they would destroy the world but for
the hope they have of being saved. Every Monday morning they think the
day of judgment may be coming, and that they will see heaven.

'Half the world is with them. And when you see a blast of wind, and it
comes sudden and carries the dust with it, you should say, "God bless
them," and throw something after them. For how do you know but one of
our own may be in it?

'There never was a funeral they were not at, walking after the other
people. And you can see them if you know the way--that is, to take a
green rush and to twist it into a ring, and to look through it. But if
you do, you'll never have a stim of sight in the eye again.'

HERB-HEALING

_September 28th, 1899._

'HONOURABLE LADY GREGORY,

'I, Bridget Ruane, wish to inform you that there is in the Oratory
in London one of the Fathers, a Saint. I do not know his name; but
there was a young woman of the name of Meara; she got two falls and
could get no cure. She went to London and found this holy man; and
he sent her back to Gort, here to me, and I cured her. If your
honourable Ladyship could make him out, it would be a wonderful
thing, and a great happiness to many a weary heart, and the great
God would have it in store for you and your son. May you enjoy many
happy days together is the prayer of your humble servant,

'BRIDGET RUANE.'

This letter was brought to me one morning; and I went down to see the
writer, a respectable-looking old woman, dressed in the red petticoat
and blue cloak of the country-people. She repeated what she had said in
her note, and added: 'Now if you could find out the name of that Saint
through the press, he'd tell me his remedies; and between us, all the
world would be cured. For I can't do all cures, though there are a great
many I can do. I cured Michael Miscail when the doctor couldn't do it,
and a woman in Gort that was paralyzed, and her two sons that were
stretched. For I can bring back the dead with some of the herbs our Lord
was brought back with, the _Garblus_ and the _Slanlus_. But there are
some things I can't do. I can't help anyone that has got a stroke from
the Queen or the Fool of the Forth.

'It was my brother got the knowledge of cures from a book that was
thrown down before him on the road. What language was it written in?
What language would it be but Irish? May be it was God gave it to him,
and may be i