THE MAID of the MOUNTAIN 



" May I ask, Mr. MacDonald, who the Maid is ?" 



" Ah ! mon dear, but it 's no a question I can 



answer. I ken weel the necht she came. It was 



a great rain storm and as black as yon tom. There 



was a great clap of thunner, and the gude wife said, 



* I 'm thankfu', Thammas, you 're no on the road 

 the necht.' Just then the door was opened and 

 in walked a woman clean drippit from head to 

 foot. She carried a great pack on her back, 

 which she unslung, and shaking herself like a 

 dog, she said in an Irish brogue: 



" * Shure I 've done some hard trampin' in me 

 toime, but that 's a divil's road from Quebec here, 

 and the night 's bad. I 'd be thankful to you, 

 mum, for a cup of tay,' turning to the wife. 



* Your name 's MacDonald,' said she, addressing 

 me, * and you'll be after showing me lot lo in 

 the mornin'. I 've bought it.' 



" * Woman,' said I, * do you no ken tha lot i o 

 is away on the mountain, and no an acre cleared 

 nor as much as a cabin on it ? ' 



" * I '11 attind to all that in good time,' said she. 



" * But, woman, have you no a man to helpit 

 you ? ' put in the wife. 



" * A man, is it,' said she, in a fierce way, * I 'd 



have you understand, mum, that I 'm as good as 



any man.* 



301 



