THE MAN WHO NEVER LAUGHED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 24, 14 June 1900, Page 23

THE MAN WHO NEVER LAUGHED.

W« were sitting around the fire, each one interested in his own thoughts, when the silence was broken by Davy Carolan, who said : ' Now, my friends, you have often asked me how it is no one ever heard me laugh, no matter how good the joke. This being so, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps it is as well to tell you now, so that,»ahould the chance ever arise to strike a blow for your country's freedom, this story may nerve your arms to strike swift and deep when you think of and remember the wrongs and sorrows of a lonely old man ' And as Davy said this his old eyes grew dim with grief .and, unshed tears, as he remembered the events of the, to him, fatal past. Then he would continue in a voice rendered broken by his deep grief :—: — ' I waa born of highly respectable parents, and though now a Catholic I was not so always ; for both my parents were Protestar ts and I myself|was reared in that religion and spent many years of my life in upholding its doctrines. ' The circumstances which led to my change of faith I will make known to you in the course of my narrative. 'As I^said before, my parents were respectable. They were also kindly people, and to my mind the only dark stain in their otherwise unblemished and unimpeachable character was their hatred for the Catholic faith and everything connected with it. •My mother, though a gentle and kindly soul, taught me to look on Catholicity with loathing and horror — in fact to consider it as something unclean and diabolical. Thus early imbued with a prejudice against — I may say a deeply-rooted hatred of — Catholioity, and consequently all who professed it, you will not wonder at the part I took in the persecution of the Catholics in the memorable years of 1798 and those preceding it. My part in those ever-to-be-remembered scenes of horror and butchery I will make known as I go al< ng. ■On my reaching the age of 17, both my parents died, and I, being an only son, became the sole inheritor of their property, which was considerable. Soon after the death of my parents I became acquainted and fell in love with a young lady of birth and property. She was possessed of beanty of a high order ; her goodness of heart was proverbial, and her accomplishments were many and varied. Naturally, a lady possessed of so many charms had many suitors ; but I carried off the prize, and, scarcely had a year gone by since the death of my parents, when I brought Sarah Bashford home to reign as mistress of my heart and of Carolan Fort. ' The fruit of our marriage was a son, and as he grew up he became nearer and dearer to our hearts every day. 1 At 16 he was a tall, handsome lad, a fearless rider and a dead shot with either pistol or musket — in fact he had no equal in all the wide barony of Farney. He was besides a general favourite ; from the highest to the lowliest all loved him, and as for the peasants around, they would go through fire and water for him. ' On my son Donald reaching the age of 16, the rage of per?ecution, which had for its object the total extermination of the Catholics, and which waa one of the causes that precipitated the rebellion of 1798, was in full swing. ' I waa one of the first to join the corps of Yeomanry formed at this period, to aid in the work of persecution and extermination. The corps being formed was placed under the command of a brutal, bloodthirsty bigot named William Scarlet, and under his directions began a series of murders, burnings, and butcheries, which I, even after the lapse of so many years, cannot contemplate without feeling a sense of indescribable horror over me — and yet I was my«elf one of the brutal gang and contributed my quota to the bloody deeds of that most horrible period. • I have a consolation — even though a poor one — in the thought that, though I burned down houses', and pursued to death many of the young men, I never raised a weapon to the old men, nor to the women or children ; but, on the contrary, as far as in my power, I shielded them, often at the expense of being jeered and laughed at by my brutal comrades, as being too tender-hearted ; and many accused me to Scarlet, in secret, of a leaning to the side of the rebels. Scarlet himself checked me for being over-lenient with the " spawn of Belial," as he called the rebels. ' I had many enemies amongst the Yeomen owing to the fact that I had been made captain in preference to men older and more deeply stained with innocent, unoffending Catholic blood than myself, and hence their accusations of me, in order to procure my degradation. What effect their accusations hail on the events which follow you would never imagine. ' Wanton murder and devilish cruelty was the rule of the Yeos, and wherever they went the country became as silent and deserted as a wilderness. Burned homesteads and trampled corn-fields marked their ravening way ; nothing remained of once happy and prosperous homea but the grim and blackened walls, like hideous skeletons, a blot upon the erstwhile green and smiling landscape. Nor were these the only objects of horror and rapine that met your gaze. Ah, great G-od, no 1 The trees by the roadside bore their loads of human fruit, and skeletons, grim and hideous, might be seen swaying to and fro in the breeze, to strike terror and dismay to the poor Cathol .^s ; and I had a part in |all that work 1 ' Here the agony within the old man's heart made itself visible in a few bitter tears, that rolled down his furrowed and time-worn cheeks. After a short silence he continued : 1 Boys, you must not imagine that the men of Farney allowed themselves to be butchered like a flock of sheep, unresistingly. Oh, no ; they took up arms, and though we outnumbered them ten to one, many a time we felt their vengeance sore and heavy. But be

it said to their everlasting honor, and to the everlasting disgrace and shame of their brutal and bloodthirsty enemies, they never injured women or children ; and this is true of the most desperate and deeply wronged amongst the rebels. Not bo the Yeos ! They made no distinction of age or sex ; indiscriminate murder wan the rule without a single exception. ' My son had now reached the age of 19, and you would travel the four provinces to find a handsomer or a braver lad than he. ' I had, in my own mind, determined that he should follow in his father's footsteps ; that is, join the Yeoa, and aid in the work of destruction then going on. Judge, then, of my surprise and chagrin, when on mentioning this step to him he flatly refused, saying he would have nothing in common with the Yeos, whom he stigmatise.l an " brutal and bio dthirsty hounds." Of course, I got into a passion at having my cherished plans and prejudices assailed and set aside, and some hot words passed between us. The consequence waa my boy quit his home, and to my untold horror and dismay, when next I heard of him, he had joined the rebels. • This was a bitter blow to me ; but I hid my grief and disappointment under a mask of indifference and went straight on with the work of persecuting the Catholics, and pursued it with relentless fury ; for my disappointment served to increase my bitterness against that body. I have often thought since then if it had not been for the love the Catholics bore my noble boy, I would have been slain, as I, in my eagerness for their destruction, often left myself open to destruction ; but even in their desperation they forbore to injure me for his sake. ' Well, thank God, I was spared to see the error of my ways and to repent of my iniquity. 'In the meantime Scarlet had been killed and a new Commander chosen. Rover the Hog he was nicknamed, and with him I became a favourite But soon jealous tongues began to wag, and my enemies poisoned the mind of our new chief against me. Their Btories carried weight, and the Rover began to look on me with suspicion. The cruel bloodthirsty nature of Rover could not abide the slightest degree of leniency towards the rebel Catholics. 1 " Ah," thought I, "if he knew that my son is at this moment among the rebels, how much greater would be hia coldness and distrust." IMy life became one of dread, lest my enemies shonld hear about Donald having joined the rebels. I knew they would at once tell Rover, and then— for me ! consequences which I dared not contemplate. 'We had taken up our quarters in the home of a Catholic gentleman, who had been forced to fly to thehillsto save hislifefrom the fury of the Yeos. The General and hia staff took up their quarters inside the mansion, while the inferior officers and men were relegated to the stables and outofßces. ' The plac • waa surrounded by a wood, so that men were continually on du'y for fear of a surprise. ' One morning as I lay awake, looking up at the ceiling of the room in which I had found quarters, and thinking of Donald, I heard a peremptory knock at my door, and on answering I was told the General deMred me to appear before him immediately. I burried on my uniform and stepped into the corridor. Here I was met by an officer — one of my enemies. " I have good news for you," pays he with a malicious smile. '• Your rebel son has been taken prisoner ; aye, fighting red-handed against lawfully-constituted authority, and he'll die.'' 'It had come, the awful blow had fallen, and I almost fell beneath it. Terror and dismay seized my heart, for I knew the merciless nature of the Rover, our General, and that my boy was foredoomed to death ; no earthly power oould save him. 'My heart almost ceased to beat, and a numbness seized upon my limbs. I was almost paralysed with dread, but a far greater horror was yet in store for me. ' I staggered along to the general's apartment, and knocking on the door thereof I was told to enter. On entering I observed that almost all the General's staff were with him, and that some of them gazed on me with pity— others with malicious triumph ; while the Rover eyed me with a devilish glare in his small, cunning eyes. ' '• Captain Carolan," said he, "are you aware that your son has been taken in the rebellious act of resisting my men? " '" So I have been told," I answered, as calmly as I could. ' " And told truly," he exclaimed. ' " General, said I, " I am truly sorry that he should be guilty of such an act ; but I hope his youth and inexperience and my long and faithful services, will obtain for him your gracious pardon." ' The General remained silent for awhile. Then he said, mockingly :— ' " Captain, yon yourself are accused of having shown favor to the rebel spawn ; and yet you say you are a true man." ' " Gtneral," said I, "let him who accuses me in secret stand forth and accuse me publicly, and I will prove on hia body, with this good sword, that I am a true man." 1 " I have a simpler way to test you," he replied, which I will put into operation later on. You may go now." ' I hurried from the room, pondering on the General's words and wondering what test he was about to apply, and would it save Donald's life. I had my doubts ; but at the same time I was willing to risk anything and everything to save my boy's life. " How little did I imagine the fiendish test he waa abont to apply. I waa not, however, to remain long in ignorance of it. About an hour later the General sent for me again, and I responded to hia ordera with alacrity. ' " We have sent for you," says Rover, "to prove to us that you are a true man and no traitor," and while he spoke his eyes shone with a malignancy which he could not hide. ' "And I am willing and ready to do so," I answered, little dreaming of what was to come.

"'We shall ccc, we shall seel" he exclaimed, with a shrug. Then continuing, he said. " We, these gentlemen and I " — pointing to the officers of his staff — " have come to the conclusion that your son deserves death. But." — at this my heart gave a great bound of i joy, for I thought my boy was safe — " having in mind your long and faithful services, we have, instead of hanging him like a dog, given him his choice of the means by which to die.' Here my hopes fell shattered " And ho has chosen," he continued," to div by the bullet. Now rumors having reached us that you al-ohave a decided leaning towards the rebels, we are about to prove that you are a true man by making you your son's executioner " ' My heart gave one great leap of horror at the awful proposition, and the next instant I becuuit an iiitil iuat<s upon thi floor of the chamber. On regaining coneciousmss I begged and prayed on my knees to be spared that fearful ordeal : but as well mieht I have begged for mercy from a cannibal. Rover was immovable as a rock of adamant, and ordered me to begone, telling me at the same time I had got off safely. Seeing no hope of changing or moving hia merciless heart. I ceased grovelling, and rose to my feet. ' "Remember," says he, "at sunset you must be ready to carry ont the order of this ccurt, and until then, my gallant captain, adieu." This latter was said in a mocking tone, but had he known the terrible determination that had entered my heart he would not have been so careless or unconcerned.' , ' I walked from the general's apartment straight to my own and having eecreted a long knife on my person I stepped out into the air. ' I could perceive at a glance that my every movement w,u watched f ot fear I would escape, but such an idea never entered niy mind ; it was filled with one desperate resolve, to the exclusion of everything el?e. ' I moved about mechanically, now and then watching the sun in the heavens. How quickly the hours seemed to fly, for to my distracted gaze the sun seemed to dash across the heavens towards the west. The hour of sunset was near at hand — the hour when I must forsooth become the murderer of my own son, my brave, handsome Donald t ' As the sun was sinking, a blood-red orb in tho west, I ?aw my boy led forth and placed by the side of an open grave near the wood ; but before *hey could bind his hands he snatched forth a Rcsary from his breatt and kissed the cross. Then I knew my boy wa« a Catholic, and that of itself would have occasioned his destruction . ' An officer came towards me with a swagger, and, placing a loaded musket in my hand, pushed me roughly forward to the place marked off for the exec lit ion er. ' When Donald saw me he cried out " Father 1" then bowed his head in silence. At this point the General stepped fortli from the house and took up a position near my boy. '" Captain," said he, " when I give the word, fire, and aim true. Present 1" ' I presented by weapon straight at Donald. 1 " When I count three, lire," continued the Geueral. " Are you ready ?" "•Ready!" I answered. ' " One — two — thrte !" 'There was a loud report ; and my bullet had found its billet — not in Donald's heart, but in that of the inert iUss Hover the Hog, my General ! The next instant I spraug forward, and with my knife cut Donald's bonds. Then turning I discharged a pistol at the group of officers, and immediately after hurried Donald into the wood ; but before we could reach its friendly shelter there was a loud report, and my boy pitched forwaid on his face. Simultaneously with the report came a wild slosran, and ouc from the wood came leaping a number of war-like figures. They were Donald's comrades come to rebcue him ; but alas ! too late, for when I raised him up he was dead. ' A wild desire for revenge seized me, and clutching the gun which lay by my side I dashed to the aid of the rebels who were attacking the Yeos with great fury and some success. ' Frenzy possessed me, and I seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Man after man of the Yeos went down before me, like rotten boughs before the winter's gale. Terrible was the revenge I took for my dead boy ; and if the rebels had tome too late to rescue him they came in time to avenge him. ' Soon the Yeoa were routed and sent helter-skelter across the country, leaving dead and dying to mark the way they fled. I, with the aid of my new-found friends, carried the remains of my noble boy to a lonely spot among the hills, and there laid him under the green sod to take his last long sleep, with the wind among the tall pines to sing over him a solemn requiem, and for many a long day after beautiful little Maureen Dwyer — Donald'a sweetheart — would steal to that lonely spot at evening's silent hour to mourn over her lost love's grave, until death claimed her for his own, and she and Donald were united beyond the portals of death. 'Good Father Duffy blessed the spot where Donald is sleeping peacefully among the lonely pines. ' Sorrows never come singly, for e'er I could come to the rescue of my wife the revengeful Yeomen had murdered her and burned down my once happy home. But for her, too, I had a deep revenge. 4 For years I was hunted over the hills, and at last when peace prevailed I found myself a beggar ; but owing to the kindness of a friend I became possessed of the farm which I now hold. By long companionship with the rebels and intercourse with Fathir Duffy I became convinced that the Catholic Faith must be the trne and only one, so I embraced it ; but since the death of my wife and eon I have never laughed. All the joy within me died with them. ' Besides,' he added, 'I have much of cruelty to repent of and to atone for. — Weekly Freeman.