Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-12
SCELL A n Y .
An Irish IEighwayman.


An Irish Nighwayman.
Doctor W., the Bishop OF Cashel, having
occasion TO visit Dublin, accompanied by hi
wife and daughter, determined to perform th'
Journey by easy stages in his own carriage, an(
with his own sleek and we'll fed horses, insteat
of trusting his bones to the tender mercies of al
Irish post-chaise, and the unbroken garr0ns US
ed for drawing cheese crazy vehicles.
One part of his route was through wild ant
mountainous district; and the Bishop, being 6
very humane man, and cOnsiderate OF his cattle
made point OF quitting his carriage at the foo
of every hill and walking to the top. On one o.
these occasions he had loitered to look at the ey
tensive prospect, indulging in reverie upon it.
sterile appearance, and the change that agricul
ture might produce, and in so doing suffered his
family and servants to be considerably in ad
vance perceving this he FASTENED to make uE
for lost time, and was stepping out with his best
speed, when fellow leaped from behind heap
of loose stones, and accompanying the flourish
of huge club with demoniac yell, demanded
money !" with a ferocity of tone and manner
perfectly appalling.
The bishop gave the robber all the silver he
had luose in his pocket, hoping that it would
satisfy him but he was mistaken, for no sooner
had the ruffian slowed it away in a capacious
rent in his tattered garment, than with another
whirl of his bludgeon, and an awful oath, he ex-
claimed
"And is it with the likes of this I'm after let
ting you off? few paltry tin-pinnies! It's the
gould I'll have, or I'll spatter your brains. Ar
rah, don't stand shiverng and shaking there, like
Quaker in the ague, but lug out your purse,
you divl, Immediately, or I'll bate you as blue
as milestone"
His lordship most reluctantly yielded his we'll
filled purse, saying in tremulous accents "My
good fellow, there it is don't ill use me-rve
given you all, pray let me depart"
"Fair and softly, if you plase; as sure as I'm
net good fellow, haven't done with you yet.
must sarch for your note-case tor I'll engage
you have few bits of paper payable at the
bank; so hand it over, Or you'll sup sorrow to-
night"
1t was given up; glance at the road showed
that all hope of assistance from his servants was
unavailing, the carriage had disappeared, but the
bishop made an instructive movement as though
anxious to escape from further pillage.
"Wait while, or may be shall get angry
with you hand over your watch and sales, and
then you may trudge."
Now it happened that the divine felt par
ticular regard for his watch-not SO much from
its being of considerable value, but because it
had been presented to him by his first patron
and he veDtured to expostulate.
Surely you have taken enough leave me my
watch, and III forgive all you have DONE"
"Who axd your forgiveness, you ould var
mint2 Would you trle with my good nature.
Don't force me to do anything I'd be sorry for
but, without any more bother, just give me
the watch, or by all that's holy"
And he .jerked the bludgeon from his right
maud to his left, spat in the horny palm OF the
former, and re-grasped the formidable weapon
as though serously'bent on bringing it into op-
Grafton this action was not unheeded by MS
yictim--he drew forth the golden time-piece,
and with heavy sigh handed it to his spoler,,
who rolling the chain aud seals round 1t, found
some wider aperture in his apparel, into which
he crammed it and giving himself shake to
ascertain that it had found, by its own gravity,
u place of safety, he said
And now be off with you, and thank the
blssed saints that you lave me without scratch
on your skin, or the value of your little finger
hurt"
1t needed no persuasion to induce the bishop
to turn his back upon the despoier OF his world
ly goods, and having no weight to carry he set
off at what equestrians term "a hand canter;"
scarcely, however, had he reached the middle OF
the PERCEPTIONS road, Wien he perceived his per-
secutor running after him. He endeavored to
redouble his speed. Alas! what chance had ne
in q race with one whose muscles were as strong
and elastic as highly-tempered steel!
stop, you nimbe-tooted thief of the world ~
roared the robber-"stop, | tell you! I've a
parting word with you yet
The exhausted and detenceless clergyman find
ing it impossible to continue his flight, suddenly
came to stand-still. The fellow approached,
and his face, instead of its former ferocity, was
lit up with whimsical roguishness of express
sion, as he said-"And is it likely I'd let you off
with better coat on your back than my own2
and will be after losing the chance of that ele
giant hat and wigs Otf with them this moment,
and then you'll be quit O. me-"
The ioot-pad quickly divested the bishop of
his single7breasted coat-laid violent hands on
his clerical hat and full-bottomed wig-put them
on his o%n person, and then insisted on seeing
his late apparel used in their stead and with q
loud laugh ran of, as though his last feat had
been the the most meritorious of his life.
Thankful at having escaped with unbroken
bones, his lordship was not long in overtaking
his carriage; the servants could not repress their
laughter at seeing their master in such strange
and motley attire; but there was in his face such
evidences of terror and suffering, that they
speedily checked their risible inclinatons, par
ticularly when they learnt by few brief words
the danger he had undergone. my dear w"
his atfectonate wife, after listening to
the account of the perls to which her husband
had been exposed, ''for heavens sake take off
that filthy jacket, and throw it out of the wind
Dw. You can put my warm cloak over your
shoulders till we reach the next stage, and then
you will be able to purchase some habit better
suited to your station and calling"