Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-05-09
THE REPEAL OF THE UNION.

II was Inc, clear, moonlight night, and 4
Nike Mahoney was strollng on the beach OF
the Bay OF Bealcreagh-who knows why
perhaps to gather dho0tamaun, or to look for
crab. but thinking intensely of nothing at all,
because of the tune he was whistling,-when
looking seaward, he saw at about stones
cast from the shore, dark object which APP
peared like human head. Or was it seal!
Or key of whiskey? Alas! no such good luck!
The dark object moved like a living thing,
and approaching nearer and nearer, into shall
lower water revealed successfully the neck and
shoulders of man.
Mike wondered extremely. 1t was late
hour for a gentleman to be bathing, and there
was no boat or vessel within Laundering dis
lance, from which the unknown might have
SWAN. Meanwhile the stranger approached,
the GLIDING motion of the figure suddenly
changing into foundering, as if having got
within his depth, he was wading through the
deep mud.
Hitherto, the object, amid the broad path of
silver light, had been dark one /; but diverg-
ing little out of the gl,tering water, it now |
became bright one, and Mike could make
out the features, at least as plainly as those Of
the man in the moon. At last the creature
stopped few fathoms off, and in sort of
form voice. such as the Irshman had never
! NcdEu UclOit, Cdilcu W Mlhc Nduouys
Mike crossed himself, and answered to lis
name.
What do you take me for!' asked the
stranger.
Devil knows thought Mike, taking ter
ribe scratch at his red head, but he said moth
! ing.
Look here then,' said the stranger and
| plunging head downwards, as for dive, he
raised and fiourished in the air fish's tail,
like salmons, but great deal bigger. AT
ter this exhibition had lasted for minute, the
tail went down, and the head came up again.
Nov you know of course, what | am?
'Why, thin,' said Mike, with broad grin,
axing your pardon, take it you're kind of
Half Sir
True for you,' said the Norman, for such
he was, in very melancholy tone. am on
! ly half gentleman, and it's what troubles
me, day and night. But I'll come more con-
venient to YOU
And by dint of great exertion, partly craw-
ling and partly shooting himself forward with
his tail, shrimp fashion, he contrived to reach
the beach, when he rolled himself close to
Mikes feet, which instinctively made step
apiece in retreat.
Never fear, Mike said the Norman, its
not in my heart to hurt one of the finest peas
antry in the world
!, Why, thin, you'd not object maybe in
quired Mike, not quite treasured, to cry o.
Connell for every
by no means,' replied the Norman; 'or
success to the Rent
FAX, where did he learn that 2 muttered
Mike to himself
water is a good conductor Of sound said
the Norman, with wink of one of his round,
skyblue eyes. 1T can carry voice long
way-if you think of Father Matthew'S
'Begad, that's true,' exclaimed Mike. 'And
in course you'll have heard of the Repale?'
'Ah, that's it, said the Norman, with a
long drawn sigh, and forlorn Shake of the
head. That's just it. It's in your power,
Mike, 10 do me the biggest favor in the world
with all the pleasurei in life,' replied Mike,
provided there's neither sin nor shame in it,
Not the least taste of either returned the
!; Norman. 1T is only thatyo will help me to
repeal this cursed union, that has joined the
best part of an Irish gentleman to the worst
erd of fish,
step backward, what! cut off your honor's
tally
That very same said the Norman. 'He-
redtary bondsmen know We not who would
be free, themselves must strike the blow
But you see, Mike, it's impossible in my case
] to strike the blow myself
'Shure, and so it is said Mike, reflective
ly, sand if thought you would not be kilt
entire'y-which would be half murder any,
how
sNever fear, Mike. Only cut exactly thro'
the first row of scales, between the fish and
the flesh, anG shall feel no pain, nor will you
even spill a drop of blood
Mike shook his head doubtfully--very
doubtfully indeed, and then muttered to him
: self,
t Devil bit Of Repale without that!
, Not drop, I tell YOU said the Norman,
there's my hand on it, and he held out a sort
of flesh-colored paw, with webs between the
D fingers.
IT'S abargain, said Mike, bnt after ALL and
= he grinned knowingly at the Norman, sup
posing your tail cut off from you, it's small
u walking yell get, unless could lend you the
: loan Of pair @ legs
n True for you, Mike replied the Norman
o 'but it's not the walking that care for. It's
the sitting, Mike and he winked again with
his round, sky-blue eye, 'its the sitting, and
y long as am linked to this scaly Saxon ap
J. pendage.'
!, Saxon is it!' beloved Mike, hurrah ther
n for the Repale, and whipping out huge knife
: from his pocket, he performed the operation
e exactly as the Norman had directed-an,
IS strange to say of an Irish operation, withou
f. shedding single drop of blood.
There said Mike, having kicked the s.
discovered tail into the sea, and then settin.
al up the Half-Sir like ninepin, on the broa'
j. end, 'theTe you are, free and indepindlnt, ant
l. fit to sit where you plase.'
militia Beachus, Mike replied the Mer
man, fand as to the sitting where please,
here he nodded three times very significantly
g 'the only seat that will please me will be ii
College Green
sOch that will be proud day for Ireland!
MI. 44annnfinn % shnnf and infendin n,