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proached, and suffered her to reach the borders of the lake, where she waved the brand on high, forgetting in the zeal of liberty her feminine character, and more resembling one of their own war-goddesses than the peaceful Christian maiden, whose prayers and tears, till now, had been her only weapons. Like a train to which a spark has been applied, a chain of beacon-fires sprang up from hill to hill of the surrounding country, amid the shouts of thousands gasping for the breath of freedom, and hailing that feeble light as its arising star. The boats of O'Melachlin, shooting like arrows from the surrounding shores, darkened the surface of the lake, and the foremost reached the isle before the guards of the tyrant, stupefied by wine and fear, had yet recovered courage to resist. They were an easy prey to O'Melachlin and his followers; nor was the enterprise thus auspiciously commenced, permitted to grow cold until the power of the invaders was destroyed throughout the isle, and Melcha had the happiness to see peace and liberty restored to her afflicted country.

In the waters of that lake which so often had borne the usurper to the lonely scene of his debaucheries, he was consigned amidst the acclamations of a liberated people to a nameless sepulchre, and the power he had abused once more reverted to its rightful owner.

In one thing only did the too confiding islanders neglect to profit by the advice of Thorgills himself. They did not burn the nests. They suffered the strangers still to possess the sea-port towns and other important holds throughout the isle; an imprudence, however, the effect of which did not appear till the reign of O'Melachlin was ended by his death.

The reader may desire to know what became of the beautiful and heroic princess who had so considerable a share in the restoration of her country's freedom. As this had been the only Earthly object of her wishes, even from

childhood, with its accomplishment was ended all that she desired on Earth. Rejecting the crowds of noble and wealthy suitors who ardently sought her hand, and preferring the solitude of her own heart to the splendours and aliurements of a court, she besought her father, as a recompense for her ready compliance with his wishes, that he would allow her once more to retire into the convent where she had received her education, to consume her days in exercises of piety and virtue. Pained at her choice, the king, however, did not seek to thwart it; and after playing her brief but brilliant part upon the theatre of the world, she devoted in those holy shades her virgin love and the residue of her days to Heaven.

Such are the recollections that hallow the Village Ruin, and dignify its vicinity with the majesty of historical association. The peasantry choose the grave of the royal nun as the scene of their devotions; and even those who look with contempt upon their humble piety, and regard as superstition the religion of the buried princess, feel the genial current gush within their bosoms as they pass the spot at evening, and think upon her singleness of heart and her devoted zeal. Long may it be before feelings such as these shall be extinguished.

THE KNIGHT OF THE SHEEP.

CHAPTER I.

IN the days of our ancestors it was the custom, when a "strong farmer" had arrived at a certain degree of independence by his agricultural pursuits, to confer upon him a title in the Irish language, which is literally translated, "The Knight of the Sheep". Though not commonly of noble origin, these persons often exercised a kind of patriarchal sway, scarce less extensive than that of many a feudal descendent of the Butlers or the Geraldines.

In one of the most fertile townlands in one of our inland counties, lived a person of this class, bearing the name of Bryan Taafe. No less than three spacious tenements acknowledged his sway, by the culture of which he had acquired, in the course of a long life, a quantity of wealth more than sufficient for any purpose to which he might wish to apply it.

Mr. Taafe had three sons, on whose education he had lavished all the care and expense which could have been expected from the most affectionate father in his walk of life. He had a great opinion of learning, and had frequently in his mouth, for the instruction of his children, such snatches of old wisdom as 66 Learning is better than houses or land", and

"A man without learning, and wearing fine clothes,
Is like a pig with a gold ring in his nose".

Accordingly, the best teachers that Kerry and Limerick could afford were employed to teach them the classics,

mathematics, and such other branches of science and letters as were current in those parts. The two elder sons showed a remarkable quickness in all their studies; but the youngest, though his favourite, disappointed both him and his instructors. So heavy was he at his book, that neither threats nor caresses could have any effect in making him arrive at anything like proficiency. However, as it did not proceed from absolute indolence or obstinacy, his father was content to bear with his backwardness in this respect, although it in some degree diminished the especial affection with which he once regarded him.

One day as Mr. Taaffe was walking in his garden, taking the air before breakfast in the morning, he called Jerry Fogarty, his steward, and told him he wanted to speak with him.

"Jerry", says Mr. Taaffe, after they had taken two or three turns on the walk together, "I don't know in the world what'll I do with Garret".

66

Why so, masther ?”

66 Ah, I'm kilt from him. You know yourself what a great opinion I always had o' the learning. A man, in fact, isn't conshidered worth spakin' to in these times that hasn't it. "Tis for the same raison I went to so much cost and trouble to get schoolin' for them three boys; and to be sure as for Shamus and Guillaum, I haven't any cause to complain, but the world wouldn't get good o' Garret. It was only the other mornin' I asked him who was it discovered America, and the answer he made me was, that he believed it was Nebuchodonezzar”.

"A' no ?"

What's to be

""Tis as thrue as you're standin' there. done with a man o' that kind? Sure, as I often represented to himself, it would be a disgrace to me if he was ever to go abroad in foreign parts, or any place o' the kind, and to make such an answer as that to any gentleman or lady, afther all I lost by him. "Tisn't so with

Shamus and Guillaum. There isn't many goin' that could thrace histhory with them boys. I'd give a dale, out o' regard for the poor woman that's gone, if Garret could come any way near 'em".

"there's

"I'll tell you what it is, masther", said Jerry; a dale that's not over bright at the book, an' that would be very 'cute for all in their own minds. May be Master Garret would be one o' them, an' we not to know it. I remember myself one Motry Hierlohee, that not one ha’p'orth o' good could be got of him goin' to school, an' he turned out one of the greatest janiuses in the parish afther. There isn't his aiquals in Munsther now at a lamentation or the likes. Them raal janiuses does be always so full of their own thoughts, they can't bring themselves, as it were, to take notice of those of other people".

"Maybe you're right, Jerry", answered Mr. Taaffe ; “I'll take an opportunity of trying".

He said no more, but in a few days after he gave a great entertainment to all his acquaintances, rich and poor, that were within a morning's ride of his own house, taking particular care to have every one present that had any name at all for "the learning". Mr. Taaffe was so rich and so popular amongst his neighbours, that his house was crowded on the day appointed with all the scholars in the country, and they had no reason to complain of the entertainment they received from Mr. Taaffe. Everything good and wholesome that his sheep-walk, his paddock, his orchard, his kitchen-garden, his pantry, and his cellar, could afford, was placed before them in abundance; and seldom did a merrier company assemble together to enjoy the hospitality of an Irish farmer.

When the dinner was over, and the guests busily occupied in conversation, the Knight of the Sheep, who sat at the head of the table, stood up with a grave air, as if he were about to address something of importance to the company. His venerable appearance, as he remained

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