The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-04
Chapter ].

| Chapter ].
Michael Blake, or s'SIaster AIike.r as he
was faniiiarly called by his .ies,naiptenees,
and Invariably addressed .hy Il lie Iicasantry,
was one of ~ class then nunierous, but
which has long since licensed 10 exist In
Ireland. On his;retuTn fronl France, where
he had been educated, he entered tlle army,
just then thrown open ia Catholics, who
We're permitted to- attain the rank a.! captain
ia the British service; hut Ia, wing. in fit
of passion, logged his commanding officer
on parade, aud All wards seriously wound
ed him III -duet,-a- urt-niartial and
Dismissal was the necessary consequences
of so fragrant breach of discipline, and
Nike retired To hispaternal mansion, where
he soon managed to got completely through
the small remnant of the family estate
which descended TO him. The winding mp
OF his affairs lsfs him in possession of a.
good hunter, and q small reserved life
annuity, barely sufficient to furnish him
with clothes and pocket nioney-inde-
pendentIy of his claims to hospitality, as q
.'pOOr relation "a claim then religiously
recognized by the Irish, Mike was always
a welcome guest on account of his own
peculiar merits ;~he was at all times ready
to undertake the defence, and if necessary,
to vindicate the honor of an absent friend,
and few of the many hostile affairs in which
he was well known to have been engaged,
could be set down to personal motives.
Agreeable and pasisheds and he Easeessed
and gaiety of disposition which then obtdln-
ed such universal popularity for the race to
which he belonged. Mike lived upon his
relatives and friends, among whom his
time passed pleasantly. The hunting
season found him with those who kept
hounds. When the frost set in he accepted
the hospitality of Others, who possessed
extensive covers or bogs, where cock and
al. oil led nd in 1fn
he migrated towards the mountains, and
made sure of some jolly days at the grouse;
1 he lived freely, but never got drnnk-that
is to say, he could dispose of two bottles of
sound claret without III convenience, and at
| forty he enjoyed robusT health, and an I'M
! impaired constitution. = 81 = III.
Perceiving that Master Mike was sedu-
lousy applying himself, with the aid of a
/ limpid spring which buhblel up at his feet,
to remove the traces of his rather precipi-
! tate flight, Pennant slackened his speed, SO
as to- allow the necessary arrangements to
! be completed, and when he came sufficiently
| near, Mike advanced to meet him with the
I courtesy of Il gentleman and the Warmth
! OF fTftnJ. ffeaTtiffy shHkiug hhfsttti
lie expressed his delight at making his
! acquaintance. eve waited for you as long
/ ms we possibly could this morning, and u
keeper was left at the castle to take you
on. | certainly did not expect to meet you
here, as your destination was elsewhere
with Bingham and this valley, is seldom
visited except by myself. AIS well, how
ever, as it is j ust the best spot III the
i mountains We meet for luncheon at
twelve, about a mile from hence, Where ouI
provisions will arrive before u.s., L have
nothing to offer you in the way of eatables
but take n pull from my flask, 1t will help
to sustain you,r and having set the example
himself, lie handed the wicker covered
bottle to Pennant-''and now, Phelim" (tc
his follower,l "nOw for another pack, let's
) lose no time
Led on by their guide, they soon found
, game in abundance, and had two additional
packs, before time warned them to turf
, their steps towards the place of rendezvous
Pennant's hand and eye gradually became
accustomed to the work, aud Mike en-
conraged him by declaring "that his shoot
ing, for a new beginner, was excellent
! The Lientenant's walk from the Racer
: had painfully sharpened his appetite, anC
Mike had been afoot since the dawn of day
t so that they both were anxious to arrive IL
e time at their destination. 1t was then thu
. custom to be upon the mountains at al
> earlier hour than sporting men of tn
a present day think it necessary to commence
operations. The Irish proprietors of pas
0 times not being churls, many parties wer
generally on foot together, SO that lndustT.
: was needed to insure success. Packs wer'
I not then to be met with III the same eX
2 traordinary numbers as they are now foun
4 upon rented shooting, preserved wit
strictness, and stocked like poultry yard
) It was not then the fashion to sell tn
/, privilege of sporting over an estate to an
!, one who had money enough to purchase
] Proprietors did not in those days speculat
J. in the growth of game as atfording NOR
= lucrative return for invested capital thai
n the growth of men. 1t was a time of ur
. thrifty owners, if you will, for the gentle
a man would then have blushed to barter TO
v hard cash, what his station and dignit
demanded that he should bestOw, bu