The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-11-03
GALES, Skettbrs, AnetOotts, &e.
MIKE D0ROvAN'S LooKING-GLASS.

Mike donovan was what have some.
times heard my Irish friends call "a broth
of boy j which ] suppose means g
kiDd-hearted, good-tempered, healthy,
strong, honest lad. At all events, that
was Mike conovan's character. When
Nike began the world he had, as most
people would say, everything against him,
for he was little orphan lad, indebted
for the bite and The sup to the village peo-
Pile, who had known his father and moth
err, and who, though poor themselves,
were always ready TO bring a blessing on
their frugal meal, by sharing it with the
hungry and The helpless
But little merry, bare-footed Mike was
soon able to work a bit for himself He
was So active that he would be sure to be
doing mischief rather than nothing at all.
So it was capital thing for him that
Larry Owens cows had a bit of sfraying,
and needed some one TO watch them, and
maybe tramp after them. Singing little
song which he had learned from Clon-
mel pedIar, that began with
ooh weary's on money-oh weary's on wealth,
And sure we don want them while We have
little Mike trudged merrily over the broad
heath and up the mountain side after his
cattle, caring no more for his scanty gar
menis and his naked feet than bird does
when he sits on wet branch and sings.
Every body's heart warmed TO the boy.
That is, you know, everybody that had
a heart worth speaking about. In par-
ticnlar that same old pedlar, who taught
Mike the song Some Of this mans say
ings took firm hold of the boys mind.
Once Mike war taking drink of butter
milk at a cottage door, when the pedlar
WAS selling to the mistress a little slip of
looking glass TO show her how her Sunday
cap set, and he said as he put the price of
it in his pocket: Snow, ma'am, let me
tell You that it is in the power of you and
your good man, both of ye, to see the
finest sigh: in the world every day of your
lives" ''I1ow 20 p says che ''Why,
ma'am, if you can both say when you look
in that glass see an honest faceI Sure,
didn't a famous poet say
AN honest mans the neblest work of God "
Mike drank up more than the butter milk
just then, for his mind drank in that say
ing.
Now there was q sweet, cool spot that,
on blnzing summer days, Mike dearly
loved Rising among flags in nook on
the mountain side, was a clear, bright
spring, of the purest water. Often and
often the boy went there and dipped in his
face, took drink and a cooler at the same
time, and he would shake off the sparkling
drops from his shining cheeks, and cluster
ing hair, as the sky.lark scatters the dew
from its flut,ering wings, Looking into his
clear, deep well Mike could see his. face,
and the pedlar's words came to his mind
about an honest face and the wish grew
strong in his heart (as many year after
he would Tell those he loved) that whatever
his lot in life might be, he might be honest
and true, and never ashamed TO see his
own face in that pool-God's hillside
mirror.
1t was a good wish, and it came to
pass. Not by merely wishing though, as
| have known some foolish maidens think
when they have gone to W hat they call
wishing wells and came back no wiser
than they went.
Mike strove to be honest; to do his duty
by Larry Owens cattle, and to be steady
as well as ready.
His friend, the old pedlar, died. Mike
never saw him after that time when he
gave the elegant speech on The looking
glass, which, of course, made Mike re-
member the saying all the more, for a
grateful heart never forgets the last words
of a friend.
BY and by. when Mike was about fif-
teen, and had saved up four shillings, he
began to think of bettering himself So
he left Larry Owens service, giving and
taking blessing, and good character.
Mike bought little stock of haberdash-
cry, and set out TO sell it in remote viii
Some lovely springs in different parts oi
IFelard are 80 called.