The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-15

Long life to yer honor said Peter,
/ "sorra bit Ill disgrace myself by hurtin the
feelings Of any greyhaired gintleman like
yerseli, or yer honors brother yonder, who
is ating his white hankerchcr to stop the
hunger pain. Deed, sir, I'd be takin'
great shame to mesilf if | did"
Swear him" said the judge, nodding
hastily to the clerk, and sinking back in his
well-cushiOned seat
snow, Mr.. Mulrooncy," said the counsel
for his friend, tell Us what you know about
this affair"
Peters story is . perfect rigmarole. lie
had been to his friend McShancs wake---he
had returned from this friends got into
trouble with the Germans, but as to how
the aiiray commenced, his memory, clear
enough before, became suddenly very hazy.
All he could recollect was, that sundry Of
the Irish being soundly pummelled by the
Germans, pummelled quite as soundly their
antagonists in return.
The cross examination WAS now COM
menced, and, as Peter caught up andrspel-
led every move Of the keen. wittcd attorney,
the contest between cultivated sharpness and
native shrewdness, became naturally very
exciting.
"Wcll, Mr. Mulrooncy," said the attor-
ney, ''you say you left home in the evening,
to assist in observing this national custom of
yours. About what time in the evening""
Deed, sir" replied Peter, with the ut
most simplicity "but that bates me to say.
Twas betwixt and bctwanc sundown and
moonrise."
'lou are at least sure Of that, | suppose
said the attorney, quickly
''l)cl. by the MOWERS that | SAID
Peter, with keen twinkle OF the eye.
Have you an almanac, Mr. CLERK! pray see
at what time the sun set, and the moon rose,
on the eighth OF Apr'l last
sun set on the eighth OF April, dra"lcd
the clerk, IN his usual nasal tone, "at twenty
iour minutes past SIX moon rose at thir'y-sI-
ven minutes past eleven
lherc was sudden roar throughout the
.ourt, IKE the surees oi waves on 'le sea
oeach the lace oi the prosecuting attorney
hushca crih'soh' "hhe fc'cr MuiFooh'y
looked the very picture oil UNCONSCIOUS ihho'
"fou must speak to the point witness,
said the Judge with all the sharpness he
could command. "Your answer is imper.i-
nent.n
"Troth yer honor" said Peter, respect.
fully "it's sorra | am for that Sure, It's
the truth am tcllin, by vartue Of my
oath"
"What o'clock In the evening was il,
sir :" said the prosecuting attorney, whose
red nose was now getting fiery.
"Sorra bit know" said Peter.
"Think fix upon some daily occurrence
for your guide, and tell the jury if it was
before or after
ilecting little. at was afther tay."
"Ah, now we shall get at it, said Mr..
Blbulous, triumphantly at was after tea,
you say. Well, sir, at what hour do you
usually take tea:"
That depends upon convenience" said
Peter, with an air of the most profound
thought. fSoInetimes we have tay for din.
ncr, an sometimes we have dinner for tay."
The attorney looked vexed 81 want to-
know your usual hour Of taking the evening
meal We call tea. Is it four--fvc-six-se-,
ven-or eight o'clock 7"
"Yes sir, that's the truth" said peter,'
nodding his head. 80 .,
-" iich oi those hoursy' said the attor-
ney, SHARPLY
III II uu DC plaslng ye not TO DC alther
0other'hg poor BOY, ia be thankful, said
fe'ef ts i,'tIe know about the one
hour or the other, we dhrive the tay time
up ana Gown inc hight SO.
Inc attorney ot his iIps-"are you mar
ried, slrf sa'd he;
:, On but ttat does DC bother'ng me en-
urety sure lh'nk So
nat Doh' you know whether you
are married or not
=, Aisey-alSey II you please-sure lis
.hrouo.esone question TO answer any way
d" Ina, no ne His'hress blddy connolly
cooT'ed ana married me wanSt but sure 1t
s'iihes ihe must oe a"iudy now
",uower you mean, suppose 1onr
"'ie eus, ~ ueau thGh
W no' buoy connolly from SIR, IT'S
my sa''ous oPi,l'oh ,hat 'he iat ou'u woman
IS PtesarVln herseIi ior another husband
"uIty years torment US
lou arc divorced are you sald the at
'orhey, iooh'hs sigh'hcahtiy ~ the jury, as
'hucn as 10 say, ma ia heres pretty
witness lor you .
divorced not a o't oil H. SAID ie'er
qu'e.'! -,
Ssparated thcn
that's ~ said Ie,er ana then burst
ing out INTO low r'ch laugh, he added,
"Vh ny the mortal, put II was giad was
wneh Mlchael IohnoIIy came oaek from ms
shlp.Wrech' anu aIse" n'c s"ou'aef Oh my
hatnliihoh'ai uesaver,
:, rM heh you reached tue house oil the late
McSnahc' what aio you ana your party DO.
Nv INT ~, SIR saia re'cr' WIN inc Ut
most simpncl.y.
,N M ns' m;; next uc,
uave Dlhhls McHhahG rs uac,h' wake
as eyer was u.s. seen % IN oulu irelaho,
now, Mr. Mulrooney, .you nave told us
you were present when TINS riot TOOK place;
| W,Sh M you 10 Sta'e u'sllhc,'y VINO oesnn IL!
IA IKE 10 know, av II phase ye, SAID
reter, huhp,y, as ne sihoo'heu 'he crown
OF MS nat, ld iike 10 KNOW av itav wise
an uhaerstaholn J'ntllmah nke yerselI, II
ye can tell me when TWO aarx CLOUDS come
theg'ther, an sthriRe hghth'h' "hich o'
'he,r sart: s'hiuck hrsl c .
inns Is no answer. CLOUDS cannot oe
compared with two parties OF drunken men:
answer npItlDput