present were anxious to witness the experiment; many from mere credulity; but a few hoped to see the assertions of the friar confounded and disproved. The messengers soon returned with some half-burned sods of turf, which the friar kindled into a blaze, into the midst of which he threw a scapular. The string by which he held the cloth was quickly consumed, and the faith of the by-standers fell considerably.

Owen quietly observed, 'It's much that same vartue I thought it had.'

However, the fuel was quickly consumed, and then the friar triumphantly drew from the ashes, the identical brown scapular. See, see,' he exclaimed, holding it up to view, 'see what holy power the priest's blessing has given this little piece of cloth. It withstands the fire just as the three children did in the furnace of Babylon, uninjured, unconsumed.'

Aye, but it did'nt put out the fire as you said it would,' muttered Owen, in a low tone; 'I'm afther thinking that you swopped it for another, some way.'

Fortunately for Owen Rua, his observation was not overheard by any person except by me. Had it been otherwise, he would have fared but badly among the enthusiastic dupes who now pressed forward to purchase the precious amulets. A large sackfull of them was disposed of on the spot. Thousands were afterwards sold throughout the country by itinerant preachers, and at length a shop was opened for the exclusive sale of scapulars, which were purchased by the peasantry at a shilling a piece, while the more affluent gave a higher price. In a short time, the distinguishing badge of the rebel party throughout Connaught was a Carmelite scapular. The speculation proved a most profitable one to its originators, who, by forming a few samples of

cloth of asbestos,* at once secured a supply of the sinews of war, and raised the courage of their adherents to a blind fatalism.

Such alleged miracles succeed with the majority, yet they induce many others to regard chicanery and religion as inseparable companions. In our mountain districts, are numbers of young men who despise the only articles of belief with which they are acquainted, and having no means of hearing or reading the truth in the word of God, they live without prayer, never attend mass or confession, and the priest looks on their neglect with indifference, because, to avoid trouble, they pay him his half-yearly dues. The labours of Irish Scripture-readers have been blessed to these men in many instances, but as yet the labourers are but a few, scattered among extensive fields, white unto the har

vest.

Of this class of humble sceptics was Owen Rua ; and, humanly speaking, had his life been prolonged, he might have given heed to the admonitions of Aileen, but it was not so to be. At this time he refused to assume the Carmelite token, but Mabel did not coincide in his opinions or practice. On the contrary, she purchased scapulars for us all, including the absent Cormac. Aileen decidedly objected to wear hers, because to it were attributed powers which belong alone to the Supreme. I am ashamed to say that the hope of securing safety by the adoption of so popular a token, toge ther with the solicitations of one who had been a second mother to us all, induced me to wear the universal badge of party, and the younger children of course followed my example.

*For corroboration of this fact, see Musgrave's Memoirs.

After almost all the rebels had become members of the fraternity, and thus secured, as they believed their temporal and eternal welfare ;* they prepared to turn to a more ignoble subject, and gratify the imperious demands of hunger. Some cattle grazing upon the demesne, were immediately caught and slaughtered, large fires kindled, and the operation of cooking formed in the open air.

Meantime, the rebel leaders regaled themselves in Mr. W's dining-room, upon the contents of his cellar, and on account of the heat of the weather, they flung the windows open to the very ground. Thither Owen Rua directed his steps, and I will give the result of the interview in his own words: The officers were all sitting at their ease, drinking the best of every thing, when I walked up to the window, and taking off my caubeen-my Frinch helmet I mean,-I made a bow, quite polite, to Colonel O'Dowd, the only raal blood among them; and, says I, "What would it plaze your Honour that the boys should get to drink." "There's a large water-cart in the back-yard," says a little ugly chap of them; "Take it down to the lake," says he, “and you can bring more nor ever the boys can drink." "I'm entirely obliged to you, Sir," says I, "but if we're always to be soles and ye uppers, we might as lief have gone on serving King George as the likes of you." So I left them there, continued Owen, and I'm going afther Black Cormac, to join the Frinch Gineral.'

'Take us all safe out of this noisy crowd, first;' said Aileen.

It is the nature of the Roman Catholic to trust in vain and insufficient means. This enlightened nineteenth century has heard the voices of thousands ascending in the cathedral of Treves, uttering the impious absurdity, "Holy coat, holy coat, pray for us!"

And where would I take you too, darlin? I've no place to lave you, but with Madam O'Dowd.'

'Look there,' said Aileen, as she pointed towards the beautiful lake to an island fringed with arbutus, and covered with hollies and laurel to the very water's edge; leave us there, Owen dear. Just get a corragh, and row us over, where yon island is sleeping quiet in the bright sunshine, where the threes are bending down to kiss the wather, and not a fut of earth can be seen, for the thick green leaves dancin' in the wind. Land us there, and we'll be hidden like partharishkas (young partridges) in the nest.'

Aileen's design was immediately put into execution. We passed through the rebel encampment, leaving groups variously employed: cooking, discussing politics, dancing to the sound of violins, and a few already sleeping around the watch-fires. In order to escape observation, we rowed round the island, and landed on the far side, screened by thick foliage. We found a small, neat cottage, which was fortunately uninhabited; the fisherman to whom it belonged had joined the insurgents some days before, and his wife and children had chosen to follow his fortunes rather than remain in uncertainty of his fate.

Owen brought over a quantity of provisions with him, but when Aileen wished him to pay for them, he replied,' And who would I pay, Aileen aroon ? its hard to say where the owner is now, but, if he wants to be paid for what he ought to be glad to give for the good of his counthry, he has only to get a bit of a writing asshignat, I think they call it, from the Commishary, and the Irish Directory will pay him, as soon as ever its set up in Connaught, which it soon will by the help Besides the boys often leave half bullocks

· of

åfther their dinners, so you may make your conscience asy, Aileen; as you don't go to confession now, it would be a pity to make a pack to carry that you couldn't get quit of.'

Aileen was silent, and Owen set off to join Humbert's army. It was fortunate for us that the rebels were not under any military discipline, but were at liberty to wander to and from the different camps at pleasure. Their usual custom was to disband and revisit their different homes whenever there was not any march or attack in prospect, but as Bishop Stock justly observes, 'Wherever danger appeared, they always flocked to meet it. They were not deficient in animal courage, but had no head, no leaders of talent, and, therefore, they were scattered like dust before the wind. Their captains were chosen by themselves, and principally from among themselves; and, though fearless and patriotic according to their views of politics, they were equally ignorant and rash.'

After Owen left us, Mabel and Aileen improved the cottage much in cleanliness and comfort; and when Lily and Gore had fallen asleep, I crept up to Mabel's side, and asked her to narrate some legend. I like to tell you stories, Miss,' she replied, for as the proverb says, ' Is fodha cuimhda shean lianniv' (The memory of an old child is long,) and you were always cute, and ould from your cradle. My stories are not thrown away on you.' Mabel was right in her conclusion, for the following tale has stamped itself with unfading colours upon the tablets of my memory.'

'There was once on a time,' said Mabel, a wicked man who lived hard by the cabin where I was born. He was a better sort of farmer, and had plenty of sheep on the mountain and oats in the haggard, but he was nivir