Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

150 Fictions of the Irish Celts.
you please from him, concerning anything that is passing
anywhere in any part of the world at the moment, or to
ask about things lost or stolen, or your own future destiny.
But attend to what I say. If you ask a question of him
before he is full fourteen years of age, something terrible
shall happen to him and you ; take timely warning."
The boy had a wonderful capacity for science and
language, but seldom spoke to those about him. He was
very amiable, however, and every one anxious for some
favour from his father always got him to be their spokesman.
Strange to say, he reached to within a few days of
the fatal time without being asked an improper question
by any one.
He would occasionally when in company start, and
begin to talk of what was passing at the moment in the
town of Wexford, or the cities of Dublin or London, as
if the people about him were aware of these matters as
Avell as himself Finding, however, by their looks and
expressions of surprise, that they had not the same faculty,
he began to grow very silent and reserved.
About this time a grand-daughter of the famous
Blacky Avas about to calve ; and Mr. K. who set a great
value on the breed, recommended her particularly to the
care of a young servant boy, a favourite of his. While
he was looking after her and some others in a pasture
near the house, a young girl to whom he was under
promise of marriage was passing by chance along the
path that bordered the fence. He asked her to stop,
iDut " she A\ as in a hurry to the big house." Stop she did,
however, and full twenty minutes passed unmarked while
they stood and conversed on very interesting nullities.
At the end of the twenty minutes he gave a sudden
start, and examined the different groups of cattle with his
eyes, but no Blacky was to be seen. He searched, and
his betrothed assisted, but in vain ; and the poor girl
burst out a crying for the blame he would be sure to get
through her folly. She went fonvard at last on her
message to the big house, and passing by the kitchen