The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-28
The IrIah Soldier.

In the autumn of 1925, some private
affairs called me into the sister kingdom /;
and as did not travel, like Polyphemus,
with my eye out, ] gathered a few sam
pies Of Irish character, amongst which
was the following incident:
was standing one morning at the
window Of "mine inn" when my attention
was attracted by II scene that took place
beneath. The Belfast coach was standing
at the door. and OH the roof in front, sat
a solitary outside passenger, II fine young
fellow, in the uniform of the Connaught
Rangers. Below, by the front wheel,
stood an old woman, seemingly his moth
or, q young man aud younger woman,
sister or sweetheart; and they were all
earnestly entrenting the young soldier to
descend from his seat on the coach.
Come down wild ye. Thady;' the
speaker the old woman. Come down
now to your ould mother. Shur its Aog
ye they will, and strip the flesh off the
bones | Civ ye. Come doTn, Thady,
darlin.'
Its honor. mother was the short re.
ply Of the soldier; and, with clenchvd
hands and Set teeth, he took q sitter
posture on the coach.
'Thady, come down-come down now,
ye fool Of the world-come along down
wild ye.'
The tone of the present appeal was
more promptly and sternly pronounced.
Its honor, brother!' and the body Of
the speaker rose moro rigidly erect than
ever on the roof
oh, Thady, come down! Shurc it's
me, your own Kathleen, that bids yc.
Come down, or yell break the heart Of
me, Thady, jewel; come down, them
The poor girl wrung her hands as she
said it, and cast look upward that had
. visible effect upon the muscles Of the
soldiers countenance. There was more
tenderness in his tone, but it conveyed
the same resolution aS before.
ITS honor-honOr, bright Kathleen"
and rs il to defend himself from another
glance, he fixed his looks stcadfastly in
front, while the renewed entreatirS burst
from all three in chorus, with the same
answer.
Come down, Thady, honey! Thady,
ye fool, come down! Oh, Thady, come
down to me
IT'S honor, mother! It's honor, broth.
err! Honor bright, my own Kathleen " a
Although the poor fellow was private,
this appeal was SO public, that | did not
hesitate to 60 down and enquire into the
particulars of the distress. II appeared
that he had been home on furlough, to
visit his family, and having exceeded, as
he thought, the term Of his leave, he was
going to rejOin his regiment, and to un.
dergO the penalty Of his neglect. | asked
him when the furlOugh expired.
The first Of March, your honOr-bad
luck to it, Of oil the black days in the
wOrld-and here it is, come sudden on
me like shot
The first of March why, my good
fellow, you have day to spare then-the
first Of March will not be here till to- NOR.
row. 1t is leap.year, and February has
twenty-nine days.
The soldier was thunderstTuck.
'Twcnty-nine days is it! You're sartin
Of that samel o mother, mother I'LL
luck fly away wild yer ould almanack
base cratur Of book, to be deceaven one
after living 30 long In the family Of u.s.
HIS first impulse was to cut a caper on
the roof Of the coach, and throw up his
cap. with . loud hurrahl His second
was 10 throw himself into the arms Of his
Kathleen, and the third was to wiring my
hand off in an acknowledgment
'It's . happy man am, your honor for
my words saved, and ell by your honOr'S
means. Long life to your honor for the
samei May 70 live . long hundred years
and leAp-years every one Of them!