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Magheradrummen Lake, where, not long ago, the wallstead of their
house might be traced. After some years they moved to Glenalla,
where is a place still known as "Dill's Byre." From thence they
moved to Aughadrenagh, taking with them such large herds of sheep
and cattle that when the first of them had arrived at their
destination the last were at Drumfad, more than a mile distant.
Many stories are related of Mrs. Catherine Dill's pride, courage, and
faith. ... During the siege of Derry, David Dill's cattle were driven
away by a foraging party of King James's army; but Mrs. Dill followed
after the foragers and succeeded in getting the cattle released.
On another occasion Mr. Dill and his servants were aroused by the
furious roaring of an English bull which he kept among his flock.
Hastily arming themselves, they ran to discover the cause of the
animal's anger. On arriving where the cattle had been grazing, they
found the bull in conflict with a furious wolf, which they pursued,
but failed to overtake. The chase continued for some hours, and at
last the wolf directed his course backwards in the direction of Mr.
Dill's residence. Mrs. Dill, somewhat anxious for the safety of her
husband had gone out to reconnoitre. Just then the wolf came up and
ran at her in a half-exhausted condition. But Mrs. Dill was equal to
the emergency. Taking off her apron, she rolled it around her arm,
and when the wolf assailed her with open mouth, she thrust her
protected hand down his throat, and held him till assistance arrived,
when the furious intruder was killed. This was the last wolf ever
seen in that part of Ireland.
Although Mrs. Dill had been brought up a Roman Catholic, she became
a good Presbyterian and an earnest Christian. One day when the
Episcopal curate called to pay his usual visit, he began to upbraid
her for not coming to "church." "I'll begin to attend church," she
replied, "when you begin to preach the doctrines contained in this
book," holding up a volume that she had been reading, which was
entitled "Looking unto Jesus."
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