The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-01-24

care you sure you're all there, Willie Client
We, We thought, maybe, the fairies had run away
what kept you, man :" saidMichael. " Hon
or's been frettin' about you these two hours
back"
%Frettin' :" echoed Honoria; ".faith, it's lit
tie O. that I'd do for any one. People come,
suppose with the speed O. their own wish, an
it's not me that's goin, to hurry them
Stop your baokbiti1', or III tell Rim what You
were sayin' q bit ago. Go of with you, an get
us the tay, an ham William his cup, with q
And as Honoria passed quickly down to the
room, laden with cake-piled platter, the old
man drew his stool closer to the fire, and lit his
Draw in lad; draw in" he said, tits cold u
"'Tis," said the visitor. Pm feared the
winters goin' to be hard on u.s."
All! WELL" said Michael, taking the pipe
from his mouth what harmf The Lords
above us.
He returned the pipe to its place, and smoked
away some minutes, while neither spoke. Again
he removed the pipe
!" You're dull. Willie,n he said. "'wh..t's
wrong lad Are you gettin' tired o waitin'
Deed, / think the time might soon he up. It'll.
hard on you both"
Willie's mouth twitched uneasily. It was an
irresolute feature that handsome mouth Of his,
for all its beauty. He crossed and increased
his legs, and kicked back a stray ember into
(" You see," said he, that I'm very feared
there's hard times comm, an though I'd be
| anxious to marry at wanst, I'd be loath to ask
a wife to share the roof with me, till had
somethin' earned towards fightin' them through.
AM it's slow earnin', very slow"
The young man said this with dreary
cadence in his voice, and leaned forward his
chin his broad palm, and stared into the
"Hoot! man." cried Michael, "it'ud be
enough for an Guild Observation-Disclosures like
me, to be fearin' and comp1ainin' that fashion.
Hav'nt plenty to lay by for the bad times, if
they do come, an aren't you young and strong,
man 2 Hoot, no you're dwinin' with the love,
my boy sure we all had our turns at that sick
ness. An here's the one thatu cure you," said
the old man, as Honora stood on the hearth
between them, and announced that the meal
was ready.
The conversation was interrupted, seemingly
| to Willies relief, and the three repaired to the
room where the tea had been laid in honor of
Willie's visit. A fire was burning merrily on
the hearthstone, too, aud a tin lamp, burning
fish oil, was hung over the fireplace. The
white-washed walls were covered with religious
prints of glaring hues, and doubtful anatomy.
The window was draperied with gay chintz,
so also was the bed which nearly half filled
the room. An old fashioned buffet of painted
wood stood in one corner, and its shelves were
| stored with odds and ends of cracked china
and glass, the wel1-preseryed treasures OF
Honoria's grandmother. A wellworn armchair
| stood in the far corner, by the fire, and a few
| chairs and little straw-bosses amply filed all
the empty spaces round the wallis An old
Bible, an Irish catechism, and two three
other books, including ColumlilPs prophecies,
lay on the shelf, and these with last Saturday.
newspaper (for Michael was pofitician) COM
prised the whole literary store of the house.
gaiiy painted tray, set with cups and
saucers of vivid design, garnished the small
tea-table, and pewter spoons, and horn-handled
knives, contributed their share of glitter to the
general brilliant effect of Honoria's simple, but
carefully studied arrangements. The articles
thus set forth were her pride, and had been
| the bonnie little housewife, in her red cloak
and gala buckled shoon, had accompanied her
father to the ten miles distant village, which
was the metropolis of the mountains. The
potato cakes, nicely Drowned and buttered,
smoked in the center of the table, w it'll plate
of little golden scrolls by their side The brown
teapot occupied the place of honor on the tray,
and sent forth greatful incense to the nostrils.
Honoria, all her handmade work completed,
now sits in state, her beaming eyes are trying
to hide their superfuous light in the sugar
bowl, the cups, or any other article which will
be kind enough to receive it. Her little bits OF
premeditated venom spent satisfactorily, Hon.
oria is herself again, and perfectly happy, for
Willie is there.
The meal proceeded, the newspaper was
brought out and placed between MichaePs cup
and Willie's, and Willie's attention was called
to this column that, and soon lively dis
cussion was going on between Michael and
some one Certainly not his guest), who did not
exactly appear in the argument but seemed
to contradict the old man dreadfully As that
somebody was not there in person, Willie bore
the bruut of all the storm of political enthusi-
| asm, and listened very quietly while the affairs
! of Europe were settled in q way 30 plain and
easy, that it is apity some of its crOWned-good-