r them--the Curtins--but this did not take place. At the village
of Firies a number of people had assembled. They stopped loitering
about the place in the forenoon, waiting for a meeting of the
National League, which was subsequently held. A threatening notice
was discovered posted up on the door of a house formerly used as a
forge. It ran as follows:--

"'NOTICE.--If we are honoured by the presence of the bloodthirsty
perjurers at Mass on any of the forthcoming Sundays, take good care
you'll stand up very politely and walk out. Don't be under the
impression that all the Moonlighters are dead, and that this notice
is a child's play, as Shawn Nelleen titled the last one. I'll be
sure to keep my word, as you will see before long, so have no
welcome for the Curtins, and, above all, let no one work for them
in any way. As you respect the Captain, and as you value your own
life, abide by this notice.'--Signed, 'A MOONLIGHTER.'

"The above notice was written on tea paper in large legible style,
and evidently by an intelligent person. Groups were perusing it
during the day. A force of police marched through the village and
back, but did not observe this document, as it is still posted on
the door of the house."

The "bloodthirsty perjurers" here mentioned were the daughters who had
dared to demand and to promote the punishment of the assassins of their
father! For this crime these daughters were to be excommunicated by the
people of Firies, and denied the consolations of religion in their deep
sorrow, even in defiance of the order of the Catholic bishop.

As the advent of Mr. Gladstone to power in alliance with Mr. Parnell was
then imminent, Mr. Sheehan, M.P., wrote a letter to the parish priest of
Firies, the Rev. Mr. O'Connor, begging him in substance to put the
brakes--for a time--upon the wheels of the local rack, lest the outcries
of the young women subjected to this moral torture should interfere with
the success of the new alliance. This, in plain English, is the only
possible meaning of the letter which I here reprint from a leaflet
issued by an Irish society:--

"The Rev. Father O'Connor, P.P., has received the following letter
from Mr. Sheehau, M.P., in reference to this matter, under date

"'House of Commons, _January 26th._

"'REV. DEAR SIR,--At this important juncture in our history, I am
sorry to see reports of the F