Page:The Wild Goose.djvu/27

2. tell me what has happened to him; or are you his father?" "Yes," said the old man; and he forthwith narrated to the youth the particulars with which the reader is already acquainted. We have journeyed hither from Lough Swilly since Friday morning, and now, having arrived at so near destination, and the time rapidly drawing to a close, how can I be otherwise than overwhelmed when I find my gallant steed drop dead from sheer exhaustion and fatigue, as it is impossible for this little girl to reach the Rock in time?" Bravely has she borne the fatigues of the journey; and even for her sake I cannot help feeling grieved for our untoward accident." Conall Age listened to the old man’s story with eager attention, and at its close began to whistle "Red Fox," and turned his eyes to examine the little girl more closely than he had done at first. She was dressed as a simple little peasant girl; with a mantle thrown over her head and shoulders; but he remarked that she always kept her hands covered. She was stamping with her tiny foot on the ground with impatience as he gazed on her. "Well," said he, when he was satisfied with his surveying, "old man, you need not be much grieved at the loss of the horse, as I dare say you have many more besides; and if it is necessary that this young one should reach Cliodhna Rock before seven o’clock, I think that is not impossible, although the distance is seven good miles, and there is but three-quarters of an hour to perform it in. I do not think there is a man in Ireland at present can exceed me in running, except perhaps Cormac Art himself, and I am sure the weight of that little girl is not much, So, if she is willing that I should take her, I will engage to go to the enchatress’ stronghold with her before the time has expired. In the meantime, you can follow at your leisure, or go to my father’s castle which is only two miles distant, and wait there for our return. I would go home for a horse, but I fear too much time would be lost; besides, I hope I shall be able to do without him." The little girl immediately consented to the proposal of the youth; and he, placing his hurly under his arm, with the boss out to his breast, took her, and placing her pillion-fashion on it, told her to put her arms round his neck to steady her. Then, striking up his favourite tune, he set off rapidly in the direction of the Rock of Queen Cliodhna.

The concert over, the discharge of fireworks was renewed with increased ardour. The din was indescribable. The hoarse and shrill cries of pop-corn, cigar, and other vendors, the braying of tin-horns, the shrieking of "the ear-piercing pipe," and the springing of rattles, mingled with the continual and stunning explosions of common crackers, double-headed crackers, India crackers, torpedoes, and tourbillons, and all other sorts of firearms, would give the indifferent looker-on one bad idea of Pandemonium. Here an individual, slightly "independent," was haranguing a laughing crowd on the "spirit of ’76", whilst he exemplified in himself the full effects of the of ’56.

There a juggler and acrobat

with feats of legerdemain and strength. And, in another place, unsophisticated rendancy was "taken in and done for" by card-sharpers, who, buy some mysterious manipulation, invariably made the cards turn up in their own favor. We created great diversion and some wrath by despatching fire-serpents in amongst the crowd. These igneous messengers performed the most eccentric motions, spitting fire in every direction, their tortuous course governed by no law whatever. Now some individual would be rivetted to the spot, compelled to endure the pitiless shower of sparks rained on him, and another ran hotly pursued by the merciless reptile.

Divine service was held in the different churches of the city, and was well attended, despite the allurements outside. The annual oration was eloquently delivered by Oliver Wendall Holmes, a distinguished, who expatiated at length on the great blessings conferred on America since it became a free and independent nation. In the afternoon, the city authorities and their guests partook of a magnificent banquet. ’Tis true, we didn’t dine as sumptuously as they, but certainly did with as much satisfaction. After dinner we witnessed some exciting boat-races in the Back Bay, a option of Boston Harbor. Some "crack" oarsmen were there from St. John’s, New Brunswick, the boatmen of which place dispute with the Haligonians the Championship of American waters. A Boston boat, called the "Maid of Erin," won the prize contested for by first-class gigs. The Public Gardens, at the south side of the Common, was the scene of a provided for