DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 237 



and narrowings of Achill Sound gave us constantly 

 varying pictures of land and water, the former 

 rilled with busy life. Cabins were sprinkled plenti- 

 fully where the land had earth to till showing (as 

 is plain everywhere in this country) the love the 

 Irish have for making the most of even the smallest 

 bit of ground. Struggles for bare existence were 

 often manifest, while fallen roofs and bulging walls 

 spoke of failures ; but, in the main, we were among 

 a happy people that seemingly multiplied apace. 

 Labourers of both sexes were busy making hay, 

 or carrying it, and had happy faces at their work, 

 while colleens with huge bundles of it upon their 

 heads, bundles that had hanging wisps that fell 

 below their knees, showed us their laughing eyes 

 from peep-holes in their burdens. Men and women 

 in age much beyond the allotted span were here 

 capable of work and worked, while barefooted little 

 lads and lasses, well fed and with rosy cheeks, 

 tossed hay and capered joyously. 



Riding on a car over roads somewhat rough, 

 high up above the sea, and free from sheltering 

 hedges, had given us appetites that called for some 

 attention, so we asked for a halt where we could 

 get milk to take with our lunch. We drew up in 

 front of a superior cabin that was much longer and 

 had more windows than most of those we had 

 passed and, as we did so, the door was opened by 

 a woman much above the average height, of middle 

 age and with a pleasant face. I asked if she would 

 be so kind as to give us some milk. To this she 

 smilingly replied : "If yer honours will plaise come 

 inside and take saites it's milk in plenty you shall 

 have." 



