store, cattle, and fields of waving corn, then gradual decline
of riches, until the young lady, her husband, and six or eight
children, were seen living in a little hut in great poverty.

On hearing such an evil prophecy, the interpreter desired to cast the
cup again, to ascertain whether the Fates were resolved to adhere to
their former announced decree. Father and mother leaned back in their
chairs, giving utterance to disquieting thoughts. Through various
incantations the gods were propitiated. A second cup disclosed a small
beginning for the daughter and her husband, but a grand ending. To
prove which prediction was the correct one, the fortune-teller had
recourse to the egg and lead tests--pouring the white of an egg and
boiling lead into water, and watching the fantastic figures produced.
Every fresh trial terminated in favour of the poor wooer. Father and
mother changed their minds; the daughter almost leaped for joy; two
fond hearts were united, and the promised dower was not kept back. For
many years the young couple throve, and at last died, in peace and
possession of plenty, leaving an honourable name, likely to descend to
future generations.

The immediately preceding anecdote reminds us of an old Irish story
bearing on the land question, and showing how agrarian difficulties
were settled in ancient times, without recourse to assassination.

One night in 1662, one Francis Taverner, while riding home near
Drumbridge, observed two horsemen pass him silently. Not even the
treading of the horses' feet could be heard, and presently a third
horseman appeared in the likeness of James Haddock, formerly a farmer
at Malone, where he died five years previously. Mr. Taverner asked the
spectre rider number three (for in reality the three riders were
apparitions) why he appeared to him. To this the ghost replied, that
if he would ride his (the ghost's) way he would inform him. Mr.
Taverner refused to go any other way than that which led to his own
home. Man and ghost parted company; but no sooner had they done so
than a dreadful storm arose, in the midst of which hideous screeches
rose above the gale. Mr. Taverner and his horse were sensible of some
evil influence being near them; and they continued in a state of
semi-stupor until cock-crowing. Chanticleer's clarion notes seemed to
work a charm; for as they wakened the morn, all became calm--placid as
an inland lake unrippled by the wind.

Next night an apparition in