Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-05-06
OariGtp.
The lrishman's Stratagem.

Mike Mahoney was an lrishman. every
whit. but theu he was a ShrFwd lrlshman.
and obtained more money aud cold victuaIs
by his wit than by hard labor. In fact
Mike was determined to make this country
what he had been told it was before he came
over the waiher," place where man
could live aSy
1t h1ppened one day TINT Mike, who hal
strayed up into the country. was anxious to
reach rliIrod depot Ills legs were wea
ry, and though he had pariaken Of a sub
slanIiaI breakfast from the well spread table
of a hospllable farmer, the idea ofirdvellng
miles beiure nlghtIal. h. rtIe charms for
a lazy fellow like him.
Mike hid travelled about half mile,
when he observed large h ndbiIl posted
on the sIgnpo,r and. though not much Of
scholar he managed, aller spelling the
hard words to read as follows:
STOLEN A man calling himself Will
liam McCl flu. hired Ut the subscriber, il
gray horse and Concord built wagon, for
the purpose Of going to Kingston and return
the same day. hut has MT been hear d from
siuce. S nd McClafin was small man,
peck marked, with scar under his eye.
Thats me- said Mike, " barrin' the
soar. aud that's aisy made"
Mike gged along t" the tavnrn, enter.
ing WIN dnwn.cast look, and took seat
before the fire.
In few minutes he heard whisper
ing among the inmates, aud felt that the
prospect r d ride was not SO bad as 1t
might be.
Soon the landlord entered. aud after
whispering few moments, he tapped Mike
OIL tile smmlder aud said
" Where's your holse, my good feIow!'
" Horse" sad Mike. looking up.
eyes, tie h Use YOU hired"
"Sure, an The cwner has him; We
wouldn't accuse an honest lrlshman OF The
likes of me, OF stealing il horse, would ye?
You may look like all honest man. but
cont you see that's all exact description OF
you ?"
g An what does that say, sure ?"
"rha you stole horse aud wagon"
S II me. y'n name :!
Certainly"
"Take me ont of this, by the blessed 81.
Patrick, aud Nike was ilst making tracks
for the door, when The landlord stepped be-
lore hIm
No you DON'T" said le, taking Mike
bv the collar
Mike began To shed ears, and tried to
solem The heart Of tue landlord
"Au' sure ye woude't he the names Of
putin p mr fellow 10 prls"n-let NE 90
now an, I'll never dtrken the doors Of your
house again as sure as my name g."
What asked the landlord.
An what was The name ye read on the
paper % asked Nike
/" lis no maltel-l'm sure he's the chap. "
said The landlord; 4" don't you think so 2
addressing himself 10 the crowd who had
gathered IA the bar room.
Yes" was the reponse.
In less than halt an hour the landlords
team was at the door, and Nike was ordered
to get aboard.
80, A ,.----- Irup Of the era-
thur" SAID Mike, " afore ye take me out
into the cold weather.
Yes SAID the landlord, ordering his
boy to sci out the decanler
- Here's to the health ot We, said Mike.
can may The blessed Virgin puuect We,
and save we from ever benz Ia nv silva.
ton
The liq Tor was d. ank, and Mike and the
landlord slarle "lf tor The town tluln which
the horse had been stolen.
During the first part III The Journey, Mike
was exceedingly tdclluTn, aud the landlord
was not disposed Ia dis urb his medlta,,ons,
! hey had proceeded some half dozen
miles wien Mike asked
An what viii Je &c, for this job, mis-
ter 7"
3" Twenty five dollars, perhaps" replied
the landlord.
" Sure an yell make better business of
it than myself, 1t ye get that"
" Yes sad The landlord, 81 guess So"
Mike reIapsed into silence, and after an
hours ride, they hal ed III front OF stable
and the lIndIord sung ont 10 the prnprlc.
tor
Here'sih fellow that stole your horse
and wag A."
luis brought out the e.keeper and
ms "s'Itr; aud The former having thrown
MIKE 8 mead back 20 as To get a far view
VI his lace, sad -. =
This i,n'l the man."
iS'' t the man 7 repeated the astonisbed
An dIdn't tell ye so 2" said Mike
But II mrselt that's obliged to We far IA.
KIN ne here, an saving me The ,rouble -,
awearl Journey Ola tut. An now" mr..