FINN MAC COUL'S FINGER-STONE.
Finn Mac Coul went hunting one day on the Curragh of Kildare. His sportwas indifferent, for he brought down only a leash of red deer, and acouple of wolves. He came back to his house, on the hill of Allen, insuch bad spirits, that his wife asked him what was the matter, and saidthat, no doubt, he would have better sport another time. Heaving a deepsigh, he told her that it was not his bad sport that annoyed him, butthat news had that morning reached him that Ossian, the Scotch giant,was coming over to challenge him to a trial of strength, and if he lostthe day--for he could not decline the contest--his credit, and thecredit of Ireland, would be gone forever.
At this news, Finn's wife became as low-spirited as himself. They sat bythe fire, like Witherington, "in doleful dumps," and their thoughts werethe reverse of happy.
Suddenly, the lady--for the life of me I cannot bring myself todesignate her as plain "Mrs. Mac Coul"--asked her disconsolate lord andmaster at what time Ossian was expected to arrive? Finn told her thatthe Scottish Hercules had intimated his intention of paying his visit atnoon on the following day. "Oh! then," said she, brightening up,"there's no need to despair. Leave all to me, and I'll bring you throughit like a Trojan. A blot is no blot until 'tis entered." This remark,showing at once her philosophy and her knowledge of backgammon, was veryconsolatory to Finn Mac Coul, who, like men before and since, was ratherunder what is called petticoat government. His mind was relieved whenhis wife saw daylight.
After breakfast, the next day, Finn (by his wife's direction) went intoa huge child's-cradle, a feat which he had some difficulty inaccomplishing. There he lay, crumpled up uneasily, while she kept busyin the kitchen, baking some cake or griddle-bread.
By-and-bye, up came Ossian, who knocked at the door, and civillyinquired whether Finn Mac Coul lived there, and if he were at home?"No," said his wife, "he's gone to the fair of Bartlemy; but I am hiswife, and, perhaps, I can answer for him."
"What!" said Ossian, "did not he hear that I, Ossian of Scotland, wascoming over for a trial of strength with him? I hope he does not mean toskulk. Wherever he may be, I shall not return home until I _see_ him,and until he _feel_ me."
When the wife found that Ossian was too far North to be put off by a"not at home," she put the best face on it, welcomed him to Ireland,hoped he had a pleasant passage, and that the tossing on the salt-waterdid not disagree with him, invited him into the house, and said thatFinn would soon be back, and ready to indulge him in any way he pleased.
Ossian sat down by the fire, quite at his ease. He had a great conceitof himself, and was, indeed, the strongest man in Europe at that time.He noticed the large cakes that were baking in the oven, each of themtaking two stone weight of flour, and asked why she made them of such asize. "They are for that little creature in the cradle, there," saidshe, pointing over her shoulder to Finn. Then Ossian looked round, andnoticed the cradle, with Finn in it, and a night-cap on his head, andtied under his chin, and he pretending to be fast asleep all the time.
Astonished at the immense bulk, Ossian called out, "Who's there? Whatman is that in the cradle?" "Man!" said Finn's wife, with a pleasantlittle laugh, "that's our youngest child. I am weaning him now, and Isometimes think the fairies have overlooked him, he's so dwarfed andsmall, and does not promise to be half the size of his father and hisbrothers."
Ossian never said a word to that; but he could not take his eyes off thecradle, thinking, no doubt, if the undergrown baby was such a bouncer,what must the father be.
By-and-bye, Finn's wife told Ossian that, as he had a long journey, andFinn was staying out longer than she expected, he might as well takesome refreshment, without waiting for him. The cakes were nice and brownby this time, and she asked him to break his fast with one of them. Hetook it, and when he made a bite in it, he roared again with pain, forhis two best front teeth were broken. "Oh!" he cried out, "it is as hardas iron,"--and so it might be, for she had put an iron griddle into it,and baked it with it in. "Hard?" said she. "Why, that child there wouldnot taste it if it were a bit softer."
Then she recommended Ossian to wash the pain away with a sup of thefinest whiskey in the province; and she fetched a wooden _piggin_, thatwould hold about a gallon to a gallon and a half, and filled it to thebrim. Ossian took a long pull at it; as much as a quart or so. ThenFinn's wife laughed downright at him for taking so little. "Why," saidshe, "the child there in the cradle thinks nothing of emptying that_piggin_ in one draught." So, for shame's sake, and because he did notlike to be thought a milk-sop, Ossian took a little more, and a littlemore yet, until, before long, the liquor got the better of him.
Now, this was the very pass that the good wife wished to bring him to."While his father is out," said she, "and I wonder why he is not homebefore now, may-be you'd like to see the child there throw a stone, ortry a fall with you, or do any of the diverting little tricks thathis father teaches him." Ossian consented, and she went over to thecradle and gave Finn a shake. "Wake up, dear," said she, "and amuse thegentleman."
So Finn stretched himself, and Ossian wondered at his black beard, andhis great bulk. "'Pon my word," said he, "you're a fine child for yourage." Then, turning to Finn's wife, he asked, "Has he cut any of histeeth yet?" She bade him feel his gums. Then Ossian put two of hisfingers into Finn's mouth, and the moment they were there Finn bit themto the bone. Ossian jumped round the room with pain. "Ah!" said Finn'swife, "you should see his father's teeth; he thinks nothing of bitingoff the head of a two-shilling nail, when he uses it for a tooth-pick."
By this time, Ossian was far from comfortable. But he thought he mustput the best face on it; so he said to Finn, "Come, my lad, let us seehow your father teaches you to wrestle."
Finn did not say a word, but grappled Ossian round the waist, and laidhim sprawling on the ground before he could say "Jack Robinson." Ossianpicked himself up, very sulkily, and rubbed the place that had come incontact with the hard floor of the kitchen.
"Now," said Finn's wife, "may-be you'd like to see the child throw astone." And then Finn went in front of the house, where there was a heapof great rocks, and he took up the very identical stone which nowstands in the Breaks of Ballynascorey, and flung it all the way from thehill of Allen. To this day it bears the marks of Finn's five fingers andthumb--for his hand was not like an ordinary hand--when he grasped it;and to this day, also, that stone bears Finn's name.
Ossian was greatly surprised, as well he might be, at such a cast. Heasked, "Could your father throw such a stone much farther?"--"Is it myfather?" said Finn: "faith, he'd cast it all the way to America, orScotland, or the Western Injes, and think nothing of it!"
This was enough for Ossian. He would not venture on a trial of strengthwith the father, when the son could beat him. So he pretended torecollect some sudden business that called him back, posthaste, toScotland, thinking he never could get away half quick enough. And thestone remains where Finn threw it, and, if you only go that way, any oneon or near the Sigham mountain will show you FINN MAC COUL'SFINGER-STONE.
IRISH STORIES.
THE PETRIFIED PIPER.
Bits of Blarney Page 10