Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-01-27
THE HONEST WlD0 W.

TIE Irish character has afforded sub
Ject for many mastery and graphic
sketches yet in the define alton, the
real is SO often blended with the carica-
ture impersonaton, that the hisbman IL
at loss To recognise his own features in
the pollrailure. The following is tale
OF facts, which recently occurred in hum
ble lie, aud from which the reader may
derive a lesson of disinieresled geneI-
osily. The noble and upright conduct
of the widow, who Jisdaned TO augment
her daughters income 10 the INJURY of
the brother aud sisters Of her proposed
son-iu-law, is worthy of imitation IN any
station. The reality OF the sketch may
possibly compensate for IFS Deficiencies
IN construction, and the want Of eharac-
ter and incident.
! In the southern part Of the county Of
Wexford, there is n small woter-miil at
the Junction Of two streams, which take
their rise in the so called mountain Of
Forth, (though It's elevation is Of the
most dImlnuiivo cbardcier,) and after
running in their narrow channels through
II fiat tract Of county for some miles,
fall into an arm OF the sea. Andy Fur
long, the owner Of this mill, had snug
farm in coDnexion with it, and had pass
ed there, in the two-fold character Of
miller and farmer, nearly half century.
with an uniInpeachable character for
probity. BY the necessilous, Andy was
especially beloved, for though a miller,
he never ground them, in seasons Of
scarcity and distress, AS rogues in grain
so often do The poor ana needy; he never
exacted more for the labor Of his wheel
in the season Of want than in the DAYS
Of plenty; nnd rs one good turn deserves
another, every ono who wanted turn OF
the mill wheel came to him. he had plen-
ty of grist
Andy, however, was not very success
lul in saviug-he was TOO good a jelio,o
for that; he gave the best dinners Of any
man 10 The parish TO the priest, and ex-
pended a good deal in the Improvement
Of his farm; his landlord being a just
man, and he himself a regular and SOL
vent tenant, he was not afraid Of losing
his land at the expiration of his term, and
felt confident that his family would reap
inc OencHt OF MS Oulldp.
| But, like every one else, he had
! "besetling SIM" and had no desire to
call upon Father Mathew to remove il;
he liked the company of some OF his
Jovial neighbors far better than any of
the teetoiallers, and in consequence be-
came indoent and Of full habit. This
constitutions inertness, perhaps, was tho
cause Of his dislike to the execution Of
his will; or he might have thought-as
many wiser and better informed man
has-ihat signing a will wus a certain
! lorerunner OF death. Alas. the older we
grow, the greater Is our attachment TO
life. This Discrimination to make for
NAL testament was the more 10 be de-
pored, as Andy had wife and four
children. He had often declared his
intentions to his neighbors as 10 the dis
position Of his affairs, which were, that
his wife should have the mill and farm
during her life, and that after her demise
his eldest boy, Nicholas, should have
them, with no other iDcumbrancc than
the payment OF fifty pounds to his brother
and each Of his sisters.
\ That son was smart, intelligent lad,
very keen, thrifty, clever asa miller, aud
therefore great favorite with his father,
who deferred very much to his judgment.
One Sunday on their return from mas-,
! as they both wake ed home together, and
/ got into n chat about the farm and somr
( improvements in the machinery Of tho
l mill which Andy had designed to make,
| Andy, turning suddenly to his son, said,
But MA, be, Nick, I'd never live to see
| them finished there's no knowing when
! ones to die-and l have never spoken
to you yet on a thing that's near to my
heart; somehow or other, Nick, | never
liked making my will, but j think that
! your fathers son will do justice TO his
mother without being tied by parchment.
told Father Devoreux what | wish 20
have done, and every one Of the neigh
bors know my intentlsns will you prom
Use TO act up 10 them ~
al will, father sure love my mother,
and James, and the girls "
! "Well, well, that's enough" said the
I other "the honest thing for ever |
always thought well OF you, aud III not
begin 10 think otherwise"
/ IDOUIo e'hpsSO hh'' ~f'i"I
conversation, when one evening Andy
/ was sitting over his tumber, aud in the
midst OF some foolish argument with
neighbor about the produce OF field of
oats, laying down the law with iipsy Wis
dom, he seized his hali-iull iumbler, ard
! spluttering aud slamme'ing, drs,ned It's
contents at one gulph. The blood rush
ed into his face, shedding purple hue
over his entire cOunteuance, his proiru-
ded eyes rolled in agony, and he fell
down in lit Of apopleNy. J pass over
tho subsequent scenes VI sorrow as brief
ly MS possible. Andy was carried 10 h's
bed, whence he never rose; he lipger-
I'd speecblrss for iweniy-lour hours, and
then died, was walked with the usual dis-
gusting sccompanimcnIs Of wbiskcy
drinking aud tobacco smoking, aud was
buried.
\ when Mrs Fmloug bad sufficiently
recovered io take the ariiye duty THAI
devolycd upon he,, she became the NOM
inal mistress Of the place; but Nicholas