Henry explained. “We’re staying at the hotel, and we know your sister.”
Declan winced. He sighed as if he were thinking hard. “Funny you should mention Erin,” he said. “That’s who I was coming to see. But now I’m not sure it was such a good idea.”
Fergus and Mrs. McCarron caught up with the group. Fergus was a little out of breath. “Declan,” he said, panting. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Fergus!” Declan stepped over to his friend and gave him a long hug. “I wondered if you would still be here.”
“Your sister never stopped thinking about you, never stopped hoping you would come back,” Fergus said.
“Do you really think so?” Declan asked. “I had a feeling lately that I should try to apologize, but I never could seem to get myself to pick up the phone. Then, this morning, I just got in the car and started driving. But now that I’m here I feel a little silly.”
“Don’t feel silly,” Violet insisted. “Erin will be so glad you are here!”
As if to prove that Violet was right, at that moment Erin came running out the front door of the castle, waving her arms. “Declan!” she yelled.
When she reached her brother, she gave him a big hug. “I can’t believe it’s really you. I’ve been so worried.”
“Worried? Why?” Declan asked.
“Because these children saw a banshee the other night, and I knew it could mean that something bad was going to happen to you.”
“Erin, there’s something we need to tell you,” Jessie said. “And someone you should meet. This is Maeve Rowe McCarron.”
Mrs. McCarron stepped forward and shook Erin’s hand. “Very pleased to meet you, dear.”
Erin’s eyes went wide. “Mrs. McCarron, the author? What in the world are you doing here?”
“Fergus is an old friend. He’s been letting me stay in his cottage so that I could work without being disturbed.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Erin said. “We are so lucky to have you. But I promise to keep all this a secret. You will be our most important, most invisible guest!”
“Mrs. McCarron takes walks late at night,” Benny said. “And Tully wails and howls sometimes.”
Jessie put her hand on Erin’s arm. “What Benny means is that what we thought was a banshee was really just Mrs. McCarron. There was no banshee, Erin. And no bad luck for Declan.”
Erin winced. “I guess I did let myself get carried away believing in that superstition. Well, that is great news for Declan and for me, but maybe bad news for the hotel. I think haunted castles get more reservations!”
Mrs. McCarron smiled. “Well, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to let them go on thinking you have a banshee. Tully does have a convincing wail!”
The group walked up the lane and went inside the castle.
In the front hall, Declan gazed around in wonder. “I don’t think those theatrics will be necessary, Erin. The hotel looks more beautiful than ever, and you are doing a wonderful job running it. Much better than I ever could have done. Dad was right to leave the business to you.”
“Well,” Erin said, “there’s always a job here if you want one. I think we would make a pretty great team.”
“I will think about it, sis,” Declan said.
Grandfather came down the stairs and the children filled him in on all that they had discovered. Then they introduced him to Mrs. McCarron, and Violet scrolled through the pictures she had taken to show him the one of Fergus’s cottage.
“You have four kind and very bright grandchildren here,” Mrs. McCarron said to Grandfather.
He nodded proudly. “I don’t think they’ve ever met a mystery they couldn’t solve.”
“I’d say this calls for a celebration dinner,” Erin said. “And I have an idea for the perfect food. But I gave the chef the night off, so I’m going to need your help.”
Benny furrowed his brow. “More black pudding?” he asked nervously.
Erin shook her head. “No—how about pizza? Irish people love pizza.”
“I love pizza too!” Benny said, and everyone laughed.
“I think everyone loves pizza,” Declan said. “And we’ll help you make it.”
The Aldens and Declan went into the kitchen and helped Erin mix up dough and roll it out. Violet spread on the tomato sauce and Benny sprinkled on the cheese, then Declan slid the pizzas into the oven. In the dining room, Mrs. McCarron and Fergus set the table, and then Fergus went upstairs to invite the other guests to join in the celebration.
Once the hot pizzas were sliced and placed in the middle of the table, everyone gathered together.
Erin raised her glass. “Thank you all for being here. First, I want to welcome home my dear brother Declan!”
Everyone cheered. Fergus clapped Declan on the back and shook his hand. Tully barked with excitement.
“And I would like to thank Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. Your investigation brought us back together again, and proved that the only real bad omen in life is letting anger keep you away from the people you love.”
“To forgiveness,” Declan said, and raised his glass. “And to the Aldens!”
“Here, here,” said Fergus, then set down his glass and pulled a large book called Irish Traditions from a drawer on the buffet table. “Perhaps Mrs. McCarron can give a blessing before the meal.”
With the book resting in her arms Mrs. McCarron called the Aldens over to the head of the table. “I know you children can help me choose just the one,” she said. Violet and Jessie stood on one side of her, and Henry and Benny on the other. Jessie scanned the page with her finger and pointed to a blessing she thought captured the spirit of Ireland. Mrs. McCarron grinned and nodded, then took a deep breath and read aloud to all the friends gathered in the dining room.
“May brooks and trees and singing hills join in the chorus too, and every gentle wind that blows send happiness to you.”
“And now, let’s eat!” Erin said.
Everyone dug into their food and shared stories of the trip. Violet showed her pictures to Mrs. McCarron, and the author told the children more about the history of the places they had visited.
When the meal was finished, Fergus took a fiddle from a cabinet and Declan brought out a special drum called a bodhrán. Together they played a joyful dance song, and Erin and Mrs. McCarron sang lyrics in Irish.
“I think this is my favorite trip yet!” Benny said when the song ended.
“I liked the gardens best,” Violet said.
“I liked the library,” said Henry.
“Solving the mystery was my favorite part,” Jessie said. “And meeting Tully.” She rubbed the wolfhound’s ears. “Maybe we can come back next year,” she said to Grandfather.
Erin smiled. “The Aldens are welcome at Duncarraig Castle anytime!”
About Ireland
Ireland is one of the British Isles, located off the continent of Europe. It consists of Northern Ireland, a region to the northeast that’s part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, the country that occupies most of the island. When the Aldens visit the Republic of Ireland they fly into Dublin, the capital and largest city.
Quick Facts
• Population: 6,378,000 people (entire island)
• Size: 32,595 square miles (entire island)
• Currency: Euro
The first official language of Ireland is Irish, sometimes known as Irish Gaelic. However, English is the most commonly spoken language.
More about Ireland
Irish authors have written some of the most famous stories in the world, including Dracula by Bram Stoker, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, and Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
Ireland is full of ancient places. The town of Ballyshannon has signs of Neolithic settlements that go back to 4000 BCE! Other towns, such as Waterford, were founded by Vikings in the 10th Century.
There are some very long place names in Ireland! Can you say Knockavanniamountain? What about Crockballaghnagrooma or
Muckanaghederdauhaulia? These names are written as multiple words in the Irish language, but their English versions appear as single long words.
You may have heard the old legend that Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. The truth, however, is that snakes aren’t native to Ireland—you won’t find them in the wild! Some large islands, including New Zealand, Iceland, and Greenland, have colder climates and isolated geography like Ireland that have kept snakes from establishing populations in those places.
Food in Ireland
Potatoes have been an important food to Ireland since the 1500s. One favorite dish, called champ, is mashed potatoes with butter, milk, and scallions.
Irish stew, considered the national dish, is usually made with potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat such as lamb or beef.
Wheaten bread is a kind of soda bread made with whole wheat in Ireland.
What about corned beef and cabbage? Even though it’s commonly eaten on Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States, it’s an Irish-American meal.
Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, has been observed since the 17th century in Europe. Originally it was a religious feast day to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland.
In the United States, Canada, and other countries, Saint Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
Saint Patrick’s Day is even celebrated on the International Space Station!
In Ireland, the day is observed more quietly than in other places around the world, though larger cities like Dublin hold parades.
About the Author
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER discovered when she was teaching that many readers who like an exciting story could find no books that were both easy and fun to read. She decided to try to meet this need, and her first book, The Boxcar Children, quickly proved she had succeeded.
Miss Warner drew on her own experiences to write the mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks opposite her family home. She often dreamed about what it would be like to set up housekeeping in a caboose or freight car—the situation the Alden children find themselves in.
While the mystery element is central to each of Miss Warner’s books, she never thought of them as strictly juvenile mysteries. She liked to stress the Aldens’ independence and resourcefulness and their solid New England devotion to using up and making do. The Aldens go about most of their adventures with as little adult supervision as possible—something else that delights young readers.
Miss Warner lived in Putnam, Connecticut, until her death in l979. During her lifetime, she received hundreds of letters from girls and boys telling her how much they liked her books.
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Albert Whitman & Company
Interior illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale
Illustrations in “About Ireland” © Shutterstock.com
978-1-5040-3159-2
Albert Whitman & Company
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www.albertwhitman.com
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THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
MYSTERIES
FROM ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA
Available wherever ebooks are sold
Since 1919, independent publisher Albert Whitman & Company has created some of the world’s most loved children’s books. Best known for the classic Boxcar Children® Mysteries series, its highly praised picture books, novels, and nonfiction titles succeed in delighting and reaching out to children and teens of all backgrounds and experiences. Albert Whitman’s special-interest titles address subjects such as disease, bullying, and disabilities. All Albert Whitman books treat their readers in a caring and respectful manner, helping them to grow intellectually and emotionally.