"To sentimental people," began the girl, as she looked straight at the
high walls in front, "Blarney Castle is the greatest object of interest
in Southern Ireland; and, of course, the Blarney Stone is the center of
attraction. It was built by Cormack McCarthy about 1446. Of the siege of
the castle by Cromwell's forces, under Irton, we have the following
picturesque account in verse, which, I must say, has a Kipling-like
ring."

She opened her book and read:

"'It was now the poor boys of the castle looked over the
wall,
And they saw that ruffian, ould Cromwell, a-feeding on
powder and ball,
And the fellow that married his daughter, a-chawing
grape-shot in his jaw,
'Twas bowld I-ray-ton they called him, and he was his
brother-in-law.'

"The word 'Blarney' means pleasant, deludin' talk, said to have
originated at the court of Queen Elizabeth. McCarthy, the then chieftain
over the clan of that name who resided at Blarney, was repeatedly asked
to come in from 'off his keeping.' He was always promising with fair
words and soft speech to do what was desired, but never could be got to
come to the sticking point. The queen, it is told, when one of his
speeches was brought to her, said: 'This is all Blarney; what he says,
he never means.'

"Now, this is the reason for kissing the stone up there in the tower.