Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-12-12

clouS OppOSlLlOn OF MS rivals seeLueu W
demand Now there is engrafted upon
our statute books, a law upon the pu-
rity of elections, which inficts, or threa-
tens to in1ict, serious penalty upon
all candidates for Office, who seek, di-
rectly or indirectly, to tamper with vo-
ter. or this Jones was perfectly aware ;
but the sturdy character of the opposition
seeming to render his prospects rather
gloomy, he felt disposed to risk the con-
sequences, by enlisting number of truss
ty agents, whose votes and influence might
do him good service at the polls.
AS the name of Peter Mulrooney had
become quite famous in all the country
round'' for his exploits at the head of the
Fardowns, it occurred to Jones that just
such man, on such an occasion like that
of hotly contested election, would be in>
valuable /; and accordingly he acted up
on the precept Of worthy Mrs. Glass, who
says, very wisely, that hare requires to
be caught before it is cooked. " First
catch your hare" says she; and Mr.
Jones acknowledging the force of the
suggestion, after making some prelimi-
nary arrangements with certain of his
friends, rode across the country one fine
morning to beat up the quarters of our
blundering friend.
Financial matters had never, at any pc
riod Of his transatlantic sojouru, been in a
very fourishing condition with Peter, but
at this timo, owing to the loss of his em
ployment, and the removal of his friends,
be was to use his own expression, "clan~
ed out enthirely." Under these discour-
aging circumstances, Jones found somo
trouble in unearthing him, but after nu~
merous inquiries, and not little riding to
and fro, he succeeded in finding Peter in
g bit of a cabin in the bush," a log
shanty with stick chimney, where he
was g boardin' wid dacent family, one
Doheny, who had nobody but hsself to
take care Of, barrin' the good woman, six
childer, an year ould pig"
At the door Of this cabin Jones deserted
Peter leaning lazily over the broken
worm, fence, and amusing his leisure by
blowing out clouds of tobacco smoke from
q short, discolored dudeen' stuck in
one corner Of his mouth.
How are you, Mulrooney % said
Jones, in manner which he at least inten.
ded should be gracious.
Aisy y said Peter, casting suspi~
cious glance at the yellow kids of his yisi-
tor, and still more dubious one at the
roll Of placards lie held in his hand.
Give US friendly shake. my good
fellow" and Jones, hlighting from his We
hicle, and advancing. Upon my hon
or, I'm glad to see you !"
Peters eyes twinkled ; he rubbed his
broad palm up and down his pantaloous
two or three times. aud then inclosed the
delicate fingers Of his sociablc visitor in a
grasp like that Of blacksmith's vice.
'' Coufound it % exclaimed Jones, win
cling all over, twisting up his mouth, and
going through the motions of walking up
stairs. Il say -Mulrooney-my friend
yOu-you- have--tre--men-ju jus strength
oi wrist y
"'Decd but that's thrue, anyhow" re-
spondcd Peter, quietly. " Sure tits the
same fist as bruk the bones of big Paddy
Doyle, when he shuk hands wild me to
dhrag me ow: Of the patthren fight foor
years agone, come next Michaelmas."
4" don't doubt it" said Jones, wiring
ing his fingers, and then Strengthened
them out slowly, as if he was repeating to
himself, this pig wen. to market this
pig stayed home; this pig bad roast bee" "
DC, dc. Having at length satisfied him
self that all the joints we're in their pro
per places. be turned to Peter, and said
"What are you doing now, Mulroo-
ney ?"
"Arrah, now be aisy," said Peter,
with sly look "Why will ye be afthcr
exposin' yerself like born ignoraymus,
wild no more snse nor haythen nay ygur
! Don't ye see it's sunnin' myself am. this
blissed morn, an sootherin' the black
thoughts away wid the smoke Of my du-
deem. viii hould yer horse, sir ? May
be yer honor's lookin' afther handy boy
Troth but there's not a dacenter, nor a
handler, than the one forenenst ye, an
| that's myself barrin' the compliment. in
ould Ireland. Glory be wild her, an may
the grass grow green there for iver and
iver, amin ]"
Mr.. Jones smiled complacently. He
thought he discerned in Peter, from his
apparent stupidity, and his known fight
ing qualities, very useful ally, while
Peter was playing with Mr. Jones, pretty
much after the fashion Of boy with a
chafer, tying quietly thread around his
leg, and then letting him fly buzzing away
but only to the length Of the string.
! Mr.. Jones, however. did not know this
Mr.. Jones indeed knew nothing of Iri.t
character He wanted an agent, and al
he thought it necessary to do was to buy
him. Mr.. Jones had great faith in the
dollar. He would have sold himself fol
rather over FIVE. At present, however
he was in search of commodity.
81 see you don't know me Mulroo
ney," said he, smiling pleasantly.
Had he been more of physiognomist
he might have seen that Peter did know
him at the first glance not only by name
but had read him through and through