The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-10-21
The FurlOugh-an Irish AnecdOte.

The Furlough- an Irish Anecdote.
In the autumn of ]842, some private
affairs called me into, the sister king
dom, and as, | did not travel, like Po-
llyphemus, with my eyes out. gather
ed few samples Of Irish character,
amongst which was the following incl
dent. to5.ia 81 ,gaN *9ai &,aNf&
i was Standing one day at the win!
dow Of mine inn,. when my attention
was attracted by a scene that took
place beneath. The Belfast coach was
standing at the door, and on the roof
in front,ssat solitary passenger, fine
young ,feIowsin the uniform ofihe Con-
naught Rangers. Below, blythe front
wheel stood an old woman, seemingly
his mother, Young man, younger wo.
man, sister or sweetheart, and they
were aiifearnestIy entreating the young
soldier 10 descend from his seat on the
coach. IA ,.c, II ,sd,,ai ,ea
"Come down wild .ye, Thady''-the
speaker was the old woman---'''come
down now 10 your old mother. Sure
its fog ye they will, and strip the flesh
off the bones give ye. Come own,
Thady darin'' fso.. Elm end ysaI
sits hcnor," was the short reply Of
the soldier; and with clenched hands
and set teeth he took sitter seat on
the coach. .elB asae-f isH rHgdst
| 'Thady, come down ye fool Of the
world--co me along down wId ye!'
The tone Of the present appeal was
more inpatient and peremptory than
the last, and the answer was more
promptly and sternIy pronounced. sits
honor, brothery and the body OF the
speaker rose more erect than ever on
the roof. ".''4 10 'l' ''''.' 2H..
"Oh Thady come down, sure it's me,
your own Kathleen, that bids We. Come
down or yen break the heart of me,
! Thady, jewel, come down then!' The
poor girl wrung her hands, as she said
it. and cast a look upward tina! had a
visible effect on the muscles Of the sol.
7 dier's countenance. There was more
tenderness in his tone, but it conveyed
the same resolution as beiore. ,,a.s
"It's honor, honor bright, Kathleen?
! and as if 10 defend himself from anoth'
er glance, he fixed his look steadfastly
in front, while the renewed entrea'les
burst from all three in chorus with the
same answer. i-l ,4s...,-. ,t.-,,,
"Come down, Thady honey!-Tha.
dy. ye fool, come down!-O, 'Thady,
come to me-
af.'It's honor, mo,her!--lts honor, bro
ther!- Honor bright, my own katb-
leen" . ~, ..r, "a, -t,.,.g.5
Although the poor fellow was a pri.
vate, this appeal was SO public. that
did not hesitate to 60 down and inquire
into the particulars of the distress. II
appeared lha, he had been home on
furIough, to visit his samily--and having
exceeded, as he thought, the term Of his
leave, he was going TO rejon his regl,
ment, and to undergo the penalty of his
4 neglect. | asked him when his furlough
expired. - Nla.g'. III - 1 =
| "The first Of March, your honor--
bad luck to it, of all the black days in
the world, and here it is, come on like
a shotw i,t
l"The first Of March! !--why my good
| fellow, you have day to spare then,--
the first of March will not be here till
tomorrow. 1t is Leap Year, and Feb
ruary has tweniy-nine days. io ra.
The soldier was thunder-struck.
1 "Twenty.nine DAYS is it9 You're sar-
| tin Of that same9 Oh, mother, mother!
the devil fly away wild yere ould Al.
manac--a base crater of a book, to be
deceiyin one after living SO long in the
| family Of u.s." .,,, a-,tts ), h.
| His first impulse was to cut a cape,
| IN the roof Of the coach, and throw up
his cap, witta a loud huzza!--His second
! was to throw himself. into The, arms of
| Kathleen, and the thirdw was to wiring
my hands off in acknowledgement, u
Sits a happy man ! am, your honor,
ior nv words saved, and all by your
honor's names. Long lie TO your hon
or for the same!, May ye live along
hundred--and leap years every one of
lthem.--Odd Fsllow. Id.
II is amusing TO remark the igno-
trance of town bred children Of the
commonest matters Of country life. A
4 ilfriend tells us that little boy from the
metropolis, who had ovisiieds a country
town not tito Isahd miles sfromGNeW
York, was filled with surprise at the
sight Of a girl milking a COW. Il didn't,
Know that you done il in that wayw