Litchfield enquirer., 1854-12-21
MIKE ilfahoney's Ride.

obtained more money and cold vlcinaIs
BY his Wit than BY hard labor. Indeed
i Mike was determined TO make this coun>
TRY what he had been told il was before
/ he came over The " watller. q place
where man could !. live aisy."
II happened cnc day, that Nike who
had strayed up into the country, Was
anxious 10 reach railroad depot. His
legs we're weary. and though he had par.
taken Of a substantial breakfast from the
! well spread table of 4 hospilable farmer.
the idea of travelling sixteen mil-s By
nightfalI had little charms for q lazy rel,
! low like him. III ss, MI,
Mike had travelled about halt . mile
J ! when he observed largo handful post
ed on the sign post; and, though not
much Of a scholar. he managed, after
spelling out the hard words. to read as
follows: N
| SroLEE.-A man calling himself Will
liam McClatiin, hired Of the subscriber
| grey horse and Concord built wagon for
the purpose Of going 10 Kingston and re.
turning the same day, but has not been
heard Of since. Said McClaffin was
small man, peck maj ked, with scar un,
der his eye.
i That's me. said Mike, barrin' the
scar, and that's aisy made
1 Mike logged along,o the tavern, and
entering With downcast look, took q
seat before the Era.
Il In few moments he heard q whisper
ing among the inmates. and felt that The
prospect Of tide was not 30 bad as it
might be. 8
Soon the landlord entered and after,
whispering few moments, lie tapped
Mike on the shoulder and said:
i Where's yoar horse my good fellow?
i 'Ilorse!' said Mike, looking up.
~ Yes, the horse you hired
i - Sure an the, owner has him, you
wouldn't accuse an honest Ir;shman Of
the likes ofmo. Of stating q horse, would
.he?' Fe
You may look ike an honest man.
but don't you see that's an exact des-
criplion Of you 2 W. ea
/ AN what does that say. shure =
THAT you stole hose and wagon.
/ ID il me. ye name p. ~ ss s5s9 4 4
Certainly saqsa eaat
sal'ake me out Of this, By the blessed
| ST. Patrick and Mike WAS fast making
tracks for the door, when The landlord
stepped before him. 'ts sas5 s'
!. No you don't. said he. taking Mike
| BY The collar. s.s ts5
Mike began 70 shed tears. and tiled 10
soften the heart OF the landlord.
| AN shure you wonldn't be the manes
| Of putting poor fellow in prison --lst
me 60 now, and Ill never da'ken the
doc again. ~ shure as my nsne's -
i what p 9s fA8H
AN what was the namc re read on
the papsrg' asked Mike. ",
] ITS no ,matter-Pm sure he's the
chap. said the landlord, don't you
think SO 2 addressing himself 10 the
crowd who had gathered in the bar
room.
i Yes was the response.
In less than half an hour the Landlord
and his team was at the door, and Mike
was ordered TO get aboard.
Shule yell give me dhrop Of the
crathu-.' said Mike. 'afore ye lake me
oul into the cold weather.
Yes said Ito landlord, ordering the
boy 10 set out the decanter. sss
Heres 10 the health Ut ye,' said he,
IAN may tho blessed Virgin pudect ye.
and save ye from bein' il my si.ivation.'
| The liquor was drank. aid Mike aud
| the landlord STATED of for the town from
which the horse had been stolen.
I Du,ing the FIRST part of the journey
Mike was exceedingly taci.urn. and The
landlord was not inclined TO d.suib his
meditations. They bad proceeded some
half dozen miles whcn Mike asked
An what will ye est for this job.
Meter z A,e
Twenty Eve dollars. perhaps. replied
the Landlord. IS aM
'Shurc an yen make better business
| OF il than mesilf, If ye get that
Yes, said the landlord. guess 90.
i Mike relapscd into silence. and after an
hours ride they halted IN front 81 sta
biz. and the landlord sung out 10 the
pioptietor~- h
h. Here's the fellow who stole yout
horse and wagon Nh
| This brought OUT the stable keeper
and his ostlers, and the former having
thrown Mikes head bnck 50 as 70 get .
fair view 81 his face. said M
This i,n't the man. "A
| Isn't the man 2 repeated the aston.
ished landlord. n
| AN didn't | tell ye 50 2 said Mike.
Bat IFS mssilf that's obliged to- 70 for .a-
king me here. an sayin' me the trouble
Of . weary journey on tut. An now
turning 10 The slabla keeper. il re tell
me the way 10 The railroad It's Mike Ma
honey tha.'ll quick be out q 1. country Y!