HE STARED OUT ACROSS THE BLUE IRISH LAKE
It was several months since the sea accident had taken his father from him. It was several sad, cruel months to the boy Shaun.
If it had not been for his little Dawn O'Day, Shaun would have run away. He would have run and run—anywhere to get away from this life of hard work and cruelty.
But he did not want to leave little Dawn O'Day. She pleaded with him to stay. She was afraid of the fairies.
To-day he stood beside the lake, and he had a bundle by his side. It was a bulky bundle. He had worked hard all that morning. He had helped the men burn kelp.
Kelp is seaweed. The people burn it and make iodine from what is left of it. Kelp burning is an important occupation in western Ireland.
Shaun had worked hard. His little rough hands burned. His little sturdy body ached. He was hungry.
He had gone home and, seeing the family at dinner, he had helped himself to potatoes.