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VOL. I.
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
Rural Cabinet, .
Published in TVarrenton , Georgia ,
By P. L. Robinson.
” f
Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious Court 8
And this our life, exempt from public hauntij.
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running
brook 9,
Sermons in stones, aud good in every thing.
Shakespeare.
The Rural Cabinet, as its title
irHiporta, W ill be tie voted more espe
cially to the collection ami diffusion
of s -ch matters an l things as may
tend to edify and entertain those who
•* Along the cool se<;ue*lered vale of life,
“ Pursue the noiseless tenor of their way.’’
Rut even the Cit, who has not be
come too mawkish from a surfeit f
politics or the thousand whim whams
a Cit is heir to, if lie should find noth
ing to “ surprise or astonish,” per
chance he may be refreshed with some
of the old things whi U were wont t;
amuse, delight or solace him in days
gone-by. As * variety is the very
spice f life,” the Cabinet will con
tain a miscellany (Sfck&nlated to join
boil: profit and in one, and
present a condenseuricw of the im
provements in Agriculture, Com
merce and the Arts, together with an
epitome of the signs and tidings ol
the times, religions and political —and
though in regard to the latter we pro
fess not to be neutrals,
“ In all our strictures, placid we shall be,
“ As Halcyons brooding on a summer sea.”
The orginal department of the Ca
binet will be enriched with the con
tributions of several literary gentle.
who contributed to the la to C-o
----tnuibian Centinel , and others who have
given assurances of ‘heir friendly
countenance and support.
The Rural Cabinet will be pub
lished, weekly, on a medium sheer, of
good quality, in the folio fr n, s >
ns to make a neat volume at the cn.ii
of each year. The papers of sub
scribcrs in the county will be forward
ed by such conveyance ns they may
direct, or remain in the office until
called for. The papers of distant
subscribers will be forwarded, by
mail, without delay, (as there arc
twelve mails which arrive and depu*
fro n tliis place every week,) anti-eve
ry attention will be paid to render
their transmission speedy and regu
lar. Although the Cabinet will be
issued on a sheet smaller than idle pa
pers published in our cities, yet when
the crowd of advertisements they,
c :otain, together with the low price
of the Cabinet, are taken into view,
It will be cheaper than any now
printed in the state.
The annual subscription will be
three dollars, which may he dis
charg'd by two dollars and fifty cents
if paid on the receipt of the first num
ber. No subseriplion taken for less;
th n twelve months
Select Tales.
I
The Legend of Kxocksheogowna.
(From ‘Fairy of the South of
Ireland,’just published by H.C.
Carey & I. Lea,)
In Tipperary is one of the most singu
larly shaped hills in the world. It has a
peak at the top like a conical nightcap
thrown carelessly over your head as you
awake in the morning. On the very
point is built a sort oflodge, where in the
summer the lady who built it and her
friends used to go on parties of pleasure;
but that was long after the days of the
fairies, and it is 1 believe, now deserted, j
But before lodge was built, or acre
sown, there was close to the head of
Rtiral Cabinet.
this uili a large jMstur.iga, where ■
herdsman spent his days and nights a*
mong the herd. The s,iot had been an
old fairy ground, and the £<> >d people
were angry that the scene of their light
and airy gambols should be trampled by
the rude hoofs f hulls ;nd ooag. The
lowing of the cattle sound and sad io their
ears, and the chief of the fairies of the
hill determined in person to drive away
the new corners, and the wav she though’
of was this; When the harvest nigbt
cameon, and !hc moon shone bright a id
brilliant over thehill, and the cattle were
lying down hush and and qui’t, and the
herdsman, wrapt in his mantle, Was musrn?
with his heart gl id denned by the glorrim
company of the ‘.tar-’ twinkling to ive h>m.
she would come and dance ecf >re him, —
now in one shape—-now in mother, —
but all ugly and fightful to behold. One
time -lie would be a g -ea! hor-e, with tlm
wings af an eagle, and a tail like .1 drag
>n, Arising loud ml spiting (ire. flu* s
to a moment she wool i chauge into a Iri
tla man, lame of a log, with a bull’.- imml.
and a lambent (lime playtug r*u:id and.
Then into a great ape, with duck s fe t
arid a turkey-cock 4 # tail But l should
be all day about it were l to Ml you af
the shapes she (oak. And then ?lie
would roar, or neigh,or hri-*, or bellow,
or howl, or hoot, as never yet M ’?.s ro tr
iog, neighing, hissing, bellowing, howling,
or hooting, heard in this woild b- tore o.
ninci. The poor herdsman would cover
his face, and call on all the saints for help,
but it was no use. With o*.c puff of Imr
‘breath she would blow away the I Id u!
this great coat, let him hold it never so
I tightly over his eves, ami not a saint in
heaven paid him the slightest atten
tion. Ami to mike matters worse, he
never could stir; rc\ nor even Hr. t hi
j eye?, but there obliged to st y.j
held by what power he knew not, go |
xirig at those terrible sights U'.H ‘he
hair of his Lead Would lift his hjit Mil a;
! f<o ov**r his.rowc, and his* tcvtb woh and
| l*o ready to f,!! ou< from vhatt ‘ri *g. IT.d
i the cattle would s campor about like mad,
las if they were bitten by the fly; ‘ml thri
j w ould last until the sun rose ever th’
1 hill.
| The poor cattle from want of rest wr c
i pining away, and fund dal them no <*, ;od;
besides, ihey met with aceiJiMifs witn ■
Cod- Never a oig!i’ pissed lhat son-?
of the n did not fdi into a pit, aid get
maimed, or myy be, killed. Some >v **!J
turn ole into a nvr and i*e drowned; in i
word, there seemed never to be an end
of the acciden‘s. 11 it wT*t mule dr*
matter worse, there could ret be a hords
maa got to tend the cattle by n.g.u.
One visit from the fury drove th
stoutest hearted almost mal. The ow
ner of the ground did not know whit t
do. He offered loubl *, treble, quadru
ple wage*, but not a mao could be found
for die sake of money to go through
the horror of facing the fa;ry. She rc-
I priced at the successful issue of her ;r *-
ject, and continued her pranks. Tb •
henl gradually thinning, and no man dar
mg to remain on the ground, th ■* fairies
came hack in numbers, and gambolled
os merrily ash’fore, quiffing dew-droo
from acorns, a id spreading their teast on
the heads mushrooms,
Whit was to he done, the puzzled
; farmer thought in vain lie found that
jhis substance was daily diminishing,
iris people terrified, and his lent day
coming round. It is no wonder that he
(looked gloomy and walked mournfully
down the road. Now in that part of the
world dwelt a man of the name of Lar
rv Moolahan, who played on the pipes
better than any other player within fifteen
parishes. \ roving dashing blade was
Larry, and feared nothing. Give him
plenty of lipoor and he would defy the
dpvil. He wouhl face a mad bull, or
fight single-handed against a fair. In
one of his gloomy walks tttPfarmer met
him, and on Larry‘s asking the cause
of his looks, he told him misfor
tunes. ‘lf that is all ails you,’said Lar
ry, ‘make your mind easy. Were ther*
as manv fairies on Knocksheogowna a*
there are potatoe blossoms in Eliogurty,
I would face them. It would be a queer
Warren tori,’ May 31, 1828*
, nmg, i uleed, if 1, who never was afraid
of a proper man, should turn my back
upon the brat of a fairy not the big
ness of one's thumb.’ ‘Larry’ said the
farmer,‘donot talk so bold, for you know
not who is hearing you; bu‘ if you make
your words good, and watch my herds
i’or a week on the top of th * mountain,
your hand shall be free ol my dish till
the sun has burnt itself to the bigness of
a farthing rushlight.’
The bargain was struck, and Larrv
went to t&9 hill-top, when the moon be
gan to peep over the brow. He had been
regaled at the farmer’s house, and was
nod with tho extract of barleycorn So
ti - took bis seat on a big stone under a
jjolhnv of the hill, with his back to the
wind, anil pulled out his pipes. He
iad not played long when the voice of
th ■ flilies was heard upon the blast, like
a low stieam of music. Presently they
burst out into a loud laugh, and Larry
Could plainly hear one say, ‘What! a
n tli r man upon the fairies’ ring? Go to
’rim, queen and make him repent his rnsh
ies ,’a <d they flew away* JLarry felt
room pass by his face as th**y dew like
.A sw nun of midges; and looking up ha--
uiy, he saw between the moon ind him
a great bla* ic cat, standing on the veiy tip
•f its claws, with its mouth up, and
rve'ving with the voice of a water-mill
Presently it swelled up towards the sky.
md, turning round on its left hind-1 g,
whirled till it fell to the ground, from
which it started m the shape of a salmon,
into a crevat round its neck, and a pair
of new top boots, ‘(io on, jewel,’ said
Larry,‘if you dance I’lT” p*pe;’ aud he
stri k op. So she turned into this, and
drat, and die other, but i-lril Larry play
e<! o'*, as he wyli knew how. At la ts t e
iust patience, as ladies will do whe
mu do notmiod the.rscohhf g and ctmn
| ;,* j d herself into a calf, milk white as th
• o til Cut k, ml with eyes iii ould
ias thi eof the gul l h>vc S!ic l ame ui
if&riTy and fliworiig, in hopes to tltrow
; Mill • T his guard by qnictne s. nd site
to w. k him some wrong. But Larr
was not so deceived; for, when she can;* -
i up, he, dropping Im pip**?, leaped upon
!her back•
Now from the top of Knockdlieogowna
as von uirik wi'fjtvvard to the broad Allan
&& yi^Wd! see the Sharumn, queen o*
a gentle course fi> mingle with th
a*; wi tovviigb th • fait city of Limerick.
fi this shonp under the moon,
end looked beauliful from the .distant hi I
Killed* .mi.- were glirling up and down on
fjy; swe r current, and song of the
iWrcrmfn rose gaify from the shore. Lar
•y; as l said b f re, leaped upon the back
of the fairy, and she, lejoicel at the o,
p •rtomtv, spring from ‘he hilltop, atid
h >u; ded dear, at one ju op, over the
Shannon, ll wing a- it Was just ten miles
from tie mountain’* base. It was d>ne
hi second, and when she alighted on the
distant bank, kicking up her heels, she
dung Larry on the soft turf- No sooner
was he (bus planted, than lie looked h°r
straight niyhe face, and scratching his
Ik id, critm out, ‘By my word, well done!
that was not a bid leap for a calj.’
>ha Io d;e i at him for a moment, and
then iflsu oetl her own -hap**. ‘L urence,’.
*aid-lia‘vu are a hold fellow; wdl you
come back toe way vou went?’ And that’s
what i will,’ suid he, ‘if you let me.’ So
changing to a calf again, again Larry got
on her back, & at another bound they were
again on the top of Knocksheogowna.!
The fairy once more resuming her figure,
addressed himt ‘You have shown so much
courage, Laurence,’ said she? ‘that wh'le
you keep herds on this hill you never
shall be molested by me or mine. ihe
day dawns, go down to the farmer, and
tell hin this; and if any thing I can do
mav he of service to you, ask and you
shall have it.’ She vanished accordingly;
and kept her word in never visiting the
hill during Larry‘s life but he never
troubled her with requests. He piped
and drank at the farmer’s expense, and
roosted in his chimney corner, occasion
ally casting an eye to the flock. He died
,t last, and is buried in a green valley of
pleasant Tipperary: but whether the
fairies returuned to the hill \/,<.>cka
sheogowna after his death b re than
1 1 can say.
THE FLITCH OF BA ( ON.
Most of our readers have probably
heard of the ancient custom maiutainid
at Dun mow, in Essex, of awarding a ditch
of bacon to any wedded couple who would
satisfactorily and proforma testify, that
alter having lived together a year and a
day in holy matrimony, they did not re-
pent, n<>r had once repented themselves,
of their union. This custom was ins’itu
ted in or about the year 11IV, by Robert,
son of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, Earle of Cla
re, and requires that if any married coup
le would take the prescrded oath which
follows, kneeling upon two bare stones
within the church door, before the prior
and brethren, they should have a gammon
of bacon freely delivered to them, which
is done with great ceremony.
THE OATH.
Vou shall swear by the custom of our
confession,
That you never made any nuptial trans*
gression:
Since you were married man and wife,
By household brau Is or contentious strifef
Or otherwise, in b*d or at board.
Offended each other in deed or in word;
Or since the parish clerk said Amen,
Wished yourselves unmarried again;
Or, in a twelvemonth and a day,
Kepentcd not in thought any way,
But continued true and in desire,
As when you joined hands in holy quire;
If to these conditions, without all fear.
Os your own accord you will freely
swear,
A gammon of bacon you shad receive,
And beat it hence with love and good
leave,
For thin is the custom at Dunraow well
known,
Though the sport ue ours, the bacon’i
your own.”
The happv pair are then taken upon
men’s shoulders in a chair, ;kept f<*r the
purpose.) and carried round die sciie
“I the priory, from the church to the
house, with minstrels of every descrip
tion, ami the gammon of bacon borne high
on a pole before them, attended by the
steward, gentlemen, and officers of the
manor, and the several inferior tenants,
carrying wands, Stc. A jury of bachelors
and maidens, (*ix of each sex.) following
wo and two, with an immense multitude
ol other people, young and old, from all
the neigjdioui mg towns and villages there*
about*, and several more, that came from
very eat distances, (to the amount of
many thousands in the whole,) rending
the air with their shouts and acclama
tions.
The custom is still kept up at Dun
mow, which was formerly a priory. Ihe
last couple that claimed the bacon was
Thomas Shakesliaft, at the pari-h of
Wentersfield, in the county of Essex,
weaver, and Ann his wife, who went to
demand, and actuary did receive, a gam
mon of bacon; fiaving first knelt down up
on two h:ir<? slones, within the church
door. and taken the oath pursuant to the
ancient custom, in manner and form pre
set ihed a- aforesaid, the 20 of June. 1751;
in commemoration of which a picture nas
; painted, representing the procession, and
containing the portrait# of the affection-
ate anil happy couple.
Before the dissolution of monasteries
it does not appear, by searching the moat
ancient records, to have be*n demanded
above three times, and including this,
just as often since; so rare are the instan**
ces of perfect conjugal felicity in the mar
ried state!
The chair in which the worthy couple
were wont to be seated on these occa
sions, is still preserved in the church, and
from the narrow accommodation which
it must needs afford to an ordinary sized
couple, seems well fitted to try their for
bearance on the very spot, it not vtry
loving indeed: it is substantially
made of oak. and time, which antiqeatea
every thiog that is durable, had given it
a very venerable appaarance; but th*
No. i:
