Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1875 — Legend of an Irish Giant. [ARTICLE]

Legend of an Irish Giant.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, when giants were as plenty in Ireland as mites in cheese, there lived on the borders of the county Armagh one Barney McConnell, who lawfully came under the above appellation, being seven feet high, and made in proportion. His prowess was well known and there was on*? thing that grieved Barney above a little, namely : that he could get nobody who was able to stand before him in irisown country. Now, report spoke of a certain giant in Scotland who was laboring under the like grief and from precisely the same cause. Therefore Barney, after consulting his friends on the subject, sent a challenge to the Scotch giant “to come over to Ireland and get the conceit taken out of himself.” After due time the bearer of the challenge returned with word that it had been accepted, and further stated that he was advised to inform Barney that he bad better make his will, get his coffin made, etc., as he that he was to encounter never left his work half done. “Did you see him?” asked Barney. “ Faith an’ I did,” said the messenger. “What is he like?” interrogated the the giant. “Faith, Barney, avic! he’s like anything at all but a mortal being!” “ How big is he?” said Barney, looking but little pleased at the description of his rival. “ ‘ How big is he!’ did you say? Faix! he’s as big as the ould tower fonunst the door, an’ a head an’ shoulders on him like Father McGuraey’s bull. By all accounts he’ll ait you alive!” Barney began to feel rather uncomfortable at the prospect before him, and straightway went to consult his wife as to wnat should be <|one in the event of his rival proving to be such as his messenger had represented. While they were thus engaged, one of the children came running m and exclaimed: “ Daddy, esme to the door an’ see the great man that’s coining up the hill!” Barney

peeped through the chinks of the door, and, to his great terror, saw the monster. One look was enough to satisfy him that Ida messenger had not exaggerated his account of him, and, turning to his wife, he said: “Shelah,jewel! I’m eat up alive, for sartin! Here comes the Scotch babt to drum your Barney.” When Shelah heard of the approach of the coming foe, and saw her lord’* inability towage war with one so far superior in strength and size, she concluded that it was only by some piece of woman’s wit that her husband could escape from the affair without dishonor. Accordingly, she gently lifted the child out of the cradle, and, depositing it in the inner room, made the father get in its place, and, covering him up with a quilt, gently seated herself and resumed her work. After a few moments, in walked the cause of all the disturbance, and demanded an interview with the giant. Shelah, after motioning with her hand for him to keep quiet, walked gently across the floor to where he stood, and in an undertone told him Barney had gone out to the woods. The giant told her that he intended waiting his return. “Very well!” said Shelah. “Only don’t make a word of noise for the life that’s in you, for there’s nothing makes him more furious than to hear the child Crying when he comes home.” By this time the giant had seated himself on a bench and was quietly surveying the apartment; hut when his eye rested on the cradle, with a look of unutterable astonishment, he asked what was In it. “In it!” cried Shelah. “ Don’t you see it’s the child that’s in it ? An’ Heaven help aif you wake him! The crayture ’t get a wink of sleep last night, with two back teeth he’s cutting.”' The giant, with a look of terror and astonishment, asked what size the father was. “ Faith an’ I can’t tell you!” said: Shelah, "’cause I never measured him. But that gossoon,” pointing to the cradle, “ when the father is angry, runs and hides himself in one of his boots!” **Laird save us!” exclaimed the giant. “ I winna mind waiting the noo, lassie. I maun be gaun! Gude morning!” So saying, he took to his heels and never thought himself safe until ho got among the hills of his own country.