to the stars, in order to see that they appear, and night is actually come, before sitting down to eat. (12.) This is the manner in which the approach of the fairies is usually described. (13.) The fairy castles were supposed to be moveable at pleasure, invisible to human eyes, and generally built in ancient forths or raths. (14.) It was a general superstition that a new-born child, before baptism-or even the mother herself, might be thus carried away. (15.) It was vulgarly thought that the fairies take such women as Mary was, to nurse those children whom they have carried away. (16.) These were all celebrated haunts of the fabled sprites. 6 (17.) This chief was one of the many, whom the fertile invention of poets has assigned to the fairies; and whom the simple credulity of the ignorant has received. Finvar was another of these kings, whose enchanted castle was at Knock Magha, as that of Macaneantan was at Sgraba. (18.) This story affords a specimen of the popular superstitions of Ireland. Such fictions prevail, more or less, in all countries, according to the degree of information which the common people possess. And it is much to be regretted that they should be very prevalent in the country parts of Ireland, owing, in a great measure, to the want of more valuable knowledge. There is reason to hope, however, that the decay of such superstitions is not far distant, and that the diffusion of learning will remove every vestige of them. In the mean time, these playful inventions of fancy will serve to amuse the reader; nor will they appear more extravagant than the poetic fictions of ancient times. END OF THE SECOND PART. The alphabet was variously arranged by ancient authors, usually beginning with 6, 1, and ; but the above has been universally adopted by the moderns. The The following abbreviations are commonly used in printed books: viz. bh, ch, dh, fh, gh, mh, ph, sh, agus, ar, air, ao, ea, cht, ui, nn, Many other contractions have been introduced, in different books, but those that are inserted here are the most usual, and the rest may be found in the plates of contractions, at the end of the book. The following sentences will furnish an exercise, in reading the Irish character, Seanrajte, an treas casbjojl. 1. A mje, na dearmaid mo Dljġead: téc có ca Dao Dò chơi oc ma keanc 2. Or do beapajo sjad čugad pad laeċeaƊ, 7 qaojal pada, # sjoċĆAJN. 3. Na treizead trocaire & Finige żu; ceangail fad bragajd jad, air clap do Grojde. Mann ġeaba cu pabar, agus tugpe majć a padaro de 9 Dyne. 5. Can Do doj a ndja pe do vile ¿rojde, 7 ma by caob pe DO ¿VGFE XÉIN. 6. Añ do šljÿċib ŕle adṁŕġġejjon, I DO Deana je do šliġċe díreać. 7. Na bj glic añ do jílb xếjn: bjod eagla De opt, & seaćajn, an tolc. 8. Bjajó sin na šláinte dod imljñ, 7 na SMJOR DOD Čnaṁvb. 9. Onorviġ an Tiġearna le do maojn, 7 le Primidil hvile bHIŠ. PROVERBS, |
