San Andreas independent., 1857-12-05
Black Filly-Bran Mash


"About the mash, sir?"
"Certalnly about the mash p
oull Peter unaccountably fingered, and
was about to ask when he said softly
Il beg your pardon, sir; but tbs both
cred lntlrely am. Will l give her an
ould country mash, or an Amerikay mash?"
81 don't know of any distinction" said
l, rather puzzled in my mind at what he
was aiming. | found afterwards he was
Ignorant of what mash was. 81 don't
know" said 'sof any distinction between
them"
"Arrah, It's reasonable enough that We
shouldn't" responded Peter.
"Look here Mulrooney," said | impa-
tiently. 81 want you to put about
double handful of bran into bucket of
water, and after stirring the mixture
well, to give it to the black filly. That
is what we call bran mash in this coun-
try. Now do you perfectly understand Inc?
"Good luck to your honor" replied
Peter, looking very much relieved; for
the rascal had got the information he was
flshlng for! "Good luck to yer honor,
what nd be good for if [ didn't? Sure
tbs the ould counthry mash after ALL"
81 thought as much," said /. $50 now
away with you; and be sure to make no
mistake
""Tisn't likely that I'll do that, sir,
SAID he looking very confidently "But
about the warm water, sir?"
"There's plenty to be had in the
kitchen"
can the nagur? Will say to her
tbs yer honor's ordhersY
Certainly, she'll make no difficulty"
"Oh, begorra, 'tisn't transeen care
for that. But will | give her the full of
the bucket, sir?'
Twill do her no harm," said [ care
lessly. And with that Peter made his
best bow, and departed from my presence.
1t might have been ten minutes after
this, that Mrs. Stanley entered the room
where | was sitting, and as she was still
somewhat of an invalid, | laid down the
book L had in my hand, and leading her
to the sofa, arranged the pillows to her
liking.
81 wish you would 90 into the kitchen,
George" she said, 81 am afraid there's
something wrong between that Irishman
of yours and Phillis Both their voices
appeared a good deal raised as crossed
the hall; and | heard the man say some
thing about some orders you had given
him"
My explanation scarcely satisfied Mrs.
Stanley, who seemed to think the disturb
ance was greater than would be likely to
arise from such a trife. However. she
said nothing more, and [ was searching
for passage in my book, that | thought
would please her, when all at once we
were startled by distant crash of crock
ery-ware-plates and dishes. To add to
our annoyance, this crash was followed
by half suppressed shrek. Mrs. Stanley
started up in alarm.
"Do go and see what is the matter,
George" said she, II told you | was
sure it was something serious. That
Irishman will be the death of Phillis
some Of these days. They are always
quarreling."
Scarcely pausing to listen to the closing
portion of my wife's speech, 1 hurried
from the room, and soon heard as [ passed
through the hall, an increasing clamor
in the kitchen beyond. First of all came
the shrill voice of Phillis:
cha done | say. l won't hab muffin
to do wild de stuff, nairawayw
eye ugly, contrary ould nagur, don't
L tell ye tbs the masters ordhers p T.
heard Peter respond.
'Tain't no such thing. Go away you
poor white Irisher, 1 tellee l won t.
Who ebba heard OBJ colored woman
taken bran smash afore, I'd like to
know ?"
The whole truth of what [ had been
suspecting for some time flashed upon
me at once, and the fun of the thing
struck me so irrisistably that I hesitated
for time to break in upon it.
"Arrah, be aisy, can't ye, and take
the dose like dacent nagur?"
"Go away, telleep' screamed Phillis,
'1'll call missus, dat | will"
'Och, by this an by that" said Peter
resolutely, ''if tbs about to frighten the
beautiful mistress We are, an she sick, too
at this time, I'll soon put a stop to that" !"
Immediately afterwards [ heard the
sound of his heavy step across the kitchen
floor, and then came a short scuffie and
stifed scream. Concluding that it was
now time for me to interfere, [ moved
quickly on, and just as the scuffiing gave
away to smothered sobs and broken ejac-
lations, | flung open the door and looked
In. The first thing that caught my eye
was Phillis seated in chair, sputtering
and gasping, while Mulrooney, holding
her head under his arm, was employing
his right hand in conveying tin cup of
bran mash from the bucket at his side to
her upturned mouth.
"What in the name of all that is good
are you doing now Mulrooney?" | said.
"Sure, sir" said he, "what 'ud [ be
doin' but givin' black Phillis the warm
mash, accordin' to yer honors ordhers?
Augh, the haythen! bad cess to her It's