Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-10-21

'Shtop that, nowF said Michael, as
Dan set up preliminary howl for the
licking in prospective, and take hould
here and mind yourself, me boy, for it
all depinds on you whether or no we come
on suddint to be gintry.'
Dan dried his eyes with the balls of
his thumbs and then sure enough made
known to the breathless family that Aunt
Margaret was indeed dead, and had be-
queathed to her nephew, Michael Rag
garty, the sum of two hundred pounds.
'Hurroop shouted Michael in ecstacy,
'but It's yourself that's lucky, Mike
Raggarty The kind ould sowl to re-
member me! Sure III niver get another
aunt like Aunt Margaret, but Place Hiv-
en-, I'll have another pig. Pig! mi
have shty full of 'em, and we'll be gin
tlefolks intirely. Elsie, my DEAR con-
tinued he, catching up the child with
one hand and his twig with the other,
'it's you that's the swate little dhramer
Whirroo long life to ye, Aunt Margaret
and may angels make your bed in Heav-
enp and he struck up a tilt in which the
whole family joined.
Now, although the news that Rag
garty's pig had been distrained had ere it
was two hours old travelled to the remotest
corner of Ballyraggan, the unexpected
turn in the tide of MichaePs fortune was
a fact that as speedily got wind. The
mealman, who over night had sent an i'm
perative message concerning that seven
and fourpence, hastened himself in the
morning to beg pardon for his mistake !;
it was to person named Rafferty, in
Ballyshannon, 20 whom the message
about the seven and fourpence had been
sent, and the misdelivery was the fault
of his fool of boy. Other tradesmen in
the neighborhood followed the mealman's
example, so that, although there was no
chance of touching penny Of his fortune
for a month at least, Michael perceived
that he might at once proceed to make
himself comfortable. The facility with
which Dan read off the tremendous news
had so impressed his father with the dig
4 nifty of learning, that Daniel was at once
e invested with a swallow-tail coat and tall
hat, and thus equipped he went strutting
through the village, turning up his nose
at all the boys that cannot read manu-
!, script. Then Norah had new gown
l. and a magnificent shawl, and the shoe,
i maker had so many strong, new boots tc
+ bring home, that his apprentice came with
Il him to carry some of them.
d But at last the day came-and an i'll
t looking, blusterous day it was-when Mr.
Raggarty was to 60 for his money. 1
II was a good seventeen miles from Bally
0 raggan TO Dublin, so an hour before day
: light, Michael tucked his stick under hi
% arm, and cooking his hat as a two hund
y red pound man is entitled to, buttoned nl
his coat and started off.
rs An hour later-the bad weather ant
rain continuing-two other men (eacI
IL ignorant of the others errand) tucket
II their sticks under their arms, and pinninl
III up their tattered coats as they best could
started from Ballyraggan, on the road t
sf Dublin. Each wore his hat over hi
Il eyes, as though not caring to be recog
10 nized. There might have been a hal
miles distance between the two men, bu
10 judging from the furtive way in whic
the foremost man took advantage of turn
S' in the road and hedges to pause and loo
- if the behind man was coming on, an
Is finding that he was, growl out an oat
el and hurry on faster, it was evident ths
his purpose at least, was not innocent
" At last the foremost man came to
oi branching road into which he struck, an
on the behind man coming up he still cor
10 tinued the main road. Branch and mail
" however, Joined again few miles furthe
= ahead, and still led to Dublin.
Meanwhile, Michael had reached th
'i0 city, and had got his wealth snugly bu
toned beneath his coat. He stopped
-y' time or two to take glass to keep OF
ke the wet, (it was still raining furiously
SO that it was waning towards evenir
en- ere he left the city behind, and struc
fairly into the open country. But hel
It was worse than ever; and before |
ed had got three miles he was glad of IL
zee friendly shelter of tree that stood alor
ith on the heath, to wiring himself out, al
at straighten up bit.
re, Whilst looking round the tree for
ta- convenient bough on which TO hang h
= new hat while he dried bis hair, he di
out covered that the tree was hollow, and th
out about six feet up, there was an openil