Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-02

forge; and the weary soldier told him
his secret. Terence was somewhat
sceplical, but promised 10 make trial.
and when at length he did SO, to his very
great amazemcnt, every thing turped out
as the soldier had predicted. After the
soldier had told his secret, he shook the
hand Of the smith, and walking away
westward, was never again seen or heard
of in Kilmallock *. Terencc's fame soon
spread far and wide, and he broke every
horse for twenty miles round. The only
complaint was, that he broke the horses
SO completely, that they had no spirit az
ter his whisper. Certain it is, that when
they first heard il they trembled from
head TO hoof, a cold sweat stood all over
their bodies; and it was said, that they
never were good for the chase or the
race afterwards.
And 1t become a saying in the country
when, as sometimes happened to be the
case, a rioting young bachelor became a
quiet and sober sort of a man after his
marriage, that he had endured the in
Fiction of Terence O'Sullivan's whisper.
When his fame was at the greatest, it
came to pass that one ofthe finest young
fellows in the parish, or seven parishes
beyond it, n lad of the name of Jerry
Ryan, fel. in love with a pretty girl as
you would wish to see, Mary Mulcahy,
whose father had for thirty years kept
the village school, and was now dead.
Why Jerry Ryan fell in love with Miss
Mulcahy, l cannot undertake to say
but l suppose it was for the same reason
that a young man falls in love with a
young woman all the world over. 1t was
his luck; and when it is a mans luck to
fall in love, he may as well not make any
hustle about it, for do it he must. But as
somebody says (and a clever body he
was-I venture to say he was a gentle
man ofGod's own making)
The course Of true love never did run smoo,h.p
And the rough spot in this love was, that
Mary Mulcahy's mother was second
cousin to Jerry Ryan's aunt; which is a
degree Of relationship that prevents
matrimony in the Church of Rome. SO
Jerry Ryan went to the priest about it
and so bad luck would have it, he went ia
him at a time when he happened to be
cross, by reason of a dispute he had had
that morning with his niece. There new
er is a worse time to ask a favor from
anybody than just such a time; and Jerry
was accordingly refused. GO, get you
gone out of my house, We good-for-noth-
ing fellow said DIR. Delany (that was
the priests name;) get out of my house
and hopeit will be a long day before
see you in it again. What, do you
want me to break the law of God and
the canon Of the church? to fly in the
face Of the Eoly decretaIs, to violate the
orders of sacred councils, and marry you
to Mary Mulcahy, who is second cousin
to your born aunt? jerry Ryan, Jerry
Ryan, it is with sorrow I say it Of your
mothers son, who was a decent woman,
God rest her soul, you are not much bet
ter than a heretic.'
All this, and much more he said; and
he roared and bawled so loud, that he
got himself into a towering passion, and
Jerry was fain to leave the house, which
he did, looking melancholy enough, for
he loved the girl too well to understand
why her being second cousin to his aunt
should hinder her from being his wife.
While he was walking down the road,
sorryfully sauntering along, the Whisper
er rode by. What is it ais you, Jerry
Ryan, that you look as down in the mouth
as a bull that has lost his horns? SO
Jerry told him the particulars of his in
terview with the priest. Il wish,' said
he, 'Terence, that you had as much
power over obstinate priests, as over
stubborn horses, and that you could whis-
per old Delany into reason And may
be | have said the Whisperer. Il
know said Jerry, signing, 6 that l had
rather than twenty pounds that your
words were true Twenty pounds!'
said Terence O'Sullivan, are yc quite
in earnest!' Perfectly so,' said the
amorous bachelor. 'Wcll,' quoth the
Whisperer, { have it your own way; a
time may come, my boy, when you would
give twenty pounds to get rid Of a wife,
as l know for reason I'll not disclose.
But was not joking in the least. Give
me the twenty pounds, aud if you are
not married by this day week to Mary
Mulcahy, may l never set foot in stirrup
to the hour of my DEATH Jerry Ryan
did not half believe the Whisperer, and
yet his fame was great. At length he
made up his mind, and gave Terence the
twenty pounds, making him swear upon
~mass-book that if he did not succeed,
the money should be put back again,
safe and sound in his hands. Away went
the Whisperer, but not ut once to the
priest. He knew the world better; and