Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-09-24
TINE LUCKY. FORTL.NE.TELLER.
TRUE STORY.

3 "Why then, Paddy, my jewel, but are,
these very hard times with us 70
Hard !"sexclaimed Paddy, "begor, III,
it's the middle.of summer, they are harder tina
hard frost"
Yes,' said his poor wife, Judy Bren, a
old peasant woman, who with her husband
was thus talking over their past misfortune
and present griefs; yes, its mighty hard f
US, in our old days, 10 think that we are 9
soon to be turned out of our cabin, becaus
misfortune has come upon US, and that W
have no rent to pay, but moi praty, (potatoe
in the house," +. a,aH So
1.-THE diyil rent have" says Paddy
shut the rent in the back Of my coat, that l.,
give any money you had haporth Of threa,
TO mend it with. And it's that, if had tn.
rent. would let the master go whistle after it
before I'D let him see tester (sixpence) of it
Sure we aren't more than two years in arrear
and what's the use of man being a freehold
! er, if he's not free to hold the land he's once
put his spade into g.
| Well, well, there's no use in talking, Pad.
dy: change will soon come in ourselves, as
there will be change in the weather; for al
though it's now as dry as powder, we'll have
powers of rain powderin down on US before
morning."
"Oh! by dad, Judy, if there's as little
chance of our good luck, as there is for a show
or Of rain for the next twenty -four hours, nei-
Their of US will ever live till the harvest comes
| round"
Swell, Paddy, wish l was as sure of
fortune, as am of the weather. 1t will break
and it will be the more like ourselves
"Why then, for an ould woman, you are
The biggest fool ever saw. / tell you there
will be no rain.''
"And / say there will"
ooh! then that mighn'; but only I'm
thinking thai you got neither breakfast nor
dinner to-day, I'd give you such leathering."
els it for telling the truth! For, as sure
as you're standing there, we will have rain in
the morning, and tell you, know it," ex-
claimed Judy, rubbing her left knee, which
was a little rheumatic.
The poor old couple retired to rest, and long
before the hour for work next morning, the
dropping rain, that poured like a food through
twenty holes in the straw-covered roof of the
cabin, proved, if not to their satisfaction, a:
least 10 the utter conviction of Paddy, that
his wife had prophecied truly. He looked in
amazement at the thin threads of water, that
were fast forming themselves into pools upon
the mud floor, and then, striking his wife's
arm, he exclaimed
s. SNl.u. -I;..:i -~-l---- .---.-.--~-.~~r."5
there, Judy, and the rain making waterfall
into your old brogues at the foot of the little
bed Get up, tell you, and dress yourself,
and let US be off out of this; for with the poU
err you have, we ought to he living with slate
over our head, and real chimney to let the
smoke out Of, not TO mention the grandeur Of
glass windows. Why, Judy, you're fortune
t,llar ,nJ I rova, Epa,u II hof,rat We'll
well; there's no end to miracles! Get up,
tell you, and we'll go all over the world for
sport, telling fortunes that is, you'll tell them,
and may he won't spsnd fortune for you.
fatter myself I'm able to do that, although
digging for twelve hours upon two pints Of
bntter-milk and a skillet Of praties is beginning
to bother me. Be up with yourself, Judy, l
say, and III set you up as fortnne-teller."
''Ah then, none of your nonsense. Sure,
you know we'll enough, I'm no fortune-teller."
"What! is it after telling me last night that
there would be rain this morning, and that too
in the yery face of the moon, that was SHINING
as bright as horse-soldier's hemlet. Begar,
i. was the heigh,h of fortune-telling, and !
never knew anything to equal it," 'ie
"Ah! then, sure Paddy, it was the rheuma-
tiz that told it to me-"
"The rheumatic! Does the rheumatic talk
as if it was a christian? Oh. but under
stand YOU it was fairy called the Rheuma-
liz that whispered into your ear; and, by my
sowkins, l find you know every thing, so lei
rs be off with ourselves. Why should we
stay here and starve, when we have only to
walk abroad and make lashins and lawns OF
money!
Judy knew but too well the sanguine and
arbitrary disposition Of her husband, to think
of contradicting him: so she Immediately
obeyed his commands, and, having blessed
herself, she prepared to set out on her travels.
They had not proceeded more than hundred
wards from their door, when they were encoun-
Tered by wealthy farmer, followed by some
of his working men. The farmer was very
rich man, who had considerable property about
ten miles distant from Paddy's cabin. He
now rode up to them greatly excited, and said
"My good people, there has been stolen or
strayed from me, in the course OF the night, a
black horse and two grey mares; and u you
can tell me anything about them, or where
am likely 10 find them, shall pay you very
handsomely
"Upon my word. sir,'' said Judy, . know
nothing about them"
..Dont you mind her, your honor" exclaim-
ed Paddy, and catching hold OF the saddle OF
the farmers horse, and drawing him down so
as to be able to whisper in his ear, =" Don't you
mind her, your honor; for that may never sin,
but that she knows every thing. She IS the
greatest Of fortune-tellers that you ever heard
Of, but thon, she's horrid stingy; and the dick
ems hapworth she'll ever say, until you have
paid her we'll for it first."
The farmer took the hint, calling Judy over
to him, placed five shilling piece in her hand,
Il. To- o hot If srhaf