Havingoftenheardofthisabbey，whichinitsdaywasoneofthemostfamousinWales，Ideterminedtogoandinspectit。ItwaswithsomedifficultythatIfoundmywaytoit。Itstood，asI
havealreadyobserved，inameadow，andwasonalmosteverysidesurroundedbymajestichills。Togiveanycleardescriptionofthisruinedpilewouldbeimpossible，thedilapidationissogreat，dilapidationevidentlylesstheeffectoftimethanofawfulviolence，perhapsthatofgunpowder。Thesouthernisbyfarthemostperfectportionofthebuilding；thereyouseenotonlywallsbutroofs。Frontingyoufullsouth，isamassofmasonrywithtwoimmensearches，otherarchesbehindthem：entering，youfindyourselfbeneathavaultedroof，andpassingonyoucometoanoblongsquarewhichmayhavebeenachurch；aniron—barredwindowonyourrightenablesyoutolookintoamightyvault，theroofofwhichissupportedbybeautifulpillars。Then—butIforbeartosaymorerespectingtheseremains，forfearofstatingwhatisincorrect，mystayamongstthemhavingbeenexceedinglyshort。
TheAbbeyofGlenNeathwasfoundedinthetwelfthcenturybyRichardGrenfield，oneofthefollowersofRobertFitzhamon，whosubjugatedGlamorgan。NeathAbbeywasaverywealthyone，thefounderhavingendoweditwithextensivetractsoffertilelandalongthebanksoftheriversNeathandTawy。InittheunfortunateEdwardofCarnarvonsoughtarefugeforafewdaysfromtherageofhisrevoltedbarons，whilsthisfavourite，theequallyunfortunateSpencer，endeavouredtofindacovertamidstthethicketsofthewood—coveredhilltothenorth。WhenRichmondlandedatMilfordHaventodisputethecrownwithRichardtheSecond，thethenAbbotofNeathrepairedtohimandgavehimhisbenediction，inrequitalforwhichtheadventurergavehimhispromisethatintheeventofhisobtainingthecrown，hewouldfoundacollegeinGlenNeath，whichpromise，however，afterhehadwonthecrown，heforgottoperform。（20）Thewilyabbot，whenhehastenedtopayworshiptowhathejustlyconceivedtobetherisingsun，littledreamtthathewasabouttoblessthefuturefatheroftheterriblemandoomedbyProvidencetoplanttheabominationofdesolationinNeathAbbeyandinalltheothernestsofmonkerythroughouttheland。
LeavingtheruinsIproceededtowardsNeath。Thescenerysoonbecameverybeautiful；notthatIhadleftmachineryaltogetherbehind，forIpresentlycametoaplacewherehugewheelswereturning，andtherewassmokeandblast，buttherewasmuchthatwasruralandbeautifultobeseen，somethinglikeparkscenery，andthentherewerethemountainsnearandinthedistance。IreachedNeathatabouthalf—pastfour，andtookupmyquartersataninnwhichhadbeenrecommendedtomebymyfriendthebootsatSwansea。
CHAPTERCIII
TownofNeath—HoundsandHuntsman—SpectralChapel—TheGlowingMountainNEATHisaplaceofsomeantiquity，foritcanboastoftheremainsofacastleandisacorporatetown。ThereisbutlittleWelshspokeninit。ItissituatedontheNeath，andexportsvastquantitiesofcoalandiron，ofbothofwhichtherearerichminesintheneighbourhood。ItderivesitsnamefromtheriverNeddorNeth，onwhichitstands。NeddorNethisthesamewordasNith，thenameofariverinScotland，andisinsomedegreeconnectedwithNidda，thenameofoneinGermany。NeddinWelshsignifiesadingle，andthewordinitsvariousformshasalwayssomethingtodowithlownessorinferiorityofposition。AmongstitsformsareNetherandNieder。ThetermiswellappliedtotheGlamorganshireriver，whichrunsthroughdinglesandundermountains。
TheNeathhasitssourceinthemountainsofBrecon，andenterstheseasomelittlewaybelowthetownofNeath。
OntheMondaymorningIresumedmyjourney，directingmycourseupthevaleofNeathtowardsMerthyrTydvil，distantaboutfour—and—
twentymiles。Theweatherwasatfirstrainy，mistyandmiserable，butimprovedbydegrees。IpassedthroughavillagewhichIwastoldwascalledLlanagos；closetoitwereimmenseestablishmentsofsomekind。Thescenerysoonbecameexceedinglybeautiful；hillscoveredwithwoodtothetopswereoneithersideofthedale。I
passedanavenueleadingsomewherethroughgroves，andwaspresentlyovertakenandpassedbyhoundsandarespectable—lookingoldhuntsmanonablackhorse；aminuteafterwardsIcaughtaglimpseofanoldred—brickmansionnearlyembosomedingroves，fromwhichproceededamightycawing。Probablyitbelongedtotheproprietorofthedogs，andcertainlylookedaveryfitmansionforaGlamorganshiresquire，justiceofthepeaceandkeeperofapackofhounds。
Iwenton，thevaleincreasinginbeauty；therewasaconsiderabledrawback，however：oneofthosedetestablecontrivances，arailroad，wasonthefartherside—alongwhichtrainswerepassing，rumblingandscreaming。
Isawabridgeonmyrighthandwithfiveorsixlowarchesovertheriver，whichwasherefullofshoals。Askedawomanthenameofthebridge。
\"PONTFAWReigalw，sir。\"
IwasagainamongsttherealWelsh—thiswomanhadnoEnglish。
Ipassedbyseveralremarkablemountains，bothonthesouthandnorthernsideofthevale。LateintheafternoonIcametotheeasternextremityofthevaleandascendedaheight。ShortlyafterwardsIreachedRhigos，asmallvillage。
Enteringapublic—houseIcalledforaleandsatdownamidstsomegrimyfellows，whosaidnothingtomeandtowhomIsaidnothing—
theirdiscoursewasinWelshandEnglish。OftheirWelshI
understoodbutlittle，foritwasastrangecorruptjargon。Inabouthalf—an—hourafterleavingthisplaceIcametothebeginningofavastmoor。Itwasnowgrowingratherdusk，andIcouldseeblazeshereandthere；occasionallyIheardhorridsounds。CametoIrvan，anenormousmining—placewithaspectral—lookingchapel，doubtlessaMethodistone。Thestreetwascrowdedwithrough，savage—lookingmen。\"IsthisthewaytoMerthyrTydvil？\"saidItoone。
\"Yes！\"bawledthefellowattheutmoststretchofhisvoice。
\"Thankyou！\"saidI，takingoffmyhatandpassingon。
ForwardIwent，uphillanddowndale。Nightnowsetin。Ipassedagroveoftreesandpresentlycametoacollectionofsmallhousesatthebottomofalittlehollow。HearingastepnearmeIstoppedandsaidinWelsh：\"HowfartoMerthyrTydvil？\"
\"DimCumrag，sir！\"saidavoice，seeminglythatofaman。
\"Goodnight！\"saidI，andwithoutstayingtoputthequestioninEnglish，Ipushedonupanascent，andwaspresentlyamongsttrees。
Heardforalongtimethehootingofanowlorratherthefrantichollo。Appearedtopassbywherethebirdhaditsstation。Toiledupanacclivityandwhenonthetopstoodstillandlookedaroundme。Therewasaglowonallsidesintheheaven，exceptinthenorth—eastquarter。StridingonIsawacottageonmylefthand，andstandingatthedoorthefigureofawoman。\"HowfartoMerthyr？\"saidIinWelsh。
\"Tairmilltir—threemiles，sir。\"
TurningroundacorneratthetopofahillIsawblazeshereandthere，andwhatappearedtobeaglowingmountaininthesouth—
east。Iwenttowardsitdownadescentwhichcontinuedforalong，longway；sogreatwasthelightcastbytheblazesandthatwonderfulglowingobject，thatIcoulddistinctlyseethelittlestonesupontheroad。Afterwalkingabouthalf—an—hour，alwaysgoingdownwards，Isawahouseonmylefthandandheardanoiseofwateroppositetoit。Itwasapistyll。Iwenttoit，drankgreedily，andthenhurriedon。Moreandmoreblazes，andtheglowingobjectlookingmoreterriblethanever。Itwasnowabovemeatsomedistancetotheleft，andIcouldseethatitwasanimmensequantityofheatedmatterlikelava，occupyingtheupperandmiddlepartsofahill，anddescendinghereandtherealmosttothebottominazigzagandtortuousmanner。Betweenmeandthehilloftheburningobjectlayadeepravine。AfteratimeIcametoahouse，againstthedoorofwhichamanwasleaning。\"Whatisallthatburningstuffabove，myfriend？\"
\"Drossfromtheironforges，sir！\"
Inowperceivedavalleybelowmefulloflights，anddescendingreachedhousesandatramway。Ihadblazesnowallaroundme。I
wentthroughafilthyslough，overabridge，andupastreet，fromwhichdirtylanesbranchedoffoneitherside，passedthrongsofsavage—lookingpeopletalkingclamorously，shrankfromaddressinganyofthem，andfinally，undirected，foundmyselfbeforetheCastleInnatMerthyrTydvil。
CHAPTERCIV
IronandCoal—TheMartyredPrincess—CyfarthaFawr—DiabolicalStructure。
MERTHYRTYDVILissituatedinabroadvalleythroughwhichrollthewatersoftheTaf。Itwastilllateaninconsiderablevillage，butisatpresentthegreatestminingplaceinBritain，andmaybecalledwithmuchproprietythecapitaloftheironandcoal。
ItbearsthenameofMerthyrTydvil，whichsignifiestheMartyrTydvil，becauseintheoldtimeaChristianBritishprincesswasslaininthelocalitywhichitoccupies。TydvilwasthedaughterofBrychan，PrinceofBrecon，surnamedBrycheiniawg，ortheBreconian，whoflourishedinthefifthcenturyandwasacontemporaryofHengist。HewasamanfullofChristianzeal，andagreatpreacheroftheGospel，andgavehischildren，ofwhichhehadmany，bothmaleandfemale，byvariouswives，aneducationwhichhehopedwouldnotonlymakethemChristians，butenablethemtopreachtheGospeltotheircountrymen。Theyprovedthemselvesworthyofhiscare，allofthemwithoutoneexceptionbecomingexemplaryChristians，andusefulpreachers。InhislatterdaysheretiredtoahermitageinGlamorganshireneartheTaf，andpassedhistimeindevotion，receivingoccasionallyvisitsfromhischildren。Once，whenheandseveralofthem，amongstwhomwasTydvil，wereengagedinprayer，abandofheathenSaxonsrushedinuponthemandslewTydvilwiththreeofherbrothers。EversincethattimetheplacehasbornethenameofMartyrTydvil。（21）
TheTaf，whichrunstothesouthofMerthyr，comesdownfromBreconshire，andenterstheBristolChannelatCardiff，aplacethenameofwhichinEnglishisthecityontheTaf。Itisoneofthemostbeautifulofrivers，butisnotnavigableonaccountofitsnumerousshallows。TheonlyservicewhichitrenderstocommerceisfeedingacanalwhichextendsfromMerthyrtoCardiff。ItissurprisinghowsimilarmanyoftheWelshriversareinname：Taf，Tawey，Towey，Teivi，andDuffydifferbutverylittleinsound。
TafandTeivihaveboththesamemeaning，namelyatendencytospreadout。Theothernames，thoughprobablyexpressiveofthepropertiesorpeculiaritiesofthestreamstowhichtheyrespectivelybelong，Iknownothowtotranslate。
Themorningofthefourteenthwasveryfine。AfterbreakfastI
wenttoseetheCyfarthaFawrironworks，generallyconsideredtobethegreatwonderoftheplace。AftersomeslightdemurI
obtainedpermissionfromthesuperintendenttoinspectthem。Iwasattendedbyanintelligentmechanic。WhatshallIsayabouttheCyfarthaFawr？Ihadbestsaybutverylittle。Isawenormousfurnaces。Isawstreamsofmoltenmetal。Isawalongductilepieceofred—hotironbeingoperatedupon。Isawmillionsofsparksflyingabout。Isawanimmensewheelimpelledroundwithfrightfulvelocitybyasteam—engineoftwohundredandfortyhorsepower。Iheardallkindsofdreadfulsounds。Thegeneraleffectwasstunning。TheseworksbelongtotheCrawshays，afamilydistinguishedbyastrangekindofeccentricity，butalsobygeniusandenterprisingspirit，andbysuchastrictfeelingofhonourthatitisacommonsayingthatthewordofanyoneofthemisasgoodasthebondofotherpeople。
AfterseeingtheCyfarthaIroamedabout，makinggeneralobservations。Themountainofdrosswhichhadstartledmeontheprecedingnightwithitsterrificglare，andwhichstandstothenorth—westofthetown，lookednownothingmorethananimmensedarkheapofcinders。Itisonlywhentheshadesofnighthavesettleddownthatthefirewithinmanifestsitself，makingthehillappearanimmenseglowingmass。Allthehillsaroundthetown，someofwhichareveryhigh，haveascorchedandblackenedlook。
AnoldAngleseabard，rathergiventobombast，wishingtoextoltheabundantcheerofhisnativeislesaid：\"ThehillsofIrelandareblackenedbythesmokefromthekitchensofMona。\"WithmuchmoreproprietymightabardofthebanksoftheTaf，whoshouldwishtoapologisefortherathersmuttyappearanceofhisnativevaleexclaim：\"ThehillsaroundtheTafoncesogreenareblackenedbythesmokefromthechimneysofMerthyr。\"Thetownislargeandpopulous。TheinhabitantsforthemostpartareWelsh，andWelshisthelanguagegenerallyspoken，thoughallhavesomeknowledgeofEnglish。Thehousesareingenerallowandmean，andbuiltofroughgreystone。Merthyr，however，canshowseveralremarkableedifices，thoughofagloomyhorridSataniccharacter。ThereisthehalloftheIron，withitsarches，fromwhenceproceedsincessantlyathunderingnoiseofhammers。Thenthereisanedificeatthefootofamountain，halfwayupthesideofwhichisablastedforestandonthetopanenormouscrag。Atrulywonderfuledificeitis，suchasBoswouldhaveimaginedhadhewantedtopaintthepalaceofSatan。Thereitstands：ahouseofreddishbrickwithaslateroof—fourhorridblacktowersbehind，twoofthembelchingforthsmokeandflamefromtheirtops—holeslikepigeonholeshereandthere—twoimmensewhitechimneysstandingbythemselves。Whatedificecanthatbeofsuchstrangemaddetails？IoughttohaveputthatquestiontosomeoneinTydvil，butdidnot，thoughIstoodstaringatthediabolicalstructurewithmymouthopen。Itisofnouseputtingthequestiontomyselfhere。
Afterstrollingaboutforsometwohourswithmyhandsinmypockets，Ireturnedtomyinn，calledforaglassofale，paidmyreckoning，flungmysatchelovermyshoulder，anddeparted。
CHAPTERCV
StartforCaerfili—JohannaColgan—Alms—Giving—TheMonstrousFemale—TheEvilPrayer—TheNextDay—TheAifrionn—UncleanSpirits—Expectation—WreakingVengeance—AdecentAlms。
ILEFTMerthyrabouttwelveo’clockforCaerfili。Mycourselayalongthevalleytothesouth—east。IpassedalargevillagecalledTroedyRhiw，orthefootoftheslope，fromitsbeingatthefootofaloftyelevation，whichstandsontheleft—handsideoftheroad，andwasspeedingonwardfast，withtheTafatsomedistanceonmyright，whenIsawastrange—lookingwomanadvancingtowardsme。Sheseemedbetweenfortyandfifty，wasbare—footedandbare—headed，withgrizzledhairhanginginelflocks，andwasdressedinragsandtatters。Whenabouttenyardsfromme，shepitchedforward，gavethreeorfourgrotesquetumbles，heelsoverhead，thenstandingboltupright，aboutayardbeforeme，raisedherrightarm，andshoutedinamostdiscordantvoice—\"Givemeanalms，forthegloryofGod！\"
Istoodstill，quiteconfounded。Presently，however，recoveringmyself，Isaid：—\"Really，Idon’tthinkitwouldbeforthegloryofGodtogiveyoualms。\"
\"Yedon’t！Then，Biadhantaifrionn—however，I’llgiveyeachanceyet。AmItogetmyalmsornot？\"
\"BeforeIgiveyoualmsImustknowsomethingaboutyou。Whoareyou？\"
\"WhoamI？WhoshouldIbebutJohannaColgan，abedivilledwomanfromthecountyofLimerick？\"
\"Andhowdidyoubecomebedevilled？\"
\"Becauseawomansomethinglikemyselfsaidanevilprayerovermefornotgivingheranalms，whichprayerIhaveatmytongue’send，andunlessIgetmyalmswillsayoveryou。Soforyourownsake，honey，givememyalms，andletmegoonmyway。\"
\"Oh，Iamnottobefrightenedbyevilprayers！IshallgiveyounothingtillIhearallaboutyou。\"
\"IfItellyeallaboutmewillyegivemeanalms？\"
\"Well，Ihavenoobjectiontogiveyousomethingifyoutellmeyourstory。\"
\"Willyegivemeadacentalms？\"
\"Oh，youmustleavetheamounttomyfreewillandpleasure。I
shallgiveyouwhatIthinkfit。\"
\"Well，soyeshall，honey；andImakenodoubtyewillgivemeadacentalms，forIlikethelookofye，andknewyetobeanIrishmanhalfamileoff。Onlyfouryearsago，insteadofbeingabedivilledwoman，tumblingabouttheworld，IwasasquietandrespectableawidowascouldbefoundinthecountyofLimerick。I
hadanicelittlefarmatanaisyrint，horses，cows，pigs，andservants，and，whatwasbetterthanall，acoupleoffinesons，whowereahelpandcomforttome。Butmyblackdaywasnotfaroff。
Iwasamightycharitablewoman，andalwayswillingtogivetothebacahsandotherbeggarsthatcameabout。Everymorning，beforeI
openedmydoor，IgotreadythealmswhichIintendedtogiveawayinthecourseofthedaytothosethatshouldaskforthem，andI
madesogoodapreparationthat，thoughplentyofcripplesandotherunfortunateswanderingthroughtheworldcametomeeveryday，partofthealmswassuretoremainuponmyhandseverynightwhenIclosedmydoor。ThealmswhichIgaveawayconsistedofmeal；andIhadalwaysanumberofsmallmeasuresofmealstandingreadyonaboard，oneofwhichIusedtoemptyintothepokeofeverybacahorotherunfortunatewhousedtoplacehimselfatthesideofmydoorandcryout’AveMaria！’or’InthenameofGod！’
Well，onemorningIsatwithinmydoorspinning，withalittlebitofcolleenbesidemewhowaiteduponmeasservant。Mymeasuresofmealwereallreadyfortheunfortunateswhoshouldcome，filledwithallthemealinthehouse；fortherewasnomealinthehousesavewhatwasinthosemeasures—divilaparticle，thewholestockbeingexhausted；thoughbyeveningIexpectedplentymore，mytwosonsbeinggonetotheballybetagh，whichwassevenmilesdistant，forafreshsupply，andforotherthings。Well，Isatwithinmydoor，spinning，withmyservantbymysidetowaituponme，andmymeasuresofmealreadyfortheunfortunateswhomightcometoaskforalms。ThereIsat，quiteproud，andmorehappythanIhadeverfeltinmylifebefore；andtheunfortunatesbegantomaketheirappearance。Firstcameabacahoncrutches；thencameawomanwithawhiteswelling；thencameanindividualwhohadnothingatallthematterwithhim，andwasonlyapoorunfortunate，wanderingabouttheworld；thencameafarcake，（22）adarkman，whowasledaboutbyagossoon；afterhimasimpley，andafterthesimpletonsomebodyelseasmuchormoreunfortunate。Andastheafflictedpeoplearrivedandplacedthemselvesbythesideofthedoorandsaid’AveMary，’or’InthenameofGod，’orcrossedtheirarms，orlookeddownupontheground，eachaccordingtohispractice，Igotupandemptiedmymeasureofmealintohispoke，orwhateverhecarriedaboutwithhimforreceivingthealmswhichmightbegiventohim；andmymeasuresofmealbegantobeemptiedfast，foritseemedthatuponthatday，whenIhappenedtobeparticularlyshortofmeal，alltheunfortunatesinthecountyofLimerickhadconspiredtogethertocometoaskmeforalms。Atlasteverymeasureofmealwasemptied，andthereIsatinmyhousewithnothingtogiveawayprovidedanunfortunateshouldcome。SaysI
tothecolleen：’WhatshallIdoprovidedanymorecome，forallthemealisgone，andtherewillbenomorebeforetheboyscomehomeatnightfromtheballybetagh。’Saysthecolleen：’Ifanymorecome，can’tyegivethemsomethingelse？’SaysI：’Ithasalwaysbeenmypracticetogiveinmeal，andlothshouldIbetoalterit；forifonceIbegintogiveawayotherthings，ImaygiveawayallIhave。’Saysthecolleen：’Let’shopenooneelsewillcome：therehavebeenthirteenofthemalready。’Scarcelyhadshesaidthesewords，whenamonstrouswoman，half—naked，andwithalongstaffinherhand，onthetopofwhichwasacross，madeherappearance；andplacingherselfrightbeforethedoor，criedoutsothatyoumighthaveheardherforamile，’GivemeanalmsforthegloryofGod！’’Goodwoman，’saysItoher，’youwillbekindenoughtoexcuseme：allthepreparationIhadmadeforalmshasbeengivenaway，forIhaverelievedthirteenunfortunatesthisblessedmorning—somaytheVirginhelpye，goodwoman！’’Givemeanalms，’saidtheBeanvore，withaloudervoicethanbefore，’oritwillbeworseforyou。’’Youmustexcuseme，goodmistress，’
saysI，’butIhavenomoremealinthehouse。Thosethirteenmeasureswhichyouseethereemptywerefullthismorning，forwhatwasinthemIhavegivenawaytounfortunates。SotheVirginandChildhelpyou。’’Doyouchoosetogivemeanalms？’sheshrieked，sothatyoumighthaveheardhertoLondonderry。’Ifyehavenomealgivemesomethingelse。’’Youmustexcuseme，goodlady，’
saysI：’itismycustomtogivealmsinmeal，andinnothingelse。Ihavenoneinthehousenow；butifyecomeonthemorrowyeshallhaveatriplemeasure。InthemeanwhilemaytheVirgin，Child，andtheHolyTrinityassistye！’Thereuponshelookedatmefixedlyforamoment，andthensaid，notinaloudvoice，butinalow，half—whisperedway，whichwastentimesmoredeadly：—
\"’Biaidhantaifrionngansholasduitabheanshilach！’
Thenturningfromthedoorshewentawaywithlongstrides。Now，honey，canyetellmethemeaningofthosewords？\"
\"Theymean，\"saidI，\"unlessIammuchmistaken：’MaytheMassnevercomfortye，youdirtyqueen！’\"
\"Ochone！that’sthemaningofthem，sureenough。Theyarecrampedwords，butIguessedthatwasthemeaning，orsomethingofthekind。Well，afterhearingtheevilprayer，Isatforaminuteortwoquitestunned；atlengthrecoveringmyselfabitIsaidtothecolleen：’Getup，andrunafterthewomanandtellhertocomebackandcrosstheprayer。’Imeantbycrossingthatsheshouldcallitbackordosomethingthatwouldtakethevenomoutofit。
Well，thecolleenwasratherlothtogo，forshewasabitscaredherself，butonmybeseechingher，shegotupandranafterthewoman，andbeingratherswiftoffoot，atlast，thoughwithmuchdifficulty，overtookher，andbeggedhertocomebackandcrosstheprayer，butthedivilofawomanwoulddonosuchthing，andwhenthecolleenpersistedshetoldherthatifshedidn’tgoback，shewouldsayanevilprayeroverhertoo。Sothecolleenlefther，andcameback，cryingandfrighted。AlltherestofthedayI
remainedsittingonthestoolspeechless，thinkingoftheprayerwhichthewomanhadsaid，andwishingIhadgivenhereverythingI
hadintheworld，ratherthansheshouldhavesaidit。Atnightcamehometheboys，andfoundtheirmothersittingonthestool，likeonestupefied。’What’sthematterwithyou，mother？’theysaid。’Getupandhelpustounpack。Wehavebroughthomeplentyofthingsonthecar，andamongstothersawholebollofmeal。’
’Youmightaswellhaveleftitbehindyou，’saidI；’thismorningasinglemeasureofmealwouldhavebeentomeofalltheassistanceintheworld，butIquestionnowifIshalleverwantmealagain。’Theyaskedmewhathadhappenedtome，andaftersometimeItoldthemhowamonstrouswomanhadbeentome，andhadsaidanevilprayeroverme，becausehavingnomealinthehouseIhadnotgivenheranalms。’Come，mother，’saidthey，’getupandhelpustounload！nevermindtheprayerofthemonstrouswoman—itisallnonsense。’Well，Igotupandhelpedthemtounload，andcookedthemabit，andsatdownwiththem，andtriedtobemerry，butfeltthatIwasnolongerthewomanthatIwas。ThenextdayI
didn’tseemtocarewhatbecameofme，orhowmatterswenton，andthoughtherewasnowplentyofmealinthehouse，notameasuredidIfillwithittogiveawayintheshapeofalms；andwhenthebacahsandtheliprouswomen，andthedarkmen，andtheotherunfortunatesplacedthemselvesatthesideofthedoor，andgavemetounderstandthattheywantedalms，eachinhisorherparticularmanner，divilanalmsdidIgivethem，butletthemstandandtooknoheedofthem，sothatatlasttheytookthemselvesoff，grumblingandcursing。AndlittledidIcarefortheirgrumblingsandcursings。TwodaysbeforeIwouldn’thavehadanunfortunategrumbleatme，orcurseme，foralltherichesbelowthesun；butnowtheirgrumblingsandcursesdidn’tgivemetheslightestunasiness，forIhadanevilprayerspokenagainstmeintheShannaGaileybythemonstrouswoman，andIknewthatIwasblightedinthisworldandthenext。InalittletimeIceasedtopayanyheedtothefarmingbusiness，ortotheaffairsofthehouse，sothatmysonshadnocomfortintheirhome。AndItooktodrinkandinducedmyeldestsontotaketodrinktoo—myyoungestson，however，didnottaketodrink，butconductedhimselfwell，andtoiledandlabouredlikeahorseandoftenbeggedmeandhisbrothertoconsiderwhatwewereabout，andnottogooninawaywhichwouldbringusalltoruin，butIpaidnoregardtowhathesaid，andhisbrotherfollowedmyexample，sothatatlastseeingthingsweregettingworseeveryday，andthatweshouldsoonbeturnedoutofhouseandhome，fornorintwaspaid，everypennythatcouldbegotbeingconsumedinwaste，hebadeusfarewellandwentandlistedforasodger。Butifmatterswerebadenoughbeforehewentaway，theybecamemuchworseafter；fornowwhentheunfortunatescametothedoorforalms，insteadoflettingthemstandinpacetilltheyweretired，andtookthemselvesoff，Iwouldmockthemandpointatthem，andtwitthemwiththeirsoresandothermisfortunes，andnotunfrequentlyIwouldflingscaldingwateroverthem，whichwouldsendthemhowlingandhoningaway，tillatlasttherewasnotanunfortunatebutfearedtocomewithinamileofmydoor。MoreoverIbegantomisconductmyselfatchapel，moreespeciallyattheAifrionnorMass，fornosoonerwasthebellrung，andtheholycorpusraised，thanIwouldshoutandhoorah，andgotumblingandtopplingalongthefloorbeforetheholybody，asIjustnowtumbledalongtheroadbeforeyou，sothatthepeoplewerescandalized，andwouldtakemebytheshouldersandturnmeoutofdoors，andbegantotalkofduckingmeinthebog。Thepriestoftheparish，however，tookmypart，sayingthatIoughtnottobepersecuted，forthatIwasnotaccountableforwhatIdid，beingapossessedperson，andundertheinfluenceofdivils。’These，however，’saidhe，’I’llsooncastoutfromher，andthenthewomanwillbeaholycratur，muchbetterthansheeverwasbefore。’A
verylearnedmanwasFatherHogan，especiallyincastingoutdivils，andaportly，good—lookingmantoo，onlyhehadalargerubiconnose，whichpeoplesaidhegotbymakingoverfreewiththecraturinsacret。Ihadoftenlookedatthenose，whenthedivilwasuponme，andfeltaninclinationtoseizeholdofit，justtoseehowitfelt。Well，hehadmetohishouseseveraltimes，andthereheputholyclothsuponme，andtiedholyimagestome，andreadtomeoutofholybooks，andsprinkledholywateroverme，andputquestionstome，andatlastwassoplasedwiththeanswersI