Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-11-10
THE LAST OF THE SARPINTS.

The following legend is from the pen of
i. G. Croker, and better Irish we do not
remember to have seen:
Sure everybody has heard tell of the bles-
sed st. Patrick, and how he druve the sar-
pnts and all manner of venomous things out
of Ireland; how he bothered all the var
mint entirely. But for all that, there was
one Olud sarpint left, who was too cunning
to be talked out of the country, and made
to drown himself st. Patrick didn't well
know how to manage this fellow, who was
doing great havoc till, at long last he be-
thought himself, and got a strong iron chest
made with nine bouts upon it. SO one
fine morning he takes walk to where the
sarpint used to keep; and the sarpint, who
didn't like the saint in the least, and small
blame to him for that, began to hiss and show
his teeth like anything. oh says st.
Patrick, says he, where's the use of ma
king such piece of work abouta gentleman
like myself coming TO see you. Ills a
nice house | have got made for you
agiu the winter; for I'm going to civilize
the whole country, man and beast, says he,
end YOU can come and look at 1t whenever
YOU please, and It's myself will be glad to
see YOU The sarpint hearing such smooth
words, thought though st. Patrick had
druve all the rest of the sarplnts into the
sea, he meant no harm to himself; SO the
sarpint walks fair and easy up to see him
and the house he was speaking about. But
wi,cm the sarPiEt saw the nine bouts upon
the iron chest, he thought he was sOuld
(hatraved), and was for making off with
himself Us fast as he could. Ills nice
warm house, YOU sce,' says St. Patrick,
and It's good friend | am to you |
thank Won kindly, St. Patrick, for your CT
vity,' says the sarpInt, 'but | think II Is too
small for mc'-meaning it for an excuse,
and away he was going. Too small! says
St. Patrick, stop if YOU please says he,
you're out in that, my boy, anyhow am
sure twill fit YOU completely; and I'll bet
Won what says he. IN bet YOU gallon
of porter saws he, that if you'll only try
and get in, there be plenty of room for
vou. The sarpint was as thirst as he
could be with his walk; and twas great Joy
to him the thoughts of doing St. Patrick
out of the gallon of porter; SO, swelling HIM
selfup as big as he could, in he got to the
CHeSI, all QUIZ lttuC ult vi MS TALL hCAts
now. says he, I've won the gallon,
for YOU see the house is too small for me,
for can't get in my tall When what does
st. Patrick do, but he comes behind the
great heavy lid of the chest, and, putting his
two hands to it, down he siaps it with
bang like thunder. When the rogue of a
sarpint saw the lid coming down, in went
his tail like shot, for fear Of being whip
ped off him, and ST. Patrick began at once
To bOult the nine iron bouts. oh, murder!
won't YOU let me out, st. Patrick ? says
the sarpint; I've lost the bet fairly, and I'll
pay YOU the gallon like man Let you
out, nv darling says ST. Patrick, to be
sure will, by all manner of means; but you
see havn't time now, you must wait till
tomorrow An So he took the iron chest.
with the sarpint in it, and pitches it into the
lake here, where it is this hour for certain;
and It's the sarpint struggling down at the
bottom that makes the waves upon it,
Many is the living man (continued Picket
besides myself has heard the sarpint cry
ing out from within the chest under the
water-'ls it tomorrow yet!-iS 1t to-
morrow YETI which, TO be sure, it never
can be: and that's the way st. Patrick set
tied the last of the sarpints, sir.