Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/285

Rh while on top of it is a level surface with rude seats at one side, facing the south—the place being like what we may suppose was old times a primitive forum. In this flat there is a large flag, laving in it a rude squarish space. Under this flag all the crowns of the kings of the country are said to be buried; but no one can get at them but the lawful heir, as no one else will be able to cut away the cement that fastens the square or "door" in the flag, which leads to their hiding-place. Different persons have tried; but either their tools failed, or they were driven away by supernatural means.

In old times there lived near the head of Glenveagh a hermit of such sanctity that an angel brought him food every second day; this saint was by name Mulroony McGraddy, and his heimitage remains unto this day.

The devil marked the saint as his own, and tempted him in various ways, all of which had no effect, but at last he came to him in the shape of a beautiful ministering lady. The angel ordered the lady away, but the saint resisted: at last the angel said if the saint did not send her away he would give him an unquenchable thirst. The lady said if the stream at the hermitage was dried up, there was plenty of water in the lake. Then the angel lit a candle and said if the lady was not gone before the candle was burnt out it would be worse for him. When all was burned but an inch, the angel put out the candle and gave him another chance; but McGraddy said—"As you have burned the candle burn the inch." So he did, and the hermit immediately became possessed with an insatiable thirst. He found the stream dried up, so he went to Glenveagh lake; this was also dry, so he crossed over to the Gartan lakes, which were also dry. Then he was so weak that he could go no further, but the devil took him on his back to carry him to Lough Salt, but when he was within a mile of the latter he died, and since then the place where he died is called Stragraddy; it lies in the hills to the west of Barnes bog.

If any one is now going to attempt anything desperate, they say: "As you have burned the candle burn the inch."