Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-07-23
An Ynu1oro1rs Storp.
From the Rising Sun.
the IRISH SCHOOL MASTER.

near the bank of- Creek. Many a
merry scene has it witnessed, but its glory
has departed. Nothing is left of it save the
ruins Of the chimney, surrounded with weeds
and briars. At the time of which we write,
Barney O'Flannigau, genuine Paddy, was
the pedagogue, and good one was he
There was some truth in teaching in those
days. 1t was not the show of knowledge,
as in these, but the thing itself that was
wanted. There was then no such thing as
hopping, skipping, and jumping through
half dozen ologies and as many .fabool
sciences, to draw money out of a parents
pocket, but all was fair and straightforward.
The pupils did not dictate to the Master when
and how he should teach, but he was as in
dependent as an autocrat, and parents only
complained when there was too little fog
eing. 1t is only in these latter days that
school boys can manage school better than
the teacher. But we are forgetting our old
friend Barney. Well, Barney was regular
Paddy, full of fun, frolic and divarshun, the
bottle and the girls, as every Irishman OF
right ought to be. He seemed to be formed
expressly for amusement. He was stout,
fat. round.bellied little fellow, with a bald
patch on the top of his carroty-poll, large
mouth, with smile of habitual drollery,
and merry grey eye, ever twinking as plan
" as eye could speak, elf yes afther bit
Of diviltry, Barney O'Flannisan's the boy as
has ganius for divarshun." He never had
the blues, and his tongue was ever scattering
humor or blundsrs. He enjoyed ajoke at
his own expense as we'll as if at another's.
He was a great favorite of the boys, and
his elligant practisin' the science of blarney
completely put the comether over the fay
males. When with them, fun, merriment,
Jokes, blunder and compliments flowed SO
freely, that all knew Barney had licked the
blarney stone. He was full of practical jokes
and ready wit, which caused him to be dread,
ed by the beaux. Barney soon discovered
that they were jealous Of him, and many an
hour has he spent in teasing them. Let
youth become enamored of girl, and never
could he enjoy her company while the fun,
loving Barney was near.
Barney's tricks were mostly harmless, and
he had but a very small spice of malice in
his composition, but all that was directed
against Bill Garrison, huge, giant of fel-
low of prodigious strength, and the bully of
the neighborhood. Bill was proud, over
bearing and disliked by all his acquaintan-
ces, but especially by Barney. Bill hated
him, but was awfully afraid Of his wit. lie
wanted to whip him, but knew he was too
weak and small to engage with him. Bill
thought over every way to get the advantage
of him, but finally gave up, thinking that
Barney, like the rest of the Irish School
masters, would pick up his duds and travel
out of his way; nevertheless, he played upon
him all manner of rough, practical jokes.
One evening after quilting frolic, Bar,
ney, Bill, and a number more found them.
selves dancing away for life. Bills sweet
heart was there, and Barney, as usual, cut
Bill out, which made him venomous, and
he tried every way to get the better of Bar
ney, by tripping him up and throwing him
among the girls, &c.
In the meantime Barney bore all with good
humor, but was meditating his scheme of re-
venge. Finally, having determined on his
plan, his countenance lost its humorous ex'
preston, and he seemed as one whose pa
tience had been exhausted, and threats OF
vengeance fell from his lips. This was just
what Bill wanted, and in a rough, rude
style, shaking Barney by the shoulders, ask
ed him:
"Well, Barney O'Flaunigan, you red
headed, ugly devil of an Irishman, do you
know who and what you're threateningT'
Barney coolly replied:
"Faix, ye spalpeen, what I may niver be
able to undo"
"Aud what's that, you Paddy" says Bill.
"Why, Misther Garrison, could put an
OWLS head upon yer shoulders and a horses
tail behind ye, and that's more than 1 could
take off,
Bill dared Barney to the trial.
"No, no, Bill" says Barney, 81 niVul
could take it off,"
"Try your best Barney, I'm not afraid Of
YOU; you can't fool me-"