FIRIN', BEDAD!

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2634, 15 September 1882, Page 3

FIRIN', BEDAD!

The following descriptioaof the collapse of the last armed rising in Ireland is extracted from the ‘Fortnightly Review.’ After describing how 300 Irishmen, armed with Enfield rifles, were drawn up in a formidable position on a steep hill side, the writer proceeds A pig was cooking, and all was festive and hopeful, when the morning light displayed oar after oar of peelers and red soldiers below. Swiftly the British line was formed—two companies of foot, a handful cf constabulary, end a few country gentlsmeo on horseback. Up they went, but the Republican* were in position fully extended behind their cover, the distances had been marked with flags, and the rifles were loaded and capped. ‘ Faix,’ says Barney Marlin to a friend from Brosna, ‘ it’s little like a rebellion I feel at all. There's the chapel bell ringin’ bslow, an’ the people goin’ to work like Ohrietians, an' eorra a differ (difference) I see from yistorday. I’m in tho same friezo coat an’ the same old hat, an’ ehure I see no signs of the Irish Republic at all, at all, only the little green flag an the little chap with the s*ord, an’ us here like a lot of wanderin' rabbits waitin’ for the polus to shoot us j and shcre here’s out of it!’ Tho leader eyed the approaching host, end, without looking behind or to the right or to the left of him began the morning’s duties. ' Steady —at three hundred yards prepare to fire ! Now three hundred yards—no man fire* till I give the •word Aim low—steady—.” A minute passed ; the roldirrs reached the fetal spot. ‘Fire!’ Not a bit of it No sound broke the stillness cf tho morning air. * Fire 1 J reiterated the ‘little chap with the sword j ’ and he turned wildly to look along Lia_ line. Alas, ths ditch was empty, and Jim iilake, officer’s orderly, ‘ amongst the faithless faithful only found’ responded, ‘ I! it’s firin' ye mane, bedad they’re all firin’—over tho hill behind, for sorra a wan of them’s left.’ It was true ; tho battle was over. The peasantry had grasped at facts, recognised the logic of circumstances, and preserved themselves, if not Ireland.

There is an old bat elegant story of a gentleman who went house-hunting. He sras shown over some furnished apartments by ft viry pretty servant maid, of whom he asked —“Are you to be let with the rooms! ” "No, sir,” was her reply; “ I am to be let iiltue,"