Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-11
From Cookers Fairy Legends.
THE GOOD WOMAN.

Ina pleasant and not unpicluresque valley oil
the White knights Country, at the loot OF the
Caltee Moun,eins, lived Larry Dodd and his
wife Nana<oLThcy rented a cabin and few
acresof land, which they cultivated with great
care, and its crops rewarded their industry
The ywsre independent and respected by their
neighbors; they loved each other IN marri'
agcable sort of way, and few couples had Alto
eether more the appearance OF comfort about
them.
Larry was hard working, and, occasionally,
a hard drinking, Dutch bull. lutte man Sjihos
srrsrgnr Forward fellow, barring when he car
ried TOO much whiskey, which, it mus, be con-
fessed, might occasionally prevent his walking
the chalked line with perfect philom athicai ac-
curacy. He had moist ruddy countenance,
rather inclined to an expression of gravity, and
particularly so in the morning; but taken alto
cether, he was generally looked upon as mar
yeously proper person, Notwithstanding he
had, every day in the year, sort|of unholy
dew upon his face, even in the coolest weather,
which gave rise TO supposilion, (amongsI
censorious persons, Of course,) that Larry was
apt To indulge in strong and frequsn, poaiions
However, all men of talents have their faults
indeed, who is without them? and as Larry, set
Ting aside his domestic virtues md skill In
farming, was decidedly be most distinguished
must be in some degree excused, considering
the inducements Of "the s,ir,up cup" and the
fox hunting society in which he mixed, if he
had also been the greatest drunkard in the
country, but In truth this was not the case.
Larry was man Of mixed habits, as well III
y, his mode of life and his drink, as in his cos.
tune His dress accorded well with his cha
ractcr--a sort Of alf-and >half between farmer
and horse Jockey He wore blue coat OF
coarse cloth, with short skirts, and stand up
collar; his waitcoat was red, and his lower ha-
bliments were made of leather, which in
course Of time had shrunk so much that they
fitted like second skin, and long use had alb
sorbed their moisture 10 such degree that
they made a strange sor: OF cracking noise as
he walked along. A hat covered with oil skin;
a cutting whip, all worn and Jagged at the end;
a pair OF second hand, or, to speak more corr
rec,ly, second footed, greasy top boots, that
seemed never TO have imbibed refreshing
draught of WarreD's backing of mstchiess
lustre! and one spur without a rowel, compile
ted the everyday dress OF Larry Dodd.
Thus equipped was Larry returning from
Cashel mounted on rough-coated and walls
eyed nag, though Notwithstanding these and
few other triling blemshes, well built ani>
NAL, having just purchased the said nag, with
a fancy that he could make his own money
again Of his bargain, and may be. turn an odd
penny more by it at the ensuing Kildorrery fair
Well pleased with himself, he uolted far and
easy along the road in the delicious aud linger-
ing twilight of lovely June evening, thinking
of noihing at all, only whis,ling; and wonder
ing would horses always be SO low. "lf they
go at this rate" said he TO himself, "for half
nothing, and paid in butter buyers notes, who
would be the fool TO walk" This very thought
indeed, was passing in his mind, when his at
tenrion was aroused by woman pacing quick
" by the side of his horse, and hurrying on, as
If ende avoring to reach her destination before
the night closed in. Her figure, considering
the long strides she took, appeared to be untier
the common size--rather of the dumpy order;
but further, as to whether the damsel was
Young or old, fair or brown, pretty or ugly,
Larry could form no precise notion, from her
wearing large cloak (the usual garb of the
female Irish peasant the hood Of which was
turned up, and completely concealed every fea-
ure. |