee ! Ululee ! soft fall the dew 
 On the feet and the head of the martyred and true." 
 
 Winnie returned home to her now desolate cot 
 tage, where the light of her life had been forever 
 quenched ; but the fountain of her heart's grief 
 flowed freely, and a soft and tender sorrow now 
 reigned where a wild and burning agony so long 
 dwelt. She and her family blessed God for the 
 change. Soon, too, she was called on to minister to 
 the wants of those she was bound to by the strongest 
 ties of gratitude. It was the intention of Mrs. De 
 Courcy and Miss Menville to visit Winnie before the 
 interment of Bryan, but on reaching Cascade House 
 that evening from the jail poor Clara was seized 
 with a violent fever, and by midnight was delirious. 
 The terrible excitement she had undergone, joined 
 with loss of rest and fatigue, told fearfully on her 
 tender frame. Her nurse came from the castle to
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 311 
 
 wait upon her, but Mrs. De Courcy gave strict or 
 ders that no one should inform Toney Byrne or any 
 of his family of Miss Menville's illness, therefore 
 they remained in ignorance of the sad event until 
 the day after Bryan's funeral. The instant Winnie 
 heard the news she repaired to Cascade House, and 
 kneeling beside the unconscious Clara poured forth 
 tears and prayers for her recovery. She would wil 
 lingly have taken the place of Mrs. Bunse, but that 
 bustling lady would not suffer any hands to tend her 
 darling but her own. "Winnie or either of her pa 
 rents were there many times every day, and soon had 
 the pleasure of hearing that their young benefactress 
 was pronounced out of danger. 
 
 A new and severer trial now awaited them. Win 
 nie, on her return from Cascade House one evening 
 
 * O 
 
 during the week, received a message that Father Es 
 mond wished to see her. She flew to her dear spir 
 itual father, whom she found propped up in bed with 
 pillows, and breathing more freely than he had done 
 for years. He seemed calm and collected. 
 
 " Oh father, honey ! " cried Winnie, leaning over 
 beside his bed ; " is it true what they tell me, that 
 you are better ? " 
 
 " Yes, my child ; the great drag is gone from my 
 chest, and I feel light and easy. My good God is
 
 314 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 unfortunate landlord, and all who were concerned 
 in the legal murder of your husband ! " 
 
 Winnie gazed on the sinking features of the dying 
 saint. She seemed choking for a moment, and then 
 said : 
 
 " Father, I would willingly do it ; but how could 
 I ask such a prayer with my lips unless my heart 
 went with it ? Oh ! father, asthore ! I cannot tell a 
 lie. I don't wish them harm ; but I can't bear to 
 think of them, nor to mention their names. Sure, 
 God who sees my heart would not hear such a 
 prayer ! Indeed, father, I can't help it !" 
 
 " Then, my child, you must earnestly pray tha 
 God may remove such bad feelings from your heart. 
 You may rest assured our Blessed Lady will obtain 
 for you proper feelings of charity if you strive to 
 overcome yourself and say what I tell you. God 
 does not expect impossibilities. He knows how 
 sorely your poor human nature has been tried ; and 
 if He sees you trying to conquer it, He will shower 
 upon you most abundant gifts and graces. Winnie, 
 I asked this same favor of your p >or ; ryan before 
 he was led to execution. He never hesitated, but 
 went on his knees and joined most fervently with 
 me. I asked him if he would like you an i his chil 
 dren to pray for the same object, and he said he
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOTJLAH. 315 
 
 would very much. Your good, pious father has 
 ever set you this example of Christian charity ; but, 
 Winnie, I ask it not for the love of father, mother, 
 or of your old pastor, nor even to comply with the 
 last wish of your loving husband ; no, Winnie, not 
 for any or all of these must you do this you must 
 do it for the love of Him for whom all our actions 
 should be done for our dear Lord Jesus, who prayed 
 for the wicked wretches who nailed Him to a 
 cross." 
 
 Winnie bowed her head to the ground and sobbed 
 convulsively for a few moments; then rising, she 
 said: 
 
 " Father, I will faithfully do as you tell me, and 
 teach my children to do the same, with God's bless 
 ing, while there's life in my body or speech in my 
 tongue !" 
 
 Father Esmond held out his hand, now shaking 
 with the death tremor. " God reward you, my dear 
 child. I can now die in peace. May the blessing 
 of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, descend upon 
 you and yours, and remain with you forever." 
 
 His voice grew faint, and Winnie called in Mrs. 
 Malone, who administered restoratives. Reports flew 
 around that he was in his death agony, and all the 
 neighbors flocked in. Approaching midnight his
 
 316 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 agony really commenced. Father O'Tool put the 
 blessed candle in his hand and held it there. Sev 
 eral other priests from the neighboring parishes 
 were present, one of whom recited the beautiful 
 prayers for the departing. To the surprise of all 
 he joined in the responses himself. When the prayers 
 were concluded he opened his eyes and looked 
 around the apartment. Seeing so many of his pa 
 rishioners in tears, he said : " May God bless you all, 
 my faithful, loving children. We will meet again 
 in our heavenly kingdom. ' Oh ! how lovely are 
 thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts ! My soul faint- 
 eth for the courts of the Lord.' " He seemed trans 
 ported in an ecstasy. After a moment or two he 
 cried out : " Jesus ! Jesus ! receive my soul." and, 
 turning his head on the pillow, calmly expired. Si 
 lence reigned around until Father O'Tool, extin 
 guishing the light, sank upon his knees, and ex 
 claimed : " Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord !" 
 and he burst into tears. Then the sobs and lamenta 
 tions of the bereaved parishioners were mournful to 
 hear. Ah ! those were sorrowful days in Tinma- 
 nogue. A funeral pall seemed to hang over the beau 
 tiful village. Every shop was closed, every bell 
 tolled that of the convent, the old elm-tree he loved 
 so well, the school-house, where in days of yore he
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGODLAH. 317 
 
 spent so many hours instructing the boys now grown 
 to manhood, and too many, alas ! eating the bread 
 of exile in a foreign land. All tolled mournfully,- 
 and bore the sad intelligence through the echoing 
 hills around. The father, friend, counsellor, con 
 soler, peace-maker, and pastor, so idolized for more 
 than half a century, was gone from them just when 
 they thought they needed him most, and could least 
 spare him. But so they would have thought any 
 time he might be called. 
 
 " Sheep without a shepherd, 
 When the snow shuts out the sky." 
 
 The cruciform chapel, embowered in shrubs, was 
 crowded night and day until he was laid in the 
 tomb. A continuous stream of people passed and 
 re-passed in and out, with tear-washed cheeks and 
 sad hearts. They were taking their last look of their 
 beloved father as he lay in his coffin, dressed in his 
 ecclesiastical robes, his white hair floating down his 
 shoulders, and his saintly features smiling. They 
 waked him thus before the altar where he had so often 
 celebrated the divine mysteries, and where his fath 
 erly tones and venerable appearance so many times 
 recalled to them the Apostles of old. But the 
 family that mourned him most was Toney Byrne's, 
 for they felt he had shortened his precious life by the,
 
 318 THE BfliXES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 hardships he had undergone, first by trying to save 
 the life of Bryan Dempsey, and then in consoling 
 his last moments. 
 
 He was buried in the chapel-yard among his 
 flock ; and, according to his own request, no fence 
 was put up between him and his loved parishioners. 
 His grave was beside the chapel, and on the edge of 
 the centre walk, that all might find him accessible 
 in death, as he always was in life.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 ON the same night, and at the same hour when 
 the venerable pastor of Glengoulah was conducted 
 by angels to the throne of the Eternal Father, 
 whom he ever strove to serve, while his last sighs 
 were embalmed by the tears and prayers of his lov 
 ing people, quite a different scene was enacting iu 
 Dublin. 
 
 In a sumptuously furnished apartment of the 
 Club House, Sackville street, a man lay moaning 
 on a bed of down.* Four stalwart-looking men 
 in their shirt-sleeves watched beside him. Their 
 strength was frequently put to the test to keep the 
 wretched sufferer from jumping out of the window, 
 or dashing his head against the wall ; they were 
 then obliged to force him into the bed, or strap him 
 in a large invalid chair. Sleep had been long a 
 stranger to his wild and frenzied eyes, and at times 
 his shrieks were appalling. 
 
 " I tell you the truth, Jim," said one of the watch- 
 
 * IHs a well-established fact that Sir Francis Hopkins 1va.s obliged to be 
 strapped to a bed (after the execution of Seery) at the Club House, Sackville 
 Btreet, and finally died a lunatic some where on the continent.
 
 320 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ers, wiping great drops of perspiration from bis fore 
 head with a blue cotton handkerchief; " if tbey bad 
 a paid me last Saturday you wouldn't see me bere 
 to-nigbt. The pay is good, to be sure ; but, be the 
 great King William, it's earned hard." 
 
 " Well, I wouldn't care a pin's point," joined an 
 other, " about bis leapin' and jumpin,' if he'd only 
 hould his tongue ; but, upon me life, be puts the 
 heart across in me when he does be jabberin' to 
 some one unseen ! " 
 
 " Yes, indeed. And between ourselves, George, 1 
 think the divil has a heavy mortgage on his soul ; 
 and, upon my conscience, but he'll have pleasant com 
 pany when this ould fella goes home to him." 
 
 " Well, the divil sweep the whole of yees ; but yees 
 got to be mighty fine Christians all at onst," chimed 
 in the fourth a big, rough Orangeman. "Aren' 
 yees worthy follyers of King William, to be echoin' 
 the sentiments of the Papish broodl What if he 
 did send some of them on an arrand to the divil a 
 little before their time ? Its good enough for the 
 likes of them ! " 
 
 " Hould your tongue, Alick ! and don't be makin' 
 a jackass of yourself. I can drink the glorious and 
 immortal memory as well as any of yees, and shout 
 ' To hell with the Pope ! ' till my lungs are hoarse, on
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 321 
 
 the 12th of July ; but, when all is said and done, I 
 can't feel any spite to my Papist neighbors and 
 sure I'd have a bad right for I don't forget, Masther 
 Alick, how fast you ran from my bedside the night 
 the doctor said I had the cholera nor all as one 
 Tom Hanlon, my dour-neighbor, if he is a Papist. 
 I'll never forget it to him. When he heard my wife 
 cryin'he come in and rubbed and stuped me till the 
 sweat run down his face savin' favor and he staid 
 there wid me the whole night, till the danger was 
 passed and it was clear daylight ; and then he worked 
 all day long at his trade. He's a stone-mason, and 
 one of the best livin' men I ever seen." 
 
 " I suppose there's some good ones among them 
 like ourselves, Joe ; " and George nodded in the di 
 rection of Alick, while he chuckled to himself. 
 
 "Hould your divils of tongues; here's the doc 
 tors ! " cried Alick. 
 
 Two gentlemanly-looking men came into the room 
 quietly. 
 
 " Well, my men, how is our noble patient this 
 evening ? " 
 
 " Couldn't be worse, sir. He's after exhausting 
 
 himself talkin' and screechin'. He thinks he sees a 
 
 man followin' him constantly. We had to take down 
 
 all the pictures and mirrors; he a'most went into 
 
 14*
 
 322 THE BYRNES OF GLEXGOULAH. 
 
 fits at sight of them. One time, when we were 
 makin' the bed, he caught sight of himself in the 
 lookin'-glass and run under the bed, where he 
 squeezed himself flat like a pancake. Be the Boyne, 
 but it's hard work, your honors, to attind him. My 
 self wouldn't take tin pounds a night if I knew what 
 was afore me ; but I wouldn't break my engagement, 
 onst I made it, for five hundred pounds." 
 
 Joe and George made a face at one another at the 
 back of the physicians when they heard Alick's hon 
 orable account of himself. One of the doctors held 
 his pulse until two other physicians entered ; then 
 all went into consultation. The consequence was he 
 was strapped to the bed, his head shaved, and a large 
 blister applied to the poll, while bags of ice were 
 kept to his temples. The doctors remained all night, 
 relieving one another at stated intervals. By morn 
 ing he seemed calm. About eight o'clock A. M. the 
 .Kingstown train brought his lady and suite, who ar 
 rived by the mail boat from London. The physi 
 cians, after consultation, deemed it best to bring her 
 to him unannounced. She walked with a languid 
 
 o 
 
 air to the bedside, and began to weep in an embroid 
 ered handkerchief. He fixed his eyes wildly upon 
 her, and convulsive tremors shook his frame. He 
 said, in a hissing whisper, " Are you his widow ? "
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 323 
 
 The lady renewed her tears. 
 
 " I tell you I can do nothing for you. I tried to 
 save him since I came here, but they kept me 
 strapped down. I told the judge the day before I 
 left the castle not to hang him, but he said it was too 
 late. Curse the old fool for being always too late. 
 Curse you too, and the whole Papist crew; and 
 
 curse myself. G d you ! don't you hear me 
 
 cursing myself; and why do you cry? I can't give 
 him back to you if you were to cry till doomsday. I 
 know he's dead. I saw him hanging there on that 
 wall. He leered at me and grinned as he was going 
 off the drop." 
 
 " Oh, dear husband ! do not speak so horribly !" 
 said the weeping lady. 
 
 " I tell you, woman ! your husband did grin at 
 me ; he did ! And oh, God ! how frightful he looked ! 
 I see him again ! There he is ! He is always leer 
 ing and mocking me ! " 
 
 The lady turned to leave the room. He shouted 
 after her: "Come here, you woman! I want to 
 make a bargain with you. I'll give you your choice 
 of the best farm in Glengoulah if you will keep 
 him from following me ! " 
 
 The lady now thought she would try to soothe 
 him. " Oh, my dear ! you are laboring under a
 
 324 THK BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 delusion. There is no one trying to follow J T OU. 
 No one can follow you." 
 
 He made violent efforts to disengage himself 
 from his bands, and failing he glared upon her and 
 shrieked out : 
 
 " Do you dare tell me I lie ? You are a cursed 
 fool, you low, contemptible creature, to doubt the 
 word of a bishop. I tell you a huntsman with a 
 yelping pack after his heels is not more surrounded 
 than I am. My life has been most miserable for 
 more than a year. I had wealth and honors, but no 
 happiness. I drank to drown my miseries, but it 
 would not do it was then I suffered most. A 
 curse, I say again, upon my obstinate tenantry. 
 They wouldn't hear the true gospel from me ; but 
 would believe their d d old priests. I swore to 
 make them Protestants, or to have my revenge, and 
 I had it ! Ha, ha, ha ! I'm glad I made them suffer ! 
 I had my revenge ! But, G d d n them ! they 
 have theirs now. Sometimes they all come together, 
 and set me nearly crazy with their abuse ; some 
 times they come alone, but in such rapid succession 
 that they bewilder me. Last night that old villain 
 Flannigan w r as here abusing me for pulling down 
 his house ; he accused me of leaving him homeless 
 and childless, because his children were drowned at
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 325 
 
 sea on their way to America. Then Fogarty walked 
 in to curse me, because his old mother died a luna 
 tic, because she lost the farm, and was starving. 
 Then in came thirty-seven that were evicted from 
 the townland of Drismore shortly before Christmas, 
 each telling a dismal tale of suffering, enough to 
 drive any one mad but myself. Then the widow 
 Ryan came in and abused me because the bailiffs 
 carried out her two children in the rain, and both 
 sick in scarlet fever, and they died next day (she 
 says). I verily believe they died just to spite me 
 these papists are very vindictive. Then in came the 
 widow Cormac, and blew a perfect hurricane from 
 her nostrils. I felt the bed rock under me, and 
 everything was blown about; the snow began to 
 fall, and she pointed to a heap of it that had drifted 
 into a pile, and there that wild maniac daughter of 
 hers lay dead. They never let me get a wink of 
 sleep, but stand leering and grinning at me when 
 they are tired abusing. I do not heed them, how 
 ever. I crouch down and keep very still until they 
 are gone. Then I try to get away, and scream out 
 for help, but no one cares to save me. I could bear 
 any of them yes, all of them together better than 
 this Bryan Dempsey. I know you are his widow, 
 and I feel really sorry for you ; but 1 can do nothing
 
 326 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOPLAH. 
 
 for you while he follows me, and keeps pointing tc 
 his throat and grinning so terribly. Mind I prom 
 ise you, on my word of honor as a gentleman and a 
 Christian bishop, if 3^011 will keep your husband 
 away I will give you a beautiful farm, and never 
 molest your children in their religion. Will you do 
 this for me? Papists profess to be charitable and 
 forgiving I will see now." 
 
 The doctors whispered her to agree at once. " Of 
 course I will do it for you," said the unhappy lady. 
 And, hoping to humor him, she asked : " What would 
 you think of taking a trip to England, my lord ? 
 They say spirits cannot cross water, so they cannot 
 follow you over sea." 
 
 " I should like it very much, indeed ; but you must 
 accompany me, or your husband will not stay away." 
 
 " Oh, certainly ; I shall go with you everywhere." 
 
 This assurance seemed to calm him, and he waa 
 permitted to sit in his easy-chair; but he would by 
 no means suffer her to leave the room a moment. 
 He evidently took her to be poor Winnie Dempsey, 
 and imagined he was freed from the ghastly vision of 
 Bryan's death while she was present. In about a 
 week the doctors pronounced him fit to travel, and 
 they left for London. 
 
 As Miss Menville was lying in fever at the resi-
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 327 
 
 dence of Mr. De Courcy while these scenes were 
 transpiring, she was not aware of the arrival of her 
 aunt in Ireland. Mrs. Biggs, however, was duly 
 waited upon by the housekeeper of Glengoulah Cas 
 tle, and, learning that her niece was a guest at Cas 
 cade House, deemed it beneath her dignity to pretend 
 being aware of that circumstance ; she therefore 
 sent her no message, and left before she had recov 
 ered. 
 
 When Lord Biggs and suite arrived in England 
 they resided for a time in a fine mansion outside 
 Greenwich, removed from all company or any ex 
 citement. The grounds were extensive and taste 
 fully laid out, the landscape around highly culti 
 vated, and every object inviting to repose. Here 
 the bishop's health greatly improved, his paroxysms 
 became less frequent, and hopes were beginning to 
 be entertained of his recovery, when a circumstance 
 occurred which rendered those hopes fallacious. 
 
 A large number of ejectment cases had been laid 
 over from the last quarter sessions, in consequence 
 of the landlord's illness, and Mr. Margin was at a loss 
 to know how to proceed. Hearing that his lordship 
 was rapidly recovering he wrote Lira for instructions 
 several times ; but r ceiving no reply he pondered 
 over the case and finally came to the determination
 
 o28 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 of paying a visit to the invalid. He thought, too, 
 that this act of courtesy would secure him future 
 favors; so off he started in the month of May for 
 London, with a bustling and important air, sending 
 his bailiffs around before his departure to warn the 
 unhappy tenantry to be prepared for the worst on his 
 return. Fresh consternation and renewed tears were 
 the result of those warnings. 
 
 One lovely afternoon Lord Biggs was reclining 
 in a large arm-chair on the lawn, enjoying the 
 beauty of the evening and the charming landscape. 
 He had a portfolio of handsome engravings lying 
 before him on a rustic table. His valet had just 
 gone into the house for a few moments, when a turn 
 in the avenue brought a new comer in sight. At 
 first he seemed not to ' recognize the person, but a 
 few rapid strides brought Margin, bowing and 
 scraping, face to face with his lordship. The un 
 happy bishop trembled like an autumnal leaf at the 
 presence of the unwelcome visitor; but when the 
 agent, making another profound obeisance, inquired 
 after his lordship's health, maniac lightning seemed 
 to flash from the bishop's eyes he uttered a fierce 
 growl and clutched Margin by the throat. Having, 
 as before intimated, a diseased leg, and being taken 
 unawares, Margin lost his balance and fell to the
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 329 
 
 ground. The frantic Biggs jumped upon him and 
 endeavored to strangle him. Margin screamed for 
 his life, and the whole household rushing out he 
 was saved from immediate death. But Lord Biggs's. 
 delirium returned in the most aggravated form* 
 Mrs. Biggs bitterly upbraided Margin for presuming 
 to speak to his lordship on business. He assured 
 her he had not done so, and was merely commencing 
 to inquire after his health when he fell upon him. 
 
 "No wonder he should," she replied. "It was 
 your bad counsels and worse acts that made him un 
 popular with his tenantry, and made them reject the 
 Book of Life and the liberal education offered to 
 them and to their children." 
 
 " Is this, then, madam, the reward I receive for 
 making the Glengoulah estates four times as valua- 
 ble as they were under the agency of De Courcy ? " 
 
 " Oh, don't you speak of Mr. De Courcy. What* 
 ever his faults were, he was at least a gentleman." 
 
 " Madam, you evidently do not understand the 
 case ; permit me to explain " 
 
 " Sir, I understand one thing that your business 
 is with his lordship's lawyers, Messrs. Hawse & 
 Jones, of whose address you are well advised. You 
 certainly have none in this house, and I beg you 
 will withdraw."
 
 330 THE BTKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Choking with rage and mortification, Margin for 
 the first time realized the truth of the proverb : 
 
 " As you sow, so shall you reap." 
 
 He returned to Glengoulah much more speedily than 
 he had anticipated ; and if not a better he was deci 
 dedly a much more ragged man ; for his new coat, 
 purchased expressly for the occasion, was torn to 
 shreds in the scuffle with Biggs. Pie was observed 
 to be very taciturn and crest-fallen after his return. 
 The ejectment cases were again held over until next 
 session, and the poor tenants, for a time at least, felt 
 secure of a roof. 
 
 The bishop became so untractable that he could 
 not for a moment be left alone, as he attempted self- 
 destruction several times. The doctors again re 
 commended change of air and scene ; so Mrs. Biggs, 
 with their own physician, keeper?* from a lunatic 
 asylum, servants, etc., left for Paris' early in June 
 and thence to different cities, crossing into Bel 
 gium, thence to Germany, sailing up the Rhine, an J 
 visiting every place of interest. All was in vain. 
 Biggs seemed to become more frantic every new 
 place he arrived at. His lunacy, however, took 
 different phases. Sometimes he would shake with 
 terror and hide away in holes and corners from the 
 victims of his avarice. Again he would imagine
 
 THE BTKNE8 OF GLENGOULAH. 331 
 
 himself in the plenitude of his power ordering their 
 arrest, and swearing to wipe out the whole Papist 
 brood, and colonize his estate with Prptestants. 
 Through all his language was a mixture of blas 
 phemy and Pharisaical cant. He would curse priests 
 and people ; but his heaviest maledictions were re 
 served for Margin, whom he cursed in all moods, 
 and vowed to exterminate root and branch, as soon 
 as he returned. Finding change of scene ineffec 
 tual, they came back to England about the end of 
 August. 
 
 A final consultation being held by the doctors, 
 they recommended that he should be placed under 
 the discipline of a private lunatic asylum immedi 
 ately. This advice was forthwith acted upon, and 
 the result was it terminated his madness and his life 
 before the end of the following month. In the last 
 week of September, just as the rent-day came on, 
 strapped to an iron bedstead in a mad house, the 
 unhappy sinner died ! His last words were a male 
 diction on Margin. 
 
 How inscrutible are the ways of Providence ! 
 How just His retributions ! This was the end of all 
 for him the fame of whose cruelties rang through 
 all Europe! 
 
 The Right Reverend Samuel "W. Biggs, Lord
 
 332 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 Bishop of Glengoulah and Ardmore the stroke of 
 whose pen sent hundreds of virtuous people to the 
 crowded towns to perish of want, to the emigrant 
 ship, and to the grave ! there he lies dead in the 
 cell of a mad-house, chained like a dog to an iron 
 bed ! Dead ! without one friendly voice to soothe 
 his last moments ! Dead ! without kith or kin to 
 close his eyes, or a Christian tongue to utter one 
 prayer for mercy on that passing soul so heavily 
 laden ! 
 
 "Sic transit gloria mundil"
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 ONE clear, balmy morning in October, in that sea 
 son which is poetically called in Ireland " The poor 
 man's harvest," a woman of prepossessing and still 
 youthful appearance, dressed in an humble garb of 
 black, and holding by the hand a little girl with 
 fair, clustering curls, was sitting in the parlor of the 
 Presentation Convent of Ardmore. Soon a beauti 
 ful young lady entered, attired in the dress of a pos 
 tulant of that order. Her soft, hazel eyes were lit 
 up with a smile of pleasure as she caught sight of 
 the widow, who immediately arose and courtesied. 
 The young postulant exclaimed : " My dear Win 
 nie, I arn so glad to see you ! and this is your little 
 Mary?" She took "Winnie's toil-worn lingers be 
 t-ween her soft, white hands as she spoke, and then 
 patted the child's golden curls. 
 
 " You were so good, miss, as to invite me to come 
 to see you ! And some of the neighbors told me you 
 would be soon going to England again, so I took tho 
 liberty of asking for you."
 
 334: THE BYRNES OF GLENUOUf.AII. 
 
 " Winnie," said the young lady, earnestly, "have 
 you lieard the news from England?" 
 
 " Vcs, miss ; I heard it. God pity us all ! In 
 deed, indeed, Miss Clara, I felt heart sorry for 3*011! " 
 Poor Clara covered her face with her hands, and 
 Winnie wept in sympathy. 
 
 " Ah, Winnie, what a contrast ! Which of them 
 was the richer man ? You have every reason to be 
 lieve 3'our dear husband is in heaven with God and 
 his saints furcvermore ; but my wretched, wretched 
 uncle died in his sins!" 
 
 " Oh, Miss Clara, dear ! don't grieve your noble 
 heart for one so unworthy. Sure, if he took your 
 advice, or any one's with a conscience, it's alive and 
 happy he'd be to-day. And they say many's the 
 warnin' he got to let the poor alone, but he wouldn't 
 heed them, and their cries pierced the heavens at 
 last. My heart aches to see an angel like you shed 
 ding a tear for him ! " 
 
 " It is because of his life of crime, Winnie, that I 
 cannot help weeping for his miserable death. He- 
 member, Winnie, his soul was created to God's im 
 age. Oh, what a disfigured image he made of it ! " 
 
 " That's just the way my father feels when he 
 speaks of his death. lie mourns for his soul as if all 
 belongin' to him was laid low. Sure, I know it's the
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGODLAH. 335 
 
 right feelin', and I ought to think of these things too; 
 but oh, Miss Clara, dear ! pray God to forgive me. I 
 can't for my life think of him but I think of my 
 peaceable, happy home, if it was poor ; and of the 
 hearty laugh my poor darlin' was givin' when the 
 peeler darkened our door ! Oh ! vo, vo, vo ! A laugh 
 will never be heard there more ! Oh, Miss, honey ! 
 why did he choose out the purest and best man that 
 ever lived, and persecute him to the gallows?' 1 
 
 Winnie was in one of her paroxysms of grief at 
 the recollection of her devoted husband. She wrung 
 her hands and raised her eyes to heaven in the aban 
 donment of sorrow. Clara was awed into silence at 
 this outbreak, so natural and so touching. She had 
 never before seen such a manifestation of woe, and 
 it added another link to the chain of evidence every 
 day growing stronger on her mind that the Irish 
 were a people of the deepest feelings. She did not 
 dare interrupt a sorrow so sacred. After a \vhile 
 Winnie came over to ask her pardon. She said her 
 heart was overcharged, and she could not control 
 herself. 
 
 " Indeed, my poor child ! " she said, taking the 
 widow's hands in both her own, "I am very far 
 from condemning your feelings ; but, Winnie, I have 
 not told you the news about myself. I have become
 
 336 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 an inmate of this convent ; yes, indeed." And she 
 smiled at Winnie's blank look of amazement. 
 
 " I am going to be a nun, please God. And do 
 you know the favor Mother Prioress lias granted 
 me ? I am to be called, in religion, Sister Norah. 1 
 
 7 O J 
 
 wish to bear while I live the name of that dear child 
 who first brought the dawn of faith to my darkened 
 soul." 
 
 " And you are not going back to England, miss ? 
 And you are, for sure, going to stay with us here in. 
 Ardrnore ! " 
 
 " For sure and certain, "Winnie. I wrote to papa 
 for permission he is in Rome ; and from the fav 
 orable answer I received I have very strong hopes, 
 through God's mercy, that he too will soon be re 
 ceived into the Church. He is about being con 
 verted. Now is not this delightful news ? See how 
 sweetly our Heavenly Father dispenses to us joys 
 and sorrows, both alike to draw us to himself. 
 And now, when your little Mary is old enough to 
 come to school, Sister Norah will be her teacher ; 
 meantime you must all pray to the Blessed Mother 
 to obtain for me the grace of perseverance." 
 
 "Winnie felt happier that day than she had done 
 since Bryan's death. She hastened home to com 
 municate the joyful intelligence to her parents, and
 
 THE BYUNES OF GLENGOULAH. 337 
 
 great were the rejoicings all through Glengoulah, 
 Tinmanogne and Ardmore when it was known that 
 the beautiful young English lady had become a 
 nun. 
 
 A few days later it was announced that the Glen- 
 goulah estates had become the property of George 
 Bentley, Esq., the nearest heir-at-law to the departed 
 bishop. He was a country gentleman in England, 
 having much property there, and being an excellent 
 landlord he felt ashamed of the unenviable notoriety 
 acquired by his predecessor, and was determined to 
 leave nothing undone to repair the scandals now the 
 topic of general conversation. He betook himself to 
 Glengoulah Castle as soon as possible, and set about 
 seeking testimony from both sides as to the charac 
 ter of the tenantry, the treatment to which they were 
 subjected by both agents, the relative condition of 
 the estates under the past and present regime, etc., 
 etc. His cousin, Clara Meriville, now Sister Norah, 
 of the Presentation convent, gave him valuable aid 
 in his inquiries. He visited the farms himself, and 
 conversed with many of the tenantry sent for some 
 of the dispossessed, and promised to reinstate them 
 if their conduct bore the investigation he designed 
 making. Margin was the first to pay court to the 
 new landlord. Mr. Bentley received him courte- 
 15
 
 338 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 ousl}', for he resolved to be perfectly unbiased in his 
 judgment, and invited all, agent and tenant alike, to 
 lay their grievances before him. Margin did not 
 much relish this state of things, but he determined 
 to have the first statement, arid thus try to create a 
 favorable impression of himself in the mind of Mr. 
 Bentley. Accordingly he drew a frightful picture of 
 insubordination, bigotry, lawless violence, arising 
 from treating with too much kindness a people who 
 were unable to appreciate it, always requiring a 
 strong hand over them, or they would be sure to ewd 
 in arson, or, probably, assassination. 
 
 Mr. Bentley listened attentively, made copious 
 notes, but uttered no word of comment. Margin 
 had strong hopes he would mar the evidence of his 
 opponents by this timely eloquence, and corrobo 
 rated all his statements by a written document 
 signed by those political fanatics who made them 
 selves so conspicuous on the trial of Bryan Demp- 
 sey, and by the honorable and truthful Sandy Mc- 
 Glauren. 
 
 Unluckily for Mr. Margin, about this juncture 
 Lord Wallingford returned from a lengthened so 
 journ on the continent to the great delight of his 
 tenantry, who strewed the roads with green boughs, 
 and would have taken the horses from his carriage
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 339 
 
 and drawn him home as in a triumphal car, but he 
 would not allow it. Arcades of flowers were formed 
 in every village through which he passed, even in 
 those places where the people had not the good for 
 tune to own him for a landlord. Such was the ad 
 miration and respect felt for a good man, who was 
 always actuated by a sense of justice. About a 
 week after this arrival a card, announcing a visit 
 from Lord Wallingford, was handed to Mr. Bentley 
 at the castle. They met in the library, and his 
 lordship greeted Mr. Bentley most cordially and 
 welcomed him to the county. After some general 
 conversation, Lord Wallingford said: ' k You have a 
 splendid property here, Mr. Bentley." 
 
 " Yes ; but I was half afraid to take possession of 
 it. I do assure your lordship, it required no small 
 amount of both moral and physical courage to face 
 the terrible dangers predicted for me by my friends 
 in England, maiming for life being among the small 
 est. I take credit to myself for being a most valiant 
 knight, and doubt not, if I lived in the ages of chiv 
 alry, I should have won my golden spurs while yet 
 a stripling." 
 
 " Your danger or safety, Mr. Bentley, depends 
 entirely on yourself. I speak to you candidly, as 
 one man of honor should to another. You have
 
 340 THE BYRNK8 OF GLKNGOULAH. 
 
 come to reside among a people of deep passions and 
 warm affections a people keenly alive to a sense 
 of wrong, but so long loaded down with oppression 
 as to receive as favors and repay with sinceresl, 
 gratitude those common acts of justice which you 
 are every day accustomed to render to your English 
 tenantry, and which they" expect as a right. You 
 will find plenty to convey to you a very different 
 character of this people, but if-you are the man of 
 sense and honor I take you to be you will not allow 
 your judgment to be warped." 
 
 " But you forget, my lord, that I am a stranger. 
 How am I to judge, except by the testimony of re 
 liable witnesses? Quite lately I was honored by 
 two statements one made in writing, and one 
 in language of surpassing eloquence by gentlemen 
 whose veracity they assure mo has never been called 
 in question excepting by a low rabble, who ought 
 to have been hanged long ago if they had their 
 merit. Those gentlemen seem to be equally con 
 versant with the value of sheep and pure Bible edu 
 cation, green crops and Popery, while they know 
 every turn of a peasant's mind, and can read his 
 motives better than he can himself. Would you 
 have me insensible to the advantage of possessing 
 such a mine of information 2 "
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 341 
 
 Lord Wallingford, seeing the smile which played 
 on Mr. Bentley's face, joined with the quiet sarcasm 
 of his words, found that he was one not likely to be 
 turned from the path of rectitude, and that the cause 
 of the long-suffering people would be safe in his 
 hands. Smiling, he said : " I see, Mr. Bentley, you 
 are a man of penetration. Have you seen Margin, 
 the agent, yet ? " 
 
 "Why, -my lord, he did me the honor of introduc 
 ing himself this morning, after my arrival. He is 
 the gentleman to whose moving eloquence I alluded 
 just now, and from whose inexhaustible mine of 
 information I expect such valuable aids to the acqui 
 sition of wealth." 
 
 " And he really had the effrontery to look an hon 
 est man in the face ? Your allusion to mines, in 
 connection with his name, is more apropos than you 
 are aware of. Did you know that he had a lawsuit 
 with me, Mr. Bentley, respecting the mines of Coold- 
 nure ? " 
 
 " No, my lord ; bat I shall consider myself your 
 lordship's debtor if you will kindly inform me of 
 the transaction." 
 
 Here Lord Wallingford entered into the details 
 we have already laid before our readers of Jacob 
 Margin's antecedents, and drew a faithful picture of
 
 34:2 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 the rascal's character, and the transformation effected 
 on the Glengoulah estates since he became agent. 
 Mr. Bentley's open smile vanished, and a dark cloud 
 of indignation overspread his manly countenance, 
 as Lord "YVallingford proceeded with his narrative. 
 
 " I thank you most heartily, my lord, for this in 
 formation ; it shall not be lost upon me. Do you 
 know a man named O'Hara, who lives in this neigh 
 borhood Jeremiah O'Hara ? I believe he is lame." 
 
 " Oh, yes ; ' Lame Jerry ' they call him an hou- 
 est, outspoken poor man he was when I left home, 
 and a genius in his way." 
 
 " A man of surprising information for a peasant. 
 I had a long interview with him yesterday, and he 
 really gave me more insight into the state of affairs 
 in Glengoulah than any one I spoke with until I had 
 the good fortune to meet your lordship* You will, I 
 trust, pardon the comparison." 
 
 " Pardon ! my good friend ; you do me quite an 
 honor. Why, ' Lame Jerry ' is one of the natural 
 curiosities of the County "Wicklow ; and a tourist 
 might as well leave the country without seeing St. 
 Kevin's bed, or 
 
 ' Glendalough, whose gloomy shore 
 Sky lark never warbled o'er,' 
 
 as without hearing the poetic legends of Lame Jer
 
 THE J3YUNE3 OF GLENGOULAH. 343 
 
 ry ; besides this, he possesses a large stock of historic 
 lore, and a perfect knowledge of the condition of 
 landlord and tenant in nearly all the countries of 
 Europe. Jerry is the oracle of at least three coun 
 ties. He lost a leg at Waterloo, for which he re 
 ceives a small pension from Government." 
 
 " Ah ! I see you are not aware, my lord, that he 
 has been deprived of that trifle." 
 
 " No ! Mr. Bentley ! you are not serious ?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! The poor man assured me he had 
 been describing to a number of peasantry one eve 
 ning, sitting in a group on the road-side, the condi 
 tion of the Russian serfs, and its vast superiority 
 over their own, when lie discovered that the Scotch 
 steward had been playing eavesdropper. Shortly 
 after this Margin trumped up some charge against 
 him of conspiracy, or some other folly, and the poor 
 man's pension was withdrawn, the learned judge 
 assuring him he was very leniently dealt with in 
 consequence of having but one leg." 
 
 " Oh ! shame, shame ! However, Jerry shall 
 never need their pension while I live." 
 
 " He does not need it now, my lord. He tells me 
 he wants for nothing, and never knew before how 
 many friends he could count upon." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Bentley, that single transaction con-
 
 344 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 tains a volume for a man possessed^ of jour high 
 principles ; but of this more hereafter. I hopo to see 
 you soon at Clonmalure. If you are an admirer of 
 the picturesque, we have some handsome scenery 
 there ; if your taste lies in literary pursuits, I have 
 a few rare books and manuscripts in my library ; 
 and if you are anything of a sportsman, I think we 
 can please you ; for my old huntsman, Larry Mc- 
 Quade (a perfect genius, by the way, to whom I must 
 introduce you) boasts that he has the finest hordes 
 and dogs in the country. I expect a few friends to 
 dinner on Tuesday, and if you will do me the honor 
 to join our little party sans ceremonie I shall be most 
 happy." 
 
 "I hope your lordship will be so good as to hold 
 me excused. I am sincerely thankful for your kind 
 ness, but I purpose leaving Ireland in a few days, 
 and prefer remaining quiet until my plans are more 
 matured. I merely came this time to have ocular 
 demonstration of convictions already established in 
 my mind. I purpose returning in May, and then, 
 my lord, I hope we shall spend many happy hours 
 together." 
 
 The gentlemen shook hands and parted, mutually 
 pleased with the frank and genial qualities they dis 
 covered in each other.
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 345 
 
 Mr. Bentley wrote Margin from England to notify 
 the tenants that he would not require the March 
 rent to be paid until the third week of May, and 
 that they should then meet him at Glengoulah Cas 
 tle, as he intended giving them a collation on the 
 lawn, thus introducing himself to all of them in 
 
 ' O 
 
 person. He also invited Margin, Sandy M'Glauren, 
 and all the bailiffs, Bible readers, etc., etc., formerly 
 in the employ of his predecessor. 
 
 Margin sent the notification around only on the 
 eve of rent-day. He never performed a more dis 
 tasteful task, and put it off until the last moment. 
 
 The invitation angered well, and high hopes 
 began once more to take possession of hearts where 
 only despair had so long dwelt. Still the people 
 felt a little disappointed that Margin was retained 
 as agent, but consojed themselves with the hope 
 that he would be at least shorn of the power to do 
 evil any more. 
 
 IS*
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 MAT came at last, and with the daisies and prim 
 roses came the summons to the landlord's entertain 
 ment. The castle and lawn presented a gay appear 
 ance. An immense marquee was erected, underneath 
 which long tables were spread, covered with sub- 
 stantials of every variety. Pipers and fiddlers, in the 
 midst of groups, were dispersed through" the tent 
 and lawn ; but the chair of honor was reserved for 
 Darby Wholahan. It was an old-fashioned high- 
 backed chair, placed on an elevation, festooned with 
 evergreens and flowers, and was arranged at the head 
 of the tent under a clump of larch-trees that trailed 
 their graceful branches like a bower on either side 
 of him, and where all could see him when the can 
 vas was rolled up. 
 
 "When the repast was finished, Mr. Bentley, accom 
 panied by Mr. De Courcy, entered the tent, and was 
 introduced to the tenantry by their old and loved 
 agent. Baskets of wine were opened on all sides, 
 and landlord, tenants and all drank health, long-life 
 and happiness to each other in flowing bumpers. A
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 347 
 
 party of gentlemen from the surrounding and neigh 
 boring county came in, including Sir Lawrence 
 O'Donnell and Lord Wallingford, and pleasant greet 
 ings were exchanged. To Toney Byrne, whom the 
 neighbors had placed at the head of the centre-table 
 in spite of all his entreaties they paid special at 
 tention. Mr. Bentley jumped lightly on a bench and 
 addressed the people : 
 
 " Men of Glengoulah : I invited you here to-day 
 for a threefold purpose. First, that we niijjit all 
 become acquainted with each other ; secondly, that 
 I might try to do justice where so much necessity 
 for it existed ; and thirdly, that I would see you en 
 joy yourselves. We Englishmen are said to be very 
 gruff fellows ; but I beg to assure you that I am a very 
 sociable character, not at all long-faced, but on the 
 contrary a great admirer of rational amusements, 
 and a believer in the old adage that ' God loves a 
 cheerful heart.' You see, though, a very modest 
 man, I can sound my own praises. I feel confident 
 when we become better acquainted we shall feel for 
 each other that esteem and affection which should 
 exist between a good landlord and worthy tenantry, 
 somewhat resembling the ties of mutual love and 
 respect existing between a father and his children. 
 I have English tenantry too, to whom I am much
 
 348 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 attached ; but as I have not the gift of ubiquity, I 
 have decided upon residing every alternate year in 
 Ireland and England. Having said so much by 
 way of introducing myself, I shall now refer to my 
 second object in calling you around me. 
 
 " Men of Glengoulah, I have made the most mi 
 nute investigations in your regard, and am quite sat 
 isfied you have been a maligned and misrepresented 
 people. You have suffered much for some years 
 past, and it is but fair to reward those who merit it. 
 To all my tenantry I give an abatement of twenty- 
 five per cent. ; to some, who have been more especially 
 imposed upon, and whose cases will receive imme 
 diate attention, a further abatement will be made." 
 (A burst of cheers rang through hill and dale.) 
 " Anthony Byrne, I beg to inform you that you 
 shall be fully reinstated in your old farm, which 
 shall be newly stocked, to compensate you in some 
 small degree for the injustice you suffered and bore 
 so admirably. Any alterations you deem necessary 
 in the new house, which was erected after the fire, 
 shall be made at my expense. For your eldest son, 
 who is now old enough to do for himself, I have a 
 choice farm ; and for your daughter the widow of 
 poor Dempsey I have ordered an annuity to be set 
 tled upon her and her heirs forever." Cheer after
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 349 
 
 cheer broke forth, and the old hills gave back the 
 echoes oft renewed. Toney Byrne stood up and 
 made vain efforts to speak ; but the tears which 
 coursed down his cheeks were more eloquent than 
 words. Mr. Bentley resumed : " These are only 
 acts of simple justice, my friends, and not worth 
 thanking for. Every injustice on my estates shall 
 be repaired. Mr. Margin will please come forward. 
 Jacob Margin, I arraign you before the tribunal of 
 a people whose sacred" rights you have trampled up 
 on, whose holiest feelings you have outraged, whose 
 homes you have made desolate or levelled with the 
 dust." 
 
 " I was but the servant of your right reverend 
 relation, Mr. Bentley. I only followed my orders ! " 
 exclaimed Margin, sneeringly. 
 
 " Peace, man ! I know your antecedents. You 
 had sent your victims to the penal colony, and to 
 the gallows, before you laid eyes on the Glengoulah 
 estates. I do not seek to justify the memory of my 
 unfortunate predecessor ; but I know who was his 
 evil counsellor and his willing tool. In the presence 
 of the people I dismiss you in disgrace. You are 
 no longer agent of mine. I also dismiss your col 
 league, Sandy McGlauren, and all your troop of 
 cormorants, bailiffs, Bible-readers, and the rest.
 
 350 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 You, Margin, are an old man, and I advise you to 
 repent of your misdeeds and make restitution." 
 
 Margin quickly disappeared. Silence reigned for 
 a few moments. Though brimful of joy at the an 
 nouncement, no voice was raised in triumph. With 
 that instinctive delicacy which is pre-eminently the 
 characteristic of the Irish people, they refrained 
 from rejoicing over a fallen foe. Mr. Bentley re 
 sumed : " I have the happiness to announce to you 
 that Mr. De Courcy " at the mention of that hon 
 ored name all sprang to their feet, and cheer after 
 cheer echoed and re-echoed through the hills " Mr. 
 De Courcy, who loves you all as his children." 
 -Again the wild cheers broke forth, and the people 
 seemed perfectly crazy. Mr. Bentley, laughing, 
 said : " I see I cannot name that name. "Well, a 
 certain gentleman has resigned his seat in Parlia 
 ment, where he long and vainly strove to obtain a 
 fair settlement of the landlord and tenant question, 
 and prefers again to become a quiet country gentle 
 man, living at peace amongst those who love him, 
 
 and " Here his voice was drowned m cheers 
 
 and shouts from several parties. 
 
 " God bless him, and you too, Mr. Bentley ! " 
 " Long life to ye both ! " " That you may never die 
 at all!"
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 351 
 
 " I see you are not willing to listen to me." 
 
 A stentorian voice shouted : " Boys, give three rale 
 Irish cheers and a ceadmillefailthafoi' Mr. Bentley, 
 our good landlord ! " These were given with a hearty 
 good will, throwing up of hats, and the wildest en 
 thusiasm. 
 
 " Now boys," cried the same voice, " hould your 
 tongues. Not another word. Let the gentleman 
 spake." 
 
 " I often heard," resumed Mr. Bentley, '* of an 
 Irish cheer ; but now I understand what it is." 
 
 " I have not much more to say. Mr. De Courcy 
 has done me a great favor in accenting the agency 
 of these estates. It is to him a labor of love, he 
 says, and I know you will all appreciate his kind 
 ness in saying so. He is not only my agent, but my 
 most valued and honored friend. The property shall 
 be entirely controlled by his wise head, who knows 
 the necessities and capacities of the tenantry. I now 
 want to see you enjoy yourselves in dancing, and all 
 your national pastimes." 
 
 There were loud calls for Mr. De Courcy, but he 
 merely bowed and smiled his acknowledgments, 
 while they drank his health and rent the air with 
 cheers. When he retired, Lame Jerry arose and 
 begged " before the dancing commenced, that every
 
 352 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOTTLAH. 
 
 one should fill their glasses and drink long life and 
 every prosperity and happiness to their respected 
 neighbor and loved friend, Anthony O'JByrne, tho 
 old chieftain of Glengoulah." Again the old hills 
 gave back the echo of the oft-renewed cheers which 
 seemed never-ending, when Darby Wholahan 
 jumped up, rolling his sightless eyes around, ex 
 claiming : 
 
 " Boys, I'm going to improvise." [Cries of " Bravo, 
 Darby ! it's yourself can do it ! "] " I am going, I 
 say, to improvise. Most of yees knows what that 
 manes ; but, lest there should be any gorsoons whose 
 powers of discrimination are not nately developed, 
 I'll translate it for their edification. I said, I was 
 going to improvise. Now that manes, my young 
 friends, I'm going to compose a song for this truly 
 festive occasion, illustrative of the bards of old in 
 the ancient halls of our forefathers. I shall also im 
 provise an air upon my ancient instrument the 
 pipes." [" Bravo ! Long life to Darby Wholahan, 
 the king of pipers ; the best musician in the barony ! 
 aye, or in the whole county, for that matter ! " 
 
 Darby sat down and flourished a number of chords 
 with great rapidity, then struck a particular key ; 
 and gazing upward, as if reviewing the past, present 
 and future in the light of the soul, he broke forth in
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 353 
 
 a wild but most harmonious recitative of the ancient 
 glories of " Green Erin of the Streams " her ages 
 of martyrdom and long-sufferings for the faith of 
 Christ, the valiant deeds of her sons, foremost among 
 whom was the gallant O'Byrne of Glengoulah. He 
 then touched on the penal laws, their disinheriting 
 effects and consequent impoverishment of the old 
 Celtic race, shoving them out by wholesale and in 
 troducing in their stead the Sassenach, some of whom 
 were as bad as the evil one could make them, but 
 whose wicked deeds we would pass over to-day in 
 honor of him who would become " more Irish than 
 the Irish themselves," and under whose benign sway 
 the lovely hills and vales of their country, so cele 
 brated in song and story, would again resound with 
 the joyous laugh and merry dance where the poor 
 and the stranger would ever find a welcome, and the 
 bard be honored as in days of yore 1 
 
 He ceased. During the recitative a number of 
 gentlemen from the castle stole on tip-toe, one by 
 one, into the tent, and listened delightedly. Now 
 cheers, bravos and compliments flowed in upon all 
 sides. Mr. Bentley and many other gentlemen came 
 forward as he ceased, to shake by the hand a bard 
 who combined poet and musician in his own person. 
 Mr. Bentley requested " that Mr. Wholahan would
 
 354: THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 call and see him at the castle on his next visit to 
 Glengoulah. By that time he expected Mrs. Bent- 
 ley and his family there, and as his wife was some 
 what of a musician herself, she would be pleased to 
 meet a genius like Mr. Wholahan," etc. A proud 
 and happy man was Darby that night. - Such tones 
 as he brought out of the pipes were never before 
 heard by mortal ears. As our droll friend Tom 
 Moody said : " It would make a cat spake to see the 
 humors of the ould head joggin' from side to side, 
 now smilin' down at the pipes, and then snuffin' up 
 at the stars." 
 
 It was indeed a most entrancing sight. The sun 
 had sunk behind the western hills, but the sapphire 
 and golden tints which accompanied his declining 
 course were still spread far over the firmament, while 
 the moon, sailing slowly and majestically onward, 
 threw a flood of silver radiance on the old woods 
 skirting the noble lawn, and shed a trail of glitter 
 ing spangles on the bosom of the Ovoca. Groups 
 of happy boys and girls footed away right merrily 
 " The Eocky Koad to Dublin," Lather the Wig," 
 " Trip to the Cottage," etc., on the smooth velvet 
 turf. Occasionally Darby's voice could be heard : 
 " That's yourself, Mick ; but it's no wonder you 
 do it so nately with such a partner ! Sure, Bessie
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 355 
 
 Daily wouldn't hurt a bunch of primroses if she 
 danced on them, her step is so light. Ah, Bessie, 
 you decavin' rogue ! though } r ou tread so lightly on 
 the turf, upon my conscience you're hard enough 
 upon the boys' hearts !" " Why, then, Mrs. Fogar- 
 ty ! is that your voice I hear ; and is it only looking 
 on you are you that could bate seven baronies at 
 the dance ?" " Bedad, it's the truth you're spakin', 
 Mr. Wholahan. Come out here, Mrs. Fogarty, and 
 letua show these youngsters what dancin' was in our 
 day. Oh, by the powers of Moll Kelley, I'll take 
 no excuse. Sure, it's many a time we danced to 
 gether before either of us was married, and I'll be 
 bound we have the old kick in our foot yet. What's 
 your favorite, ma'am? Bedad, you must have it! 
 Darby, give us ' The New Married Bride !' and now 
 clear the road, boys ?" 
 
 Such were the scenes of merriment all around. 
 Between ten and eleven o'clock they began to wend 
 their way homeward, with bounding steps and glee- 
 some jokes, betokening hearts awaking to a sense 
 of happiness and contentment.
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 ANOTHEK year flew by, and once more the vines 
 and flowers in her old home were tended by the 
 careful hand of Winnie. The children played among 
 the flower-beds in front of the handsome, capacious 
 cottage erected by the late Bishop Biggs for Sandy 
 McGlauren. 
 
 Retribution had at last overtaken the wh^le troop 
 of vampires. The same day that Toney Byrne took 
 possession of his old farm, the soul of Jacob Margin 
 was brought before the bar of Eternal Justice. He 
 died ot putrid fever after seven days' sickness, at 
 his residence, Fawnbrook Lodge. Three days after 
 ward a stately hearse, with nodding plumes, and 
 half a dozen carriages, accompanied his remains to 
 the Protestant church-yard of Ardmore. A few 
 miserable outcasts, whom his tyranny had made 
 desperate, flung stones at the hearse and cursed the 
 senseless clay as it passed along ; but the majority 
 of the people shook their heads in horror, and, get 
 ting out of the way, crossed themselves, and invoked 
 a prayer to be delivered from the evil one. Such was
 
 THB BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 357 
 
 the end of Jacob Margin. It was said not even one 
 of his own relatives ever shed a tear for him. He 
 went to his grave " unwept, unpitied," and but too 
 well known. 
 
 Sandy McGlauren went back to Scotland, a richer 
 if not a wiser man ; while Faulkner, the Bible- 
 reader, and his confreres, betook themselves to 
 u White Friar's Hall," to shout for Thresham Gregg 
 and the Dublin Corporation. 
 
 Mr. De Courcy, when he had the affairs of the es 
 tate restored to their loi-mer order, and saw the peo 
 ple once more contented and happy, took with his 
 family a tour on the continent, which he had long 
 contemplated. About six months after his depart 
 ure little Mary Dempsey came home from school 
 earlier than usual one day, and throwing her arms 
 around the neck of her grandfather, with whom she 
 was a great pet, exclaimed : " Oh, grandaddy ! I 
 have the greatest news for you ! "We were all dis 
 missed from school to-day at twelve o'clock. First, 
 we were brought to the chapel to join in a Te Deum 
 that all the nuns sang in thanksgiving to God. Sis 
 ter Norah played the organ ; but she could not sing : 
 her voice was choked with sobs. She told me to tell 
 vou in particular the news she had heard. Now what 
 will you give me if I tell you \ " and the young
 
 358 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOtTLAH. 
 
 rogue peered laughingly into his face. Her grand 
 father fondled the little prattler and stroked her fair 
 curls. Then he said : 
 
 " I wont give anything. I don't care to hear it ! " 
 
 " Yes, you do, you bad old grandaddy ! You'd 
 give ever so much to hear it ! " 
 
 " "Well, I'll give you a kiss." 
 
 " Oh, I'll get plenty of them without telling any 
 thing." 
 
 " Well, then, I'll buy you a pretty picture the 
 next time I go to Ardmore." 
 
 " Will you, for sure and certain ? " 
 
 " For sure and certain." 
 
 " Then I'll te.ll you. Sister Norah got a letter 
 from Rome this morning, from her father, telling her 
 he had become a Catholic ; and on the same day and 
 in the same church our own Mr. De Courcy and all 
 his family were baptized, and all made their first 
 communion. Now, grandfather, isn't that good 
 news?" 
 
 Toney Byrne did not utter a word he raised his 
 hands and eyes to heaven, and going into his room 
 knelt down. The child saw the large tears stream 
 ing down his cheeks, and she ran off to find her 
 mother and grandmother and communicate the joy 
 ful intelligence. Soon it was over the \\hole coun-
 
 THE BYKNES OF GLENGOULAH. 351) 
 
 try, and from every bill-top that night bonfires blazed 
 and groups danced merrily around them. Every 
 old flute and fiddle ever scratched was brought forth 
 and put in requisition for the dance, and when all 
 instruments failed the best whistler or jigger took 
 up the tune and footed it with right good will until 
 the near approach of midnight. 
 
 On any Sunday morning early, long before the 
 chapel-bell of Tinmanogue gives warning that the 
 holy mass will soon commence, if you chance to be 
 passing and peer through the sweet-briar hedge 
 among the peaceful graves, you will not fail to see a 
 pensive woman of prepossessing appearance, dressed 
 in plain black, surrounded by a group of hushed 
 children, kneeling around a grave which she fre 
 quently stoops to kiss and bedew with her tears. 
 
 And " Aft in the simmer eve's gloamin' " the 
 same figure may be observed (attended by one or 
 other of her children, and sometimes by an old man) 
 plucking the withered leaves from the rose bushes 
 which hang lovingly over the cross at the head of 
 the grave, or carefully removing the weeds from the 
 well-kept turf studded with daisies. Would you 
 know who sleeps beneath ? Then read the iuscrip-
 
 3(50 tt\i!, BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 tion on \he white marble slab inserted into the chapel 
 wall aboYCy the grave : 
 
 BRYAN DEMPSEY, 
 
 DEPABTEL. IN THE PEACE OF THE LOUD, 
 
 Febraary 13th, 1846, 
 Aged 28 years. 
 
 BLXJUIESCAT IN PACE. 
 
 " Glengoulali forever mourns her youthful martyr 1 " 
 
 Watch the movements of this mourner a little 
 longer and you will see her proceed to another 
 grave, upon which she bestows equal care, and fer 
 vently kisses the green sod, praying all the while. 
 
 A box tomb of Carrara marble stands at the head 
 of this grave. On the top of the tomb two angels, 
 finely carved, hold between them an immortal crown, 
 and seem already on the wing for realms of bliss. 
 
 The inscription reads thus : 
 
 ERECTED BY HIS SORROWING PARISHIONERS, 
 TO THE MEMORT OP 
 
 REV. EUGENE PATRICK ESMOND, 
 
 FOR FIFTT-SIX TEARS 
 
 FATHER, FRIEND, COUNSELLOR, AND PASTOR OF GLENGOULAH, 
 
 Died a Martyr to Charity, February 20th, 1S46, Aged 98 Years. 
 
 Requiescat in Pace. 
 
 These graves and her children are the great charge 
 of Winnie's life. The white marble slab over Bryan 
 was the gift of Clara Menville, through Mr. De 
 Courcy, who carried out her wishes when she en 
 tered the convent. 
 
 Winnie's life glided peacefully on with her father 
 and mother. Many of the old people have dropped
 
 THE BYRNES OF GLENGOULAH. 361 
 
 to sleep iii the hope of a glorious resurrection, but 
 Toney Byrne yet lives, loved and respected by all 
 who know him. 
 
 Still on winter evenings the neighbors gather 
 around his fireside as in days of yore, and beguile 
 the hours with legend, and song, and tale. Still 
 Toney watches the budding corn and waving fields 
 he tilled for so many years, and his life is a continual 
 prayer of thanksgiving. He thinks of the old neigh 
 bors who were persecuted to death or forced to emi 
 grate to foreign lands, while he can sit securely and 
 smoke at his porch, listening to the concert the 
 Bweet birds are making ; and in the humility of his 
 heart he wonders why it is that God has so espe 
 cially favored him. The terrible trials he has passed 
 through have faded from his memory ; or if ever 
 spoken of, he always says . 
 
 " Well, don't you see how God in his tender mer 
 cies brought us through all? And now we're better 
 off than ever ! Praises be to His holy name ! " 
 
 And now, dear reader, lest in this changeful world 
 some new evil should befall us, I will make my 
 adieu, hoping you will follow the advice I gave you 
 in the first chapter to visit before you die the lovely 
 hills and vales, not of Wicklow alone, but of " Erin 
 the beautiful." 
 1G
 
 362 THE BTENES OF GLENGOULAH. 
 
 If you have not the good fortune to see Anthony 
 Byrne in the flesh, you will, thank God, see many, 
 many left in that grand old land with the spirit and 
 the virtue of the Chieftain of Glengoulah. 
 
 THE EM).
 
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