The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-05-15
How To Save Ones Bacon.

AOW 10 oateOneSS DacOAs
Fairly one fine morning as Terence O.
Flaherty was hard at work in his potat'
garden, he was accosted by his friend Mick
ey Casey, who he perceived had bis Sun
day clothes on.
/ Gods bud 3! Terry, man, says Casey
What would you be after dom there VII
| them parties and Phelin @ Rouke's berrin
| going to take place? Come along, MI
boched sure the parties can wait
Och, no, sis Terry, must dig the ridge
for the children's breakfast, an thin an
going to confession to Father OHiggins
who holds station beyond there at biz
house.
Bother take the station, sis Mick shurs
that can waite too
But Terence was not to be persuaded
and away went Mick to the berrin, Te
renee having finished the praties, as he
said, went over to Father O. Higgins, v here
he was shown into the kitchen to wait his
turn for confession. He had not been
long standing there before the kitchen fire
when his attention was attracted by nice
piece Of bacon which hung in the chin
ney corner. Terry looked at it agaio and
again, and wished the children had it to
home wild the praties,'
Muther alive, says he, will I take it ?
Shure the priest can spare 1t, an it would
be a rare trate to Judy an the gossoons at
home, to say nothing ofmysclf, who hasn't
tasted the like this many day.
Terry looked at itagain, and then turned
away, saying, i won't take it. Why
should l. and it don't belong tome, but
the priests? an I'd have the sin Of it
shure. | won't take it. repeated be, an
its nothing but the ould boy that's tempt
| ing me! But it's no harm to feel it any
way, says he, taking it in his hand and
looking at it earnestly. Och, it's beau
ty, an why wouldn't | carry it home
to Judy an the childer? An shure it
won't be a sin after confess it.
Well, into his coat pocket he thrust it.;
he had scarcely done 50, however, when
the maid came in and told him that it was
his turn for confession.
Murther alive! I'm kilt an ruin d
horse and fut. Now Terry, what1l
do in this qaandary at all at all p
By gannes | must thry an make the best
Of it, anyhow, and inhe went. He knelt
to the priest, told his sins, and was about
to receive absolution, when all at once he
seemed to recollect himself aud cried out:
Och! stop-stop, Father O'Higgins,
dear, stop, for goodness sake, stop;
have one great big sin to tell yet, only
sir; I'm frightened to tell it in regard OF
never having done the likes before, sir,
never,
Come said Father Higgins, you must
tell it to me-
Why thin, your Reverence, l will tell
/ it, but am ashamed, like
oh? never mind; tell it, says the
priest.
Why, thin, your rivirence, [ went in
to a gentleman's house one day upon a
little bit Of business, an he bein' engaged
[ was showned into the kitchen to wait !:
well, sir, there saw beautiful bit of ba-
con hanging in the chimney corner. I
looked at it, an my teeth began to water.
don't know how it was, sir, but sup
pose the divil timpted me. for | put it in
my pocket; but if you phase, sir, I'll give
it to you, and he put his hand into his
pocket.
.Giveit to me? said Father O. Higgins;
no, certainly not; give it back to its own
er.
Why, thin your Rivirence, / offered it
to him, an he wouldn't take it,
'Oh, he wouldn't wouldn't hep said
the priest; then take it home, and eat it
yourself with your family
Thank your Rivirence, kindly! says
Terence, and I'll do that same immedi-
ately, but first and foremost I'll have the
absolution if you phase, SIR
Terence received ,abselution, and went
home rejoicing that he had been able to
save his souland his bacon at the same
time.
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