The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-08

excitement throughout the tent. The chair
and tables were mounted; even the tent
posts were climbed by those anxious to set
and hear that great orator. After the bus
tie and excitement which usually inaugu
rate such proceedings, he rose, or to speak
more correctly, was assisted to rise, amid
the cheers of the whole assembly. 1t would
be libel upon his physiognomy were we
to deny that by this time it was at least
three times as rosy as a harvest moon
while the sur, owingprobablyt to Some astro-
nomicai phenomenon, during his progress
the tent. encircled his head in a blaze of glo-
ry, similar to the lambent flame which an
clent writers tell us played about the coun-
tenance of Demosthencs during the deliy-
erance of his orations.
Mr.. Cassidy faced the audience, and the
audience faced Mr.. Cassidy. The excite
ment of the moment cannot be we'll de-
scrlbed. Death-ike silence prevailed. Mr..
Cassidy then leaned backwards as if over
powered by the greatness of the occasion ;
and then ME-. Cassidy came forward, as if
TO remove any impression of cowardice pro-
duced on the minds of his audience by the
previous inclination of his person. A mo-
ments awtul pause ensued, when, to the
utter bewilderment of the orator, the glass
fell from one of the eyes of his spectacles,
which simple little incident occasoned
simultaneous yell of laughter from the
whole assembly; and Mr.. Cassidy sank
upon the floor.
We have already said that Mr.. Cassidy
wan sent to watch the proceedings in the
absence of the priest. Both himself and
his wife were cordially hated by the young
bloods of the parish, on account of their be-
ing considered spies and news-carriers :,
still, the people manifested common de-
sire to prevent the intelligence of his pres
ent condition from reaching the ears of
Father O'Rafferty. With this view large
brown shawl was thrown over him, to
screen him from the public gaze.
AS Mr.. Cassidy lay upon the ground with
his martial cloak around him, at once an
example of the greatness and weakness of
human nature,
"Dear. me,n said Jem Dooly, "ain't he
very much the shape iv a fiddle2"
(" Very" answered Pat McGragh very
Brian Boru's time"
"Get up!" cried Dick Stafford, at the I
same time applying the point of his shilie-
agh to Mr.. Cassidy's person get up, sir,
say"
Listen" said Paddy Byrne, as that gen
'leman was about to give Mr. Cassidy the
benefit of smart tip of a pins point ''lis-
zen, till make him squeal."
rms proposition was, however, over
uied, and exertions were made to carry
he unfortunate schoolmaster as quietly as
possible to his house, on the shoulders of
Wo or tnree men. When Ills wife Molly
aw the condition of her husband-never
reaming, of course, that lie had fallen
ictim to intoxicatien, and thinking that he
lad been I'll used by the crowd-she ran off
'reathless to the priests house, and told
'ather O'Rafferty that her husband "was
ust kilt by the mob"
The good father, with that zeal for the I
-elfare of his flock which ever character I
ses the Irish priesthood, made all possible
aste to attend the last moments of the r
ylpg man. Hefound Mr.. Cassidy stretched q
n the floor, surrounded by those who had t
onveyed him home, and also by Molly, t
Tho had arrived a few minutes before the L
riest, quite came enough to make her SEN a
BILE of the great mistake she had made. 4
"Well, John, what's the matter 2" in r
uired the priest. v
"U-ogh," replied that great man. V
Bless me, ," continued the priest, at the o
lme time shutting up the air, as if deter t.
lined to smell his way to the truth. of the s.
after, Z" bless me, is it drunk the man is 2" q
Blind, your reverence I" replied Mogue i
lying, who had often been the recipient of
sound tlogging in his younger days at the f,
ands of Mr.. Cassidy. /,
!" Drunk !" emphasized the priest, by way d
inquiry. n
J" AS an owl, sir,n continued Mogue. n
Lave me house this instant, young q
yDgp roared Molly, seeing the damag- n
g effect the responses of that gentleman Q
ere likely to have upon the future pros il
,cts of her husband