The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-15

stood near. and with them third-an in
telligent but slight and delicate youth
who had been sitting in one of the olarfe
cesses keeping the score. All were~engag-
ed in an earnest consultation>cOn
the best manner of whilng~lway the time
till the church-bel should ring out its glad
summons to the midnight Mass.
"Well, boys,n/said Barney, Gas there
wasn't light>to finish the game, and Dan
was a trife ahead, if you come to the wild
ow Q,Neil's I'll stand a thrate which won't
do any of us the taste harm this cowld eve
ming. After that I'll lave yez to ycrselves."
have a cushoge with the colleen at the mill.
In troth, thin, Barney, it is q shame for We
to think of desarting. us the holy and bless
ed night that's in it."
Now this remark touched Barney in his
weakest part, for, as the speaker well knew.
he was extremely sensitive to the least
ridicule; SO, rather than spoil sport, he Of
fered to remain if any one would suggest
an agreeable way of passing the interven-
i sss few moments, and sfsn sroMfy
pered
"Maybe, boys, ye'd tiny hand at cards;
| there's nothing like 'em to gallop through
q night"
| AS the others heard these words, each
one epdeavOred rather to read response
| in his comrades' faces than to give one.
The delicate youth (who was the son OF the
| widow O'Neil, to whose house " Hea nau
proposed the adjournment) shudderea as
| the remembrance of many dlapoiicai re-
4 rends connected with cards nashea across
his mind for Mt the time OF which we
speak, there was strong prejudice against
them in the more remote parts OF Ireland
- card player being commonly regarded
as a druDkard, idler, or even worse; ana
there were more who could not recall many
| Inv fhn f1r fir
Inna winter evenings, of the fearful fate OF
some who had INDUCED in the foroidden
game. -,
"Arrah, thin, is it afraid yez are ~ Inc
continued, guessing at their thoughts from
E the continued silence with which they re-
: ceived his proposal. o,No;,
n uAh. Danny avick," said Phelim O'Neli
. edo YOU mind Ned O. the hill, who met TIT
q ovid bow one night dressed up like an!
4 rale rintleman and how, when he lost al
q he had, lie staked his soul itself goa oe
n tween us and all harm ~ Do you remem
! Der that, Danny, and how, when ne los
). that he was carried Off, all on q suuueh,
h !. blaze of fire and birthstone ~
~ The laugh with which the cripple recelv
II ed this would have made q modern scepti
!; envious, for, like many IL sheer, IL conceal
l. cd a want of argument, ana hau nor
10 effect on those to whom IS was addresses
ly than any other kina vi pers""sioh "o"'
"Whist, will YET" he said, "jist get
q. armful of straw and wood from the cornt
It's there, and bring it to the room where u
ms grand fireplace is" :.
After little INDIGESTION they ascende
We on. by one the narrow winding stairs
he the tower. A fire was soon blazing chee
IT, ily where one had not been for ages, on u
of hearth that II few minutes before had pee
ed covered by grasses and weeds. The groni
in in front, except a small space to play q
his cards on, was carpeted deeply with u
cd straw, and the game commenced.
en- The game, however, did not proce
on satisfactorily, for the cards were old al
~ defaced, and 80 extremely difficult to
.l- distinguished that after a short time t
in crippie's partner, Phil Ryan, exclaimed !;
or .tlt's no use bothering ourselves WI
st.] them pitch 'em to the dickensW aud su
LIS ing the action to the word, he tossed TN
not exactly as far as his words lmpl'
vas but into the fire.
vi 'ue : At that moment violent gust Of wi
,;sb increased the already strong draught In
~ - chimney. and whirled the cards tumbll
~ and blazing, among whirlpool of spa
r. upwards. THE startled players ieapeu
the their feet, but Immediately burst into pe
,nty of laughter. .,, =,
- ~ nile. /" but l thought the tiend you pitc
,ted them to was coming bit OF the way 20
hi ceive them. Anyhow, there's nothing
,i,ad il now unless to go down to the vliiage
hrs have a game tits awful dry work mere.
ntct ~sWhist, Danny l" said Barney; sur