f dirt and stones) all
up these valleys here and there, till at the last it melted all away, and
poor old Ireland became fit to live in again. We will go down the bay
some day and look at those moraines, some of them quite hills of earth,
and then you will see for yourself how mighty a chisel the ice-chisel
was, and what vast heaps of chips it has left behind. Now then, down
over the lawn towards the bridge. Listen to the river, louder and louder
every step we take.

What a roar! Is there a waterfall there?

No. It is only the flood. And underneath the roar of that flood, do you
not hear a deeper note--a dull rumbling, as if from underground?

Yes. What is it?

The rolling of great stones under water, which are being polished against
each other, as they hurry toward the sea. Now, up on the parapet of the
bridge. I will hold you tight. Look and see Madam How's rain-spade at
work. Look at the terrible yellow torrent below us, almost filling up
the arches of the bridge, and leaping high in waves and crests of foam.

Oh, the bridge is falling into the water!

Not a bit. You are not accustomed to see water running below you at ten
miles an hour. Never mind that feeling. It will go off in a few
seconds. Look; the water is full six feet up the trunks of the trees;
over the grass and the king fern, and the tall purple loose-strife--

Oh! Here comes a tree dancing down!

And there are some turfs which have been cut on the mountain. And there
is a really sad sight. Look what comes now.

One--two--three.

Why, they are sheep.

Yes. And a sad loss they will be to some poor fellow in the glen above.

And oh! Look at the pig turning round and round solemnly in the corner
under the rock. Poor piggy! He ought to have been at home safe in his
stye, and not wandering about the hills. And what are these coming now?

Butter firkins, I think. Yes. This is a great flood. It is well if
there are no lives lost.

But is it not cruel of Madam How to make such floods?

Well--let us ask one of these men who are looking over the bridge.

Why, what does he say? I cannot understand one word. Is he talking
Irish?

Irish-English at least: but what he said was, that it was a mighty fine
flood entirely, praised be God; and would help on the potatoes and oats
after the drought, and set the grass growing again on the mountains.

And what is he saying now?

That the river will be full of salmon and white tr