The North-Carolina standard., 1843-04-26

the possibility Of passing it. He saw, too, an
old boon companion of his, one whose company
bevond all others was the most seductive, and
to pass him by, he feared was work calling for
all his courage and determination.
It>was now about the time when the laborers
were returning from their days work. The
evening was cold and a glass of the Mountain
Dew was proof, in the opinion of many against
the chilling influence of the wind which blew
hard Accordingly our hero met more than one
acquaintance on his route, who severally gave
him an invitation to drink. "Larry come in and
take drop or two at the next house, twill warm
your heart this cowld evening. LARRY, you
diviI, who's purshuing you, who you rum
ming race with h!''-"Tairanagers Larry, you're
on your high horse rather late in the day; wont
you stop and take share of naggin to grease
your four bones on the tramp?''-"Has Biddy
Cassidy given you the sack, Larry, and is it on
your way to Ameriky you are; wont you take
parting glass with body before you cross the
water?' To all these salutations the devoted
Larry made no reply, but pushed on at arapid rate
looking neither one side nor the other; keeping
his minds eye firmly fixed on Father Mathew
and the Pledge, and still feeling the impress Of
Biddy's warm hand in his own, with her touch
ing appeal still ringing in his ears. Hadhe been
shot out of cannon he could not have gone on
in ighter line or with more irresistible pre-
cision until at last he full plump against his
old friend Tom Donovan, whose persuasion he
feared most of all, and who wickedly crossed the
poor fellow in the road. "Tom," cried Larry
sternly, "let 90 a me, or by all that's sacred I'll
knock you down, hould off me l say ar''-and
with the threat he gave the obstinate Donovan
the foot and laid him sprawling on his back ;
then mounting friends horse, which stood lucki-
" he
ahead before the other could recover himself, and
crying to his PROSTATE foe, whilst he fourished
his caubeen in the air, '.lie there, Tom my boy,
till send for you"
| The evening soon wore away and night came
on, but the moon and stars shone brightly and
lighted him on his Pilgrimage, whilst the beast,
as if conscious Of the despatch and design of the
rider, proceeded at the height of his speed with
! out the aid Of whip or spur. AS for saddle and
bride, he had never been used to either, and
was as well satisfied to dispense with both as
Larry was, who considered himself very fortunate
to be able to reach his destination in any plight
! His course was onward, no matter how fast or
in what condition he went. He saw nothing in
the distance but the Priest, and recollected moth
ing of the past save Biddy's earnest Injunction,
which he was determined at all hazards to obey
! He was now within mile of Donnerail, a
pretty town in the Co. Cork, where the day be-
fore some hundreds of the peasantry had taken
| the Pledge. His heart beat quicker as the town
seemed to draw nearer and nearer, but at this in
terestng point his horse became suddenly quite
rcstive, and refused to advance one step farther.
Larry tried all means in his power to coax him
or frighten him into even a walk, but all his eff
forts failed; the jaded animal would turn up a
narrow lane which led to a house some hundred
yards from the road, from which could bedistnct-
ly heard the sound of violin and bagpipe. The
poor horse was hungry, and here a stable in
which he had many a time been fed abundant
ly on the best of oats, and no cOnsiderate man
could blame him for having disposition to
make call.
''Och murderanounsr' cried Larry, ''Tm beat
now, there's a dance above in Tim Brien's, and
if stop there's no telling what may happen
Darby, my bouchil, just only lave me in Donne-
rail yonder and the divil man of me kut will
let you come back again to Tim Brien's soon
as you plase.'' But Darby took the affair with
out any further ceremony into his own hands, and
springing over the gate galloped into the farm
yard with Larry on his back.
No sooner was the rafting of the horses hoofs
heard outside the door, than some half dozen of
the company, who were, it is to be supposed,
about this time pretty mellow, ran out to well
dragged by main force to the ground and hauled
most good-naturedly into the house, where he
met the host himself who was notoriously
hard drinker and one of the most hospitable men
in the County. The usual salutation took place
and all seemed delighted at seeing him. The
spirits was forthwith placed before him and the
virtual Mathewite enjoined to drink bumper to
the long life and happiness of Tim Brien and his
whole family. Here was poser, and to get
over it was an ordeal through which Larry's
well-known intemperate habits and great fond
ness for conviviality appeared to himself next
to impracticable. He was ''fairly bothered" and
out of breath too, and out of the elbows, and out
of gear in all respects for such an OCCASION
What was to be done! He came unexpectedly
and was therefore the more welcome. The per-
sons present were all his intimate acquantances,
and many of them his strong friends and relations
to boot. To insult the Landlord, to whose house
he had come in such disrespectful trim and un-
invited, which was worse, was more than his
good manners could brook. So he determined
atleast to put the glass to his ips and appear to
do what his heart was firmly set against, when
Mrs. Brien most fortunately caught his eye, to