The Black Prophet: A Tale Of Irish Famine

g into rotten ridges; the yard was untidy and dirty; the walls and hedges were broken and dismantled; and the gates were lying about, or swinging upon single hinges. The

een trowelled round their bases, projecting uselessly out from them; some of the quoins had fallen fr

were crazy; the dresser, though clean, had a cold, hungry, unfurnished look; and, what was unquestionably the worst symptom of all, the inside of the chimney brace, where formerly the sides and flitches of deep, fat bacon, grey with salt, were arrayed in goodly rows, now presented nothing but the bare and dust-covered hooks, from

ctually ragged-all of them were scantily and poorly clothed; and if any additional proof were wanting that poverty, in one of its most trying shapes, had come among them, it was to be found in their pale, emaciated features, and in that languid look of care and depression, which any diminution in the natural quantity of food for any length of time uni

e got, an' that the whole country has got-so you must only take the will for the deed now-to such as we have you're heartily welcome. Get us some dinner, Bridget," he added, turning to his wife; "but, first and foremost, bring that girl into the room here till she hears what I have to say to her;

itement as was pitiable. Her mother, who, as well as every other member of the family, had been ignorant of this extraordinary attachment, seemed perf

r face was oblong, and her features so replete with an expression of innocence and youth, as left on the beholder a conviction that she breathed of utter guilelessness and angelic purity itself. This was principally felt in the bewitching charm of her smile, which was irresistible, and might turn the heart of a demon into love. All her motions were light and elastic, and

ong, or what has happened to put you in such a condition? I see by the anger in your eye an' the whiteness of your

coortin' wid the son of the man that murdhered her uncle-my only brother-you won't be surprised at the state you s

spake to, or know, or make any freedoms whatsomever wid young Condy Dalton, the son of her uncle's murdherer? Hut, no, Jerry, d

m as well as I did-deny it she can't; an' now let her say what brought her there to meet him, or rather

e to stand: in fact, she durst not raise her eye to meet that o

a wild and impressive appearance. The prophecy-man, with his dark, stern look, peculiar nose, and black raven hair that fell thickly over his shoulders, contrasted strongly with the fair, a

which hung against the wall-"there's his coat-there's my lovin' brother's coat; look upon it now, an' ax yourself what do you desarve for meeting

pearance of the murdered man's coat, started; in a moment, however, he composed hims

e no excuse to make; however, I'll soon put an end to all this. Brin

d not Donnel Dhu caught her in his arms. She had, in fact, become almost insensible from excess of shame and over excit

candle near her, the first thing they observed were streaks of blood upon Donnel Dhu's face, that ga

Mave, my darlin', what's come over you? Blessed mother of marcy, what blood is this? Achora, machree, Mave, spake to! me-to the mother that 'ud go distracted, an' that will, too, if anything's wrong wid you. I

f I did, may God forgive me; for sure you know, Bridget, I wouldn't injure a ha

she shrieked aloud, and turning her face away from him, with something akin to fear and horror, she flung herself into her mother's arms, exclaiming, as she hid her face in her bosom

rse, Donnel, you'll not heed her words for, indeed, she hasn't come to herself y

ould make me take any notice of them. She has been too much frightened

her mother; "but with

n Mave rose up, and requested

said she, "I'm afraid; an

e, which, of course, accounted for its appearance on Donnel's

d her mother-"a man that wouldn't injure a hair of yo

t there, an' just as Donnel started, I looked at it, an'

its dim flickering light, or the force of imagination, cannot be determined, one thing was certain, the coat appeared actually

ely the unsteady light of

at, held it so close to it, that had there been the slightest

indeed, the poor girl is so frightened by the great scow

the coat, in a state of terror al

to disbelieve their own eyes; an' only that I known the thing co

of coorse I agree wid Donnel, that it was the unsteady light of the rush that made us think so; howaniver, it doesn't matther now;

many a weary day an' night in studyin' the further, an' in lookin' into what's to come. I must spake, then, what

med the alarmed girl; "let me g

to you," and she held her back, with a kind of author

ur side, and a fine house to live in. I see stairs, an' carpets, an' horses, an' hounds, an' yourself, with jewels in your white little ears, an' silks, an' satins on your purty figure. That's a wakin' dhrame I had, a

feel a strong interest in anything that might concern the future interest of her daugh

enable her to know the man that is to be her husband when she sees him; and to herself, in the mornin', I will, before I go that is

lar charm and affectionate spirit which breathed in his voice; or, might it not have been that delicate influence of successful flattery which so gently pervades the heart of woman, and soothes that vanity which unconsciously lurks in the very purest and most innocent of the sex? So far from being flattered by his predictions, she experienced a strong sensation of disappointment, because she knew where her affections at that moment rested, and felt per

ountable horror of this man removed by its painful exercise. Still her aversion was not wholly overcome, although much diminished; for, ever as she looked at his swollen and disfigured face, and thought of the mysterious motions of the murdered man's coat, she could not avoid turning away her eyes, and wishing that she had not seen him that evening. The scanty meal was at length over; a meal on which many a young eye dwelt with those yearning looks that take their character from the hungry and wolfish spirit which marks the

s; be off, I say, an' don't stand ready to jump do

the poor creatures were again forced to return, and resume their

y now forgot the hunger and care for a time, in the wild legen

u can. If you wish to tumble in now you may; or, may be you'd join us in our prayers. We sthrive, God! help us, to say a Rosary every night; for, afther all, there's nothin' like puttin' oneself! undher the holy protection of the Almighty,

nt at a loss, but almost

only let me have my own way to-night. To-morrow night I'll pray double." He then withdrew to his appointed place of rest, where, after having partially undressed himself, he lay down, and for some time could hear no other sound

aired to their respective sleeping places, with the exception of old Sullivan himself, who, after some hesita

ding it over them; "let it help to keep you warm to-night-for God knows, you want it, you an' them poor gorsoons. Your coverin' is but light, an' you may hear the downpowrin' of rain that's in it; an' the wind, too, is risin' fast, every minute-gettin' so strong, indeed, that I doubt it 'ill be a storm before it stops; an' Dan, if it 'udn't be

n the bed, and putting down

for heaven's sake. The night's not at all so cowld as you think,

ocence is-poor things, they're sound already-an' may God pity them an' provide for them, or enable me to do it!" And as he looked down upon the

I couldn't sleep under it. I'm very time

than the world b'lieves of you. Well, well-I'll hang it up again; so good night, an'

ly broken occasionally by the heavy pattering of the descending rain, and the fitful gusts of the blast, as

their dress, and hurried to the bed in which the prophet lay. In a minute or two they got a candle lit; and truly the appearance of the man was calculated to drive fear and alarm into their hearts. They found him sitting in the bed, with his eyes so wild and staring that they seemed straining out of their sockets. His hair was erect, and his mouth half open, and drawn back; while the perspiration p

the nature of his dream, he awoke him at once. On seeing a portion of the family about him, he

mpose himself, "ha-Good God! what a frightful drame I had. I thought I wa

' who?" as

a-why, who talks

d; but you're frightened. You say you thoug

d man was-I mean, that the man was murdherin' myself." And he

ould you be alarmed?-your hand is free of it. So, as I said, compose

wever, I ax pardon for disturbin' you all, an' breaking in upon your sleep. Go to bed now; I'm well enough;

e them good night, and again endeavored to compose himself to rest. In this he eventually succeeded, the candle burning it

ith which the periodical famines of our unhappy country have made our people too well acquainted. Previous, however, to breakfast, the prophet had a private interview with Mave, or the Gra Gal, as she was generally termed to denote her beauty and extraordinary power of conciliating affection; Gra Gal signifying the fair love, or to give the more comprehensive meaning which it implied, the fair-haired beauty whom all love, or who wins all love. This interview lasted, at least, a quarter of an hour, or it might be twenty minutes, but as the object of it did not then transpire, we can only explain the appearances which followed it, so far at least, as the parties themselves were concerned. The Gra Gal, as we shall occasionally call her, seemed pleased, if not abs

to the barn, and in a tone and manner of much mystery, assuming at the same time that figurative

written-the moon saw it, and the stars saw it; but the sun did not, for he is dark to fate an' see

ents," they replied; "but how could we, ye kno

e Sullivan, daughter to Jerry Sullivan and his wife Bridget, of Aughnmurrin. Amin, says the prophet; fate is fate, what's before is not behind, neither is what's behind before, and every thing will come to pass that's to happen. Amin, agin, says the prophet, an' what am I to write? Grandeur an' wealth-up stairs and down stairs-silks-an' satins-an inside car-bracelets, earrings, and Spanish boots, made of Morroccy leather, tanned at Cordovan. Amin, agin, says Nebbychodanazor, the prophet; this is not that, neither is that the other, but every is eve

opping the recitative, and

e'll yet live to make all your fortunes. Take c

ding another w