Shaun O'Day of Ireland Page 4

  CHAPTER III

  COME AWAY

  "Come away, O human child! To the woods and waters wild, With a fairy hand in hand." --W. B. YEATS

  The sea had taken away Shaun's only loved one.

  Shaun O'Day stood upon the banks of the little lake near his village. Hestared out across the blue Irish lake. That morning his stepmother hadbeaten him.

  HE STARED OUT ACROSS THE BLUE IRISH LAKE]

  It was several months since the sea accident had taken his father fromhim. It was several sad, cruel months to the boy Shaun.

  If it had not been for his little Dawn O'Day, Shaun would have run away.He would have run and run--anywhere to get away from this life of hardwork and cruelty.

  But he did not want to leave little Dawn O'Day. She pleaded with him tostay. She was afraid of the fairies.

  To-day he stood beside the lake, and he had a bundle by his side. It wasa bulky bundle. He had worked hard all that morning. He had helped themen burn kelp.

  Kelp is seaweed. The people burn it and make iodine from what is left ofit. Kelp burning is an important occupation in western Ireland.

  Shaun had worked hard. His little rough hands burned. His little sturdybody ached. He was hungry.

  He had gone home and, seeing the family at dinner, he had helped himselfto potatoes.

  His stepmother had cried, "Begob, and did I tell you to serve yourself?Are you, indeed, the King himself?"

  With that, she had beaten him.

  Now Shaun stood upon the shore of that blue Irish lake near his village.He had taken a suit of clothes belonging to one of his stepbrothers. Asuit of boy's clothes it was.

  He would put it on. He would stand by the lake and call to theleprechauns to take him away. He would work for the leprechauns. Yes,willingly would he work and toil for the fairy folk!

  He started to undo the paper in which he had wrapped the clothing. Heheard a sound and looked up. Eileen was standing before him. It was hislittle Dawn O'Day.

  "Shauneen, och, Shauneen!" she cried. "What is it you are about to do?And why do you look that way?"

  Shaun did not answer. He took her hand. They sat together on the bank ofthe lake.

  "Faith, speak to me, Shauneen!" cried the girl, the tears starting toher eyes. "Speak and tell me that you are not after calling the lep--"

  She stopped suddenly. One should not talk about them. They are easilyoffended.

  Shaun kept looking out across the lake, but he held the hand of hislittle sweetheart. At last he spoke.

  "Sure, I am leaving you, Dawn O'Day," he said.

  As she started to cry out, he held up his hand and said, "No; do notcry, for I cannot stay. But do not fear that I shall forget you. Thedream we made together shall come true. I'll be coming back to you. Forthere's not a faireen like you in all the world, at all."

  Dawn O'Day began to cry.

  SHE PLEADED WITH HIM TO STAY]

  She sobbed, "Och, don't be after leaving me! Don't be after going tothem. Och, 'tis themselves will be keeping you, and never will DawnO'Day see you again!"

  Shaun laughed and stroked her little hand.

  HE TOOK HER HAND]

  "Troth, do not fret, mavourneen," he said. "Sure, you know well I'll bewriting to you, and never will I forget you, my Dawn O'Day."

  The little girl knew that it was useless to say more. The boy stood up,and she stood, too. They looked into each other's blue eyes.

  "DO NOT FRET, MAVOURNEEN"]

  And then Eileen ran as fast as she could. She ran away from her littlefriend and sobbed as she ran. She thought she should never again seeher Shauneen.

  The boy quickly changed his clothing. He tied a large rock to the redpetticoat and threw it into the lake. He stood there in the garments ofa boy.

  HE TIED A ROCK TO THE PETTICOAT]

  He held out his arms and cried, "Come, leprechauns! Sure, I'm ready togo with you!"

  There was no fear in his heart. Any other boy in that village would havetrembled at doing such a thing. But other boys were contented at home.

  Other boys had mothers and fathers and good homes. They did not want tobe stolen away. Shauneen was not afraid.

  He stood and called as he stood. He was straight and strong. He wouldmake a splendid helper for a shoemaker. Why did the fairy shoemakers notcome and take him? He stood there until dusk. Then he grew tired and laydown to sleep. He slept long. It was early dawn when he awoke.

  He stood once more and called out, "I am ready to go. Come, leprechauns,come!"

  "COME, LEPRECHAUNS! I'M READY TO GO"]

  But not a one came. And the lad was puzzled.

  Now Shaun was keen. He was one who thought and planned. He did notintend to go back to his stepmother.

  He began to wonder whether the tale of the leprechauns was true. Hadanyone ever really seen one? Only old Patch, the village shoemaker, andhe was half-witted.

  But no one had been with Patch when he had seen the leprechaun. No oneever had seen the fairies; but they all believed. They believed so muchthat they were in daily dread of them.

  They left milk upon window sills and made charms to keep the fairiesfrom doing evil. They dressed their boys in red petticoats.

  But Shaun would never again wear a red petticoat. He would never againreturn to his stepmother.

  Even if the fairies did not steal him, he would never return. He wouldgo somewhere. Perhaps to the "New Island"--America! As he was thinkingthese thoughts, he found himself walking toward the shore. There was aweak light in the sky. The rugged shore was blue in the haze of dawn.

  The boy could see a boat. Men were hauling things and making ready toset off for somewhere. Shaun was quick, and before he knew what he haddone he had slid into the boat.

  He crouched upon the bottom, under a seat. He made himself as small as abundle of rags.

  He lay very still. He felt the boat leave the shore and he heard the mentalking and singing. The water rolled the boat about, and sometimes thespray came in and wet the men.

  But Shaun was dry and warm under the seat. He hardly breathed.