Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-17
How TO SAVE ONES BACON.

Ehrly Oue uHe mOENluB US ltTeuCc
0'Flaherty was hard at work in his po.
tato garden, he was accosted by his
friend Mickey Casey, who he perceived
had his Sunday clothes on.
God bud Terry, man, says Casey,
"What would you be after doin' there
wild them praties and Phelin 0'Rouke' S
berrin' going to take placer Come
along, ma bochel, sure the praties can
wait"
"Och, no" says Terry, "must dig the
ridge for the childer's breakfast, an thin
l am going to confession to Father
O'Higgins, who holds station beyond
there at his own house.
Bother take the station" says Mick ;
"shure that can wait too"
But Terence was not to be persuaded, f,
and away went Mick to the berrin'
Terence, having finished the praties, as
he said, went ever to Father O'Higgins,
whefe 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 at
tracted by nice piece of bacon which
hung in the chimney corner. Terry
looked at it again and again, and wished
"thO children had tito home wild the pra'
ties"
"Murther alive" says he, will l take
it Shure the priest can spare it, an it
would be rare trate to Judy an the gos-
soons at home, to say nothing of myself,
who hasn't tasted the like this many
day."
Terry looked at it again, and then
turned away, saying, l won't take it.
Why should |, an it don't belong to me,
but the priest? an I'd have the sin of it
shure. l won't take it, repeated he,
IAN it's nothing but the ould boy that's
tempting mel But it's no harm to feel
it, anyway" says he, taking it in his
hand ard looking at it earnestly. Och,
it. S beauty, an why wouldn't i carry it
home to Judy an the childer'2 ? An
shure it won't be sin after confess it. "
WE'LL into his great coat pocket he
thrust it; he had scarcely done so, how
ever, when the maid came in and told
him that it was his turn for confession.
"MAur:her aiivel I IN kilt ana ruined,
horse and fut. Now, Terry what'll do
in this quandary, at all at ALI By gan
MES, / must thry an make the best oft,
anyhow" and in he went. He knet to
the priest, told his sins, and was about
to receive absolution, when all at once
be seemed to reeollet himself, and cried
cut:
"Och shtop-shtop, Father 0'Hig-
gins dear, shtop, for goodness sake,
shtopl have one great big sin to tell
yet, only sir, I'm frightened to tell it in
regard of never having done the like be-
fore, sir, never.
Come" said Father Higgins, you
must tell it to me"
Why, thin, your reverence, | will tell
it, but am ashamed, like"
"Oh never mind; tell il" says the
priest.
"Why, thin, your reverence, went
into a gentleman's house one day upon
a little Lit of business, an he bein' en-
gagged | was showed into the kitchen to
wait; well, sir, there / saw a beautiful
bit of bacon hanging in the chimney
corner. | looked at it, an my teeth be-
gan to wather l don't know how it
was, sir, but / suppose the divil timpted
me, for | put it in my pocket; but If you
plase, sir, I'll give it to you" and he put
his haad into his pocket.
"Give it me p said Father o Higgins;
"no, certainly not; give it back to its
owner"
"Why, thin, your riverence, / offered
it to him, an be wouldn't take it D"
"Oh, he wouldn't, wouldn't he p said
the priest; then take it home, and eat
it yourself with your family"
"Thauk your riverence, kindly y says
Terence, "and I'll do that same imme-
distely, but first and foremost I'll take
the absolution, if you plase, sir
Terence received absolution, and went
home rejoicing that he had been able to
save his soul and bacon at the same
time.