Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-27
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
THE NARROW ESCAPE.

! Terrence was stout, broad laced, gOOdhu
incurred boz about fifty, who would rather talk
than work, aud rather sing than do either. II
was a sort of agricultural dependant upon Farm
err Mullins; he was his hedger. his ditcher. reap
err, mower, gardener, and ,jaciotum; and the
farmer, won by his humor and good nature.
kept him asa hanger on about the farm, more than
for any particular industry, of which he was sell
dom found guilty.
An elderly gentleman. who lodged in the farm
house, had been repeatedly amused with the
cal powers of Terrence, particularly at day
break, when he had much rather ''his mornings
winged dreams" had not been broken. as hr heard
him pass to the stable. where he was to perform
| the dugean process Terrence had just rested
himself on his pitchfork, TO give more ehtc, to
the last cadence Of &" Soccla ua Guira," when
the gentleman complimeu,ed him by saving,
You've fine voice of your own, Terrence"
Faith, sir" replied he, "you may say that
and thank God for it; although it had like to
have been the ruin of me, so il had"
The ruin Of you, my good fellow, how SOP"
"I can soon inrense YOU how. sir" said h.;
'but you should hear the song, first and b, them
you will see what they had nearly done for me"
Well Terrence" said the gentleman. "if
you will come in the evening, I'll give you
halt.a-crown."
"Oh my dad. that I'll do! and thank vour
honour" said Terrence. 80 accordingly, he
brushed his blogues, washed his shining face. put
on his long tailed grey (rieze, and made himself
- ciane and dacen!," to 20 into the perscence.
aud make his bow among the family party and
commenced IS The Groves of Barney" f." The
Cruiskesn,"'' The Boys OF Kilkenny" " Dom
nybrook Fair" and many others, when he came
to full stop.
"Non, sir" says he, "I'll give YOU the one
that was near the ruin of me-" This was none
other than {. The wake Of Teddy Roe" song
as we'll known as the Writer, S. W. Ryley, au-
thor of the Hinerant; which, when Ter.
renee had finished, he said " There. SIR, that's
the one; and never sing it but think of the
narro,c escape had. And now I'D tell YOU how
that was. was loading the cart with manure.
God help me! one morning, when gentleman
came bv, and stood TO listen to me. Faks.
little thought of the mischief he was putting up
| on me. You've an excellent voice. SAYS he,
my man, and that's good song you're singing
| Faith have sir, fur had been told 50 before;
sand for the song sure 1t bates Bannohr aud that
! bates all the world entirely 'Well,' saws he
have YOU any more of them songs?' 'Shure
have, sir, says |, zone for every day in the week
. Well, then. come up TO my house IN Dublin.
and sing all you know, and will see what | can
do for you but would you be afraid to sing them
before large company Not in the least, sir;
the larger the better, and then they'll all hear at
once"
"He told ME where he lived: and accordingly
| [ was shown up To a most beautiful drawing
room, where sat one beautiful crater at the pia,,ia
and another at the harp Terrence . Farrci. ,
says [ to myself 'hnuld yourself up, you're
! fhar
was a great. company One of the beautiful era
tiers handed me, with her own hands. glass of
vine, saving, Take this. Mr. O'FarreIl. before
you begin Och thought |, "Msier O'Far-
rsN!-but wish my mother heard hut So
plucked up spirit. and says |, I'm obeeged to
YOU, ma am, for the compliment, but barrln IFS
all the same to YOU, III sing better atther the
smallest taste in life of whiskey.' So ~ld that.
the gentleman up and filed a cruiskeen for me.
and that made all the differ ai'I me. Will |
sit down or stand up surs says AS you please
said the gentleman. We'll, then, as you're all
stated. shure Id BE- but one like yourselves, so
| III stand up. then can give you the thrue man.
ing Well, to be sure, sang to their intire sa
tlsiaction, and crate diyarsion they had wild me.
"When flushed, Now says the gentle
man. terrence. III give YOU thirty shillings
| week to sing me three Of them songs three times
a week. soon agreed to the bargain; and, put
ting the card he gave me with triRe of writing
on. into my pocket, which did not stop to make
out, | made the best OF my way home, to tell my
mother how nv fortune was made all at once.
Well, as luck would have il, who should be
sitting with my mother but Tim Doaey. Now,
Tim had been brought up in the Sunday School.
and had the gift, more nor any other man, and
MIGHTY proud he was-for there was no speaking
to him since he learned to read and write-but
he'd no notion of singing. Well. May be-
thought /, Mister Tim. you won't be SO conse-
ouence, when you see who the rich man is before
YOU So up and touId them all I'D done. and
sung, and said. May be my mothers eyes did
not shine, the ould cratur! and NAV BE- she did
not bless her son Terry. Faiks she did; but 1t
was left for Tim Dooley to spoil all.
g. Where is this you are to g" TO! says he
Och! wait while till show you says l.
Show me the ticket says he; and, taking
it out of nv pocket, he set up such howlo
" hats come over you. sir, say |. Och hone!