Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-29

was twenty. One of them was with
his uncle, fighting Dick Callagan of
| Oonnamortich, he was shot afterwards
by Sir Mel Flanagan, in the Thirteen
Ages so, said Jack, 81 only took him
in the shoulder, for its unchristian to
kill one s relations" Jack came across,
and joined us in this very town. In a
moment he won every heart al the
mess-table; he drank four bottles Of
claret, thirteen glasses of brandy and
water, and smoked two. and-twenty ci-
/ CARS; and then saw the chaplain safe to
his lodgings, as if he had been his bro
Their; it did us all good to see such
steady fellow. Well, just at this time,
we were in the heart of running away
with the women, fighting men, and play
ing the divil entirely; and Jack resolv-
ed to be equal with the best of u.s.
There was to be ball; a public ball Of
some sort or other at the County Hall;
and saw my friend Jack busy in maxi
| ing his preparations. He packed up
his carpet-bag, dressing case, and a
brace of horse. pistols, and had got
weeks leave of absence the day before
the dance. "And what's all this you're
doing, Jack?" said |. Now, my lads,
I've been SO long away from ovid Ire
land, and ratified so much about the
world, that I've lost the Irish entirely;
or would try to give you an imitation
Of Jacks brogue; but that's impossible
for a tongue that has been the trick of
the English.
The Colonel luckily did not remark
how some of us were amused with this
apology, for not being able to speak
like an lrishman, and went on
"An' what's all this your doing,
Jackl" said /.
'sDoinY an what should ! be doin'"
said he, "but putin up my weddin' gar
ments!"
'sYour wedding7" says |; care you
going to be married, Jack"
"Faith, an hope so, or what would
be the use o. this wonder O the world!"
holding up beautiful colored silk night
cap between his finger and thumb.
"And who is the lady, you sowlP
"How the divil should know?" said
Jack. 81 havn't seen her, nor asked
her yet; but ! suppose there'll be plenty
at this ball. am goin' to have post
chaise at the door, an I'll bet we I'll
show we Mrs. Cornct O'Farrell, before
ye're a week owlder."
"Done!" and ''done!" we said; and it
was wager.
Jack goes to the ball, and we will
give his courtship:-
Jack was introduced in all due form,
and in a minute was capering away in
the middle of the floor as if he were
stamping hay; and thinking all the time
of the chariot at the door, and Gretna
Green. His partner seemed very much
pleased with his attentions. She SIM
pered and curtsied to all Jacks pretty
speeches; and began to be rather "a
Harmed about the bet. She was very
tall, very muscular looking and strong,
and seemed good dozen Of years older
than the enraptured Jack. If she had
been twenty years older than his moth
er it would have been all the same,
provided she had been an heiress, for
at that time, as | tell ye, we were the
only two bachelors left who had not
picked up a wife with prodigious repu-
tations for money, and Jack was de-
termined to leave me behind in the
race. After he had danced with her
four or five different sets, he came up
to me in raptures. "Isn't she dear
sweet sowll" said Jack, ''and such a
mowld for erenadiers! She's a Scotch
woman, too, and that's next door to an
Irishman, anyhow"
s'If she's a Scotchwoman," said |,
''you must be sure Of your ground
they havn't so many heiresses among
the hills as in the fat fields of England.
What's her name?'
"There now" said he, shaping his
leg, ''ain't | a pretty fellowl I've
danced with her half the night, and
niver asked her what her name is. I'll
90 and ask her this moment. And ac-
cordingly he marched up to her once
more, and carried her off in triumph as
his partner.
"Pray, madam, may make so
bowld," he began, ''as to ask we what
yer name may be; for ovid Mr.. Fushy
spakes so much wi the root of his
tongue that CANT understand a word
he would mention"
"My name," replied the lady, "is
Miss Sibilla M'Scrae, of Glen Buckle
and Ben Scrat."
"And very pretty name, too, upon
my HONOR" said Jack; "what size may
Glen buckle he2-von'll excuse me >,