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TEACHER’S PREFACE
TEACHER’S PREFACE
These stories are offered in the hope that they may help promote the love of reading in our boys and girls. After all, our duty in teaching reading is not in the subject matter but in the desire. If we show to the child that the art of reading is the golden key which will unlock the storehouse of life enjoyment, and give him the love for the secrets of the printed page, we may consider that our educational effort has been well spent. So the primary object in writing these stories has not been to
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II.
II.
You should know something of how stories of this kind are gathered together. Many were taken down by the priests of early times, but none were ever written until nearly a thousand years ago. Undoubtedly large numbers of them have been lost by the death of the only person who knew them. It is only in the last few years that the Irish scholars have tried to gather these tales together. There are many of these collectors of Irish hero stories. Most of them, of course, are Irish, but America has fur
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THE FENIANS
THE FENIANS
The stories of the great heroes of Ireland, or Erin as it used to be called, are gathered in groups around certain men. The Fenians whom Finn MacCool commanded from the age of ten until his death, was a body of military men about whom the best known stories are told. These Fenians might be said to correspond to our standing army. There were three groups of a thousand men each in peace times. In time of war the number could be expanded enough to take in all who wished to fight. Some people claim
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THE BIRTH OF FINN
THE BIRTH OF FINN
The first great chief of the Fenians was Cool. He was a mighty warrior and splendid hero. He it was who organized these men into an army of strength, which he governed wisely but sternly. Over Cool was Conn, the High King, known as Conn the Hundred Fighter, because he had been victorious in a hundred battles. It was Conn whom Cool and his men had to swear to honor and defend. Conn’s principal city, the one in which he held his court, was known as Tara. These facts it is necessary to know before
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FINN’S BOYHOOD
FINN’S BOYHOOD
Many stories are told of the boyhood of this hero. He grew tall and straight with long fair hair and bright blue eyes. Because of his complexion he was called Finn, which means “The Fair”. Living among the wild things of the forest he grew like them. No deer could run away from him, he could run at full speed without cracking a dry branch, he could track any animal by the prints on the forest floor, while his eyes were as keen as those of an eagle. An early adventure of the boy reminds one of th
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FINN CLAIMS HIS INHERITANCE
FINN CLAIMS HIS INHERITANCE
A tremendous gathering of the men of Erin had come together at the city of Tara, the central city of the realm. The Fenians were camped in a circle around the outskirts. At night the lights of their campfires made a circle of fire as though to protect it from danger. Conn, the High King, was holding court in the great banquet hall where a thousand of the chiefs and champions were gathered with him. This hall was seven hundred sixty feet long, ninety feet wide and built of hewn logs. Down each si
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FINN AND THE SCOTTISH GIANT
FINN AND THE SCOTTISH GIANT
This story is one told by the Irish peasants in explaining a bridge of rock off the northern coast of their country. It is a typical Finn story, showing that leader’s strength and his wisdom. The giant who had a secret of strength is found in the folk lore of many nations. No doubt you remember the Bible hero, Samson, who lost his strength with the cutting of his long hair. You may compare him with the Scottish giant. When Finn was not training his men or traveling in search of adventure, he use
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THE STORY OF SABA
THE STORY OF SABA
Finn always enjoyed a hunting excursion. In those days, when all the fighting was done with sword and spear, hunting was a different sport from what it is today. All the champions had fleet hounds, and they, themselves, from their training in speed, lagged little behind the dogs in the chase. Finn had two beautiful hounds, Bran and Skolawn, which went with him at all times. He was very fond of them both. The stories tell that there were only two times in his life that he shed tears, and one of t
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CONAN, THE BALD
CONAN, THE BALD
Not all the warriors of the Fenians were noted for their bravery. It is now necessary that we become acquainted with Conan, the unheroic member of the band. The stories do not tell how he ever passed his entrance trials, or why he was allowed to remain a member. He did many things the Fenians considered as unworthy of them. Conan was a man with an evil tongue. He never had a good word for any one. No matter what his companions did, Conan would never have a word of praise for them. He would make
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DERMOT OF THE LOVE SPOT
DERMOT OF THE LOVE SPOT
One of the most splendid heroes of the Fenians was Dermot. His name is second only to that of Finn in the stories of valiant deeds. He was younger than his chief by many years, even younger than Ossian, Finn’s son. Dermot was the fleetest man of them all, and also the one with the keenest eyes. In many of the stories he is chosen for deeds of valor rather than Finn himself. This happens, however, when Finn is an old man, and his wisdom and leadership are of more value than his strength. This you
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II.
II.
It was not long before the vessel arrived in a small harbor, which Finn recognized as the port of the White Nation. This was not very encouraging to him, because in a battle not long before he had defeated the king of that nation. He began to suspect that he was under enchantment for some purpose. Still he must go with the woman because he had pledged his word. When the ship stopped the woman got out and bade him follow her. On the shore she paused, and pointing to a broad road bordered with tal
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III.
III.
Dermot was asleep when Finn sounded the horn but the last note of it waked him. He sprang to his feet with a mighty bound that sent showers of rocks and dirt in every direction. “Great is the trouble of my chief!” he exclaimed. “I have never heard such a blast from his horn.” He rushed to the shore, found a small boat lying there, hoisted the sail and set off in the direction from whence the sound had come. He was lucky enough to arrive at the same harbor in which was anchored the ship on which
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IV.
IV.
Dermot was tired from his combat. He went to the house, opened the door and walked in. To his surprise he found himself surrounded by hundreds of little men, reaching no higher than his knee. They were wild, shaggy little fellows, kept by the king to kill people he did not like. Though not strong singly, they were there in such numbers that they could cover a man like ants and crush the life out of him. When Dermot had entered, the little men shut the door and barred it. Then they began covering
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V.
V.
Next morning Dermot went again to the palace and made the same demand as on the two previous days. This time the king did not send out his forces to battle. Even he could see that he was wasting his soldiers without hope of defeating this new champion. Still he did not wish to give up Finn MacCool. His soldiers were not strong enough, the small men could not eat this man, but the king had other schemes to try before he gave up. Everyone knew the fondness of the Fenians for attempting feats of st
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VI.
VI.
Dermot went before the king the next morning. You can guess that the monarch was far from overjoyed at seeing him. He had felt sure that the troublesome champion would never bother him again. “Well, have you the hound with the golden chain?” he asked, trying to hide his disappointment. “You see them before you,” answered Dermot. “Hand them over to me,” demanded the king. That was just what Dermot had no intention of doing. He felt sorry for the Red Giant, because the man had put up a good fight
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VII.
VII.
The Red Giant greeted them warmly. Never before had he met a man who was stronger than he, so that made him respect Dermot; but he respected him still more for his honesty, when he found that the hound was to be returned to him. “Are you on another quest, or have you rescued your chief?” asked the giant. “I am on a most difficult errand,” explained Dermot. “I must get the story of the Sorrowful Knight before I may see Finn MacCool.” The Red Giant slapped his knee a resounding whack. “You are rig
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IX.
IX.
On his return Dermot presented himself at the palace. Though the wicked old king was surprised to see him again, he endeavored not to show it. “Well, have you the story of the Sorrowful Knight?” he asked. “I have,” said Dermot. “Are you ready to hear it?” Then he told the king the story, just as it had been told to him. I don’t believe that he mentioned the rescue of the twelve sons, because that was not in his sentence, and he was anxious to be through with the task and rescue Finn. At the end
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II.
II.
As soon as they had gone, Finn began preparations to go to their rescue. He asked Fergus for advice as to where they might find a suitable ship. Fergus replied that there was one about five miles distant. Finn called Dermot and a small body of the bravest of his men together and told them that they were to accompany him. All were delighted to go upon such an adventure. The party had gone but a short distance when they met two handsome young men, dressed in green garments and without any weapons
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III.
III.
Finn and his companions had waited but a short time after Dermot had disappeared over the cliff. The lad, Keen-Sight, had kept quiet until Dermot was out of sight. Then he turned to the Fenians and said: “Though the horse and men went in here, I think I can find you a harbor which will lead us to the same place.” “That you should have told us before Dermot left,” said Finn. Keen-Sight made no reply. “Well, it does not matter,” said Finn. “Guide us to the harbor. Dermot will be safe and will find
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IV.
IV.
On the morning of the second day after their arrival, a great fleet anchored in the harbor. The men immediately began landing in great numbers. At their head was the son of the High King, and with him was his sister, Teasa, who wanted to see her brother capture the castle. Finn placed his men in battle array; giving to the Knight of Valor and his warriors the defense of the right wing, and to Avarta and his army the duty of holding the left wing. With his Fenians, Finn took the center, where the
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V.
V.
There was great rejoicing in the land when the fleet sailed away. Avarta thanked the Fenians for their aid and gave them many rich gifts. Finn was satisfied. Avarta, however, was willing to make still further amends. “Since I took away your men by an enchantment, it is only fair that you should make an award for me to fulfill,” he insisted. “There is no award I would require of you,” said Finn, who never asked favors of any man to whom he had given help. “Stay, O Finn,” cried Conan. “You did not
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II.
II.
When the men awoke from their drugged sleep, and Oscar told Finn and Cormack what had happened, both men were exceedingly angry. They immediately ordered a pursuit of the fugitives. For days Finn and his men followed the trail of the two. While they often came upon campfires that still smouldered, showing where the pursued pair had stopped, they never were able to catch up with them. Dermot was caring for Grainne with what food he could procure in the forest. He was kind to her, but steadily res
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II.
II.
Not all the brave fighters in the battle of Ventry Strand were on the Fenian side. Other men could face great odds, too. The three smiths, who had fallen that day, had a brother still on the ship of the High King. When this man saw the result of the fight, he let out a mighty shout of grief and rage. He went straight to the High King. “Tomorrow I am going to meet the two hundred Fenians,” he said. “What is more, I am going alone. If any of our men try to interfere with me, I shall kill them.” Th
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III.
III.
The great battle went on for a year and a day. Sometimes there were single combats, sometimes many men were engaged, but neither side could gain a complete victory. When the year was up the High King resolved to challenge Finn to single combat. He saw that he was losing more men then the Fenians, and that Finn’s plan of campaign would win for him in the end. If he could kill Finn, all the advantage would be on his side. Also, the death of the Fenian chief would make complete his revenge for the
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THE DEATH OF DERMOT
THE DEATH OF DERMOT
For sixteen years after the flight of Grainne and Dermot, the couple lived in their home in the forest. Dermot was not unhappy, now that his remorse for proving disloyal to Finn had grown less keen. He divided his time between hunting in the forest and the training of his children. He never mentioned his former chief or his comrades. Grainne was not so easily satisfied. She proved to be the kind of woman who is always wishing for something she cannot have. When she was about to be married to Fin
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II.
II.
With the first streaks of morning light, the great battle of Gowra began. The men fought as only Fenians could fight against one another. Finn threw himself into the struggle with reckless bravery, but the late afternoon found him still unwounded. Many a splendid hero went down, Gaul of Morna among them. The High King, however, did not allow the fight to lag when his leader was killed. He took charge of the forces himself. Finn tried all day to get his monarch into a combat with him, but the Hig
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