The Story of The Wolf*
In this townland (Cashlings) there lived, about the year 1640, a woman named Eibhlin (Evleen) O'Byrne. On returning at early dawn from driving her cattle to the "grazing," she was frightened in no small degree by observing a wolf standing straight in her path. Paralysed by her terror, she could not move, but stood staring wildly at the object of her dread, awaiting submissively the attack, which, she was sure, would soon put a period to her existence. Standing thus for a considerable length of time, with her eyes at intervals raised to heaven in prayerful expectancy, she at length began to wonder that the wolf was in no burry to make the expected attack.
Again casting her eyes in the direction of the animal, she fancied that the usual ferocious expression of his countenance had this time given way to a more softened and subdued look, and that she could observe him raise his eyes towards her with a suppliant whine, as if he needed, in some fashion, her assistance.
Acquiring some degree of confidence from this circumstance, she took courage to survey him more closely, when she observed him slowly approaching with an unmistakable limp, holding up one of his fore-feet, which appeared much swollen. Taking hold of the wounded paw, she saw that he was suffering from a large thorn that had punctured the sole of his foot. This she had no difficulty in extracting; and then by gently pressing on the wound, she drew from it a considerable quantity of purulent matter-an operation that seemed to give the animal much relief. She then released him, and he toddled away, whining out his best thanks to his physician. The woman, too, made haste home, thanking heaven for her miraculous escape.
But more remains to be told. On the morning of the following day she was awakened by a strange uproar all round her dwelling. There was the lowing of cows, the bleating of goats and sheep, the cackling of geese, with now and then the howl of a wolf. She hastily raised herself from her couch, and looking out to ascertain what had caused the unusual commotion, she observed all the live-stock of the neighbourhood gathered about her door, with a wolf keeping guard outside the circling crowd, to prevent any attempt at escape. She knew by his halt that he was the same animal whom she had relieved from his embarrassment on the pre-ceding day. When the wolf observed her, he set up a whine of satisfaction, took a glance all round his flock, then at his benefactor-as if to say, "These things have I brought; please accept them"-and walked off, looking lively gratitude.
This incident is duly authenticated by the current tradition of the place. It was told to the writer by the great grand-daughter of the woman to whom it happened.
*From the book "The Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal" by Thomas Colin McGinley (Kinnfaela) 1867
