The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-30
AN IRISH LOVE CHASE.

Il L
u living on the Bath estate, named Pat
: rick McDermot, or 'Patsy," as he wa:
generally called in the country. HI
was an idle, rollicking, pleasant fel
: low, remarkably good looking, and Q
= general favorite amongst the girls
! Not fair, nor wake, nor race
. nor funeral could go on with advan
/: tage unless Patsy g.aced it with his
1 presence. His father and mother had
died during the famine. They had
held small plot of ground, about two
acres, and had house or cabin at
, tached but not having been natural
ly of an Industrious disposition-they
sank at once-as; did thousands of
others-when the hungry year" came
upon them. Patsy was only a ''slip
of boy in 1917 but he was so
handsome and good-natured, and OF
such genial, pleasant disposition, that
he readily obtained the run of most of
the neighbors' houses who, partly
from pity, and partly because he sell
dom failed to enlivcn the social circle
with his presence, were always glad to
grant him his "bit and sup" whenever
he chose to call in.
The natural indisposition TO labor
which Patsy had inherited from his
father was by no means amended by
this vagabond sort of life; and he
grew up, as have stated, cookbook
ing, attractive youth, with manners
superior to most of the hard working
young men around him, but without
having acquired any habits of labor
or steady industry.
This was all very well, and proved
to be pleasant life enough, so long rs
he was not forced to pay any rent what
ever; but when a firm demand was
made, and clear understanding come
to, that the rent must be paid or the
land surrendered, poor Patsy '1ost all
presence OF mind" as he expressed it,
and frankly confessed that be did not
know what to do. 1t was in this po-
sition of aff:tirs that my first interview
occurred with Patsy McDermot.
"Well, McDermot," said /, as he
iappcared one day, in reply to n sum-
mons from my office, ''what are you
to do? You owe me four years rent.
Are you going 20 settle The amount ?"
! Couldn't your honor call Inc Pat
sy =" replied he, evading my question
with adroitness otis Il kindly sort OF
name the neighbors HIS for me, and
I'd know far better how to spal;e 10
your honor if you was TO use it your
self."
al have no objection" I answered,
'tand shall be happy to call you Patsy
in the future but that docs not affect
my question and must know ut once
what your intentions are, us I cannot
allow you to remain in possession ci
your land unless you come to some
settlement about your rent"
''For the matter of that" replied
Patsy, "thcre arc plenty holding their
land still, who owe rs many years
rent as do"
"Quite true" said 1 t'but 1 don't
intend they shall do SO long"
"Maybc your honor won't find it
so 'asy to put them out of it as you
Think" remarked Patsy.
'Peihaps not" L replied; and per
haps, also, 1 estimate the difficulties
of the situation quite as highly as you
do. But let other people take care of
their own business, and let me bring
you back to yours, which you are SO
uncommonly quick at evading: once
more-do you intend to pay UP, or to
emigrate ?"
| sfYour honor is mighty tight upon
n poor desofate orphan boy like nc,
/ without father or mother to care for
him." answered Patsy, with n slight
affectation of whimper in his tone OF
voice. sBut truth is best,p continued
he, seeing this would not go down,
''and L may rs well tell you at once
that ] havn't a ha'porth of goods in
the whole world, nor as much money
this minute in my pocket rs would
buy me n breakfast of Indian meal. u
| "And how have you lived up to
this ?'' 1 asked; "you don't seemed
starved, or as if yon had wanted any
thing; even your clothes are better
than most people can afford to. wear
these times. How have you got on
SO well hitherto ?n
"WeH, your honor" replied Patsy,
sit would only be troubling you too
much and takin' up your time to tell
you all about it; but the neighbors
| WAS always good to me, and the girls
was kind and more than good, as they
always are; and, that with one thing
or another, never wanted up to this,
that is always barrin' trifle of cash.
/ could get victuals and clothes 'asy
enough, but somehow whenever / AK
ed the loan of a few shillings sorra
farthing there happened TO be in the
house just then, and 1 never could get
any money to pay my rent. And
now, if your honor takes the little
place from me, maybe the neighbors
wouldn't be quite the same to me as
they were and bedad I'm telin' no
lie when l say that maybe the girls
themselves as they always were
-wouldn't think me so eomely OF
clean looking a chap as they always
4 thought me before"
j Nonsense, Patsy" said l ''you
know well half the girls in the coun-
try are in love with you, and there is
fno such favorite, / hear in the barony."
"Was your honor ever a bacIielor?'
asked Patsy with an innocent look.
'To be sure / was,' replied |.
zane ye got married after while,
suppose ?" inquired Patsy, still re-
tanning his affected innocence. 81
"Of course L did," said ''you
know well have wife and family"
'1 was thinking as much," rejoinetl
Patsy, with reflective air; "and /
was just turnin' my mind whether your