Middletown transcript., 1872-07-13
S1it and Sumor.
The Furlough.


In the Autumn Of 1914. some affairs
called INC into the sister kitgdom. and %
did not travel - Polyphemus, With my
eyes out. l gathered . few sasples oi
Irish character. amopsst which vas the
following incident:
was standing one day st the door Of
my inn. when my attention wss attracted
BY scene that took place beneath. The
Belfast coach vas standing At the door.
and on the roof in front sat solitary pas.
scngcr. 6ne fellow 10 the uniform Of
Counausht Rangers. Below. by the front
wheel. stood an old Womsn. . young
man, q younger woman. sister or sweet
heart, and they we're entrss,ing the youog
soldier to descend from bis seat on the
coach.
Come down sid 20. Thsdy"-the
speaker Vas the old wonian-" eomo down
nov 10 your old mother. Sure its Cog 70
they will and take the aesh Oh tho bones
| give ye. Come down. Thsdy. dsrIin :"
It's honor" vas the reply Of the sol.
der. and with clenched Asts aud Get teeth,
he took sitter seat on the coach
Ttady. como down, 70 fool Of the
world-oome along down With ye?"-
The tone Of the present appeal vas more
impatient aud peremptory than the last ;
and the answer vas more promptly and
stcrnly pronounced. =" It's hoaor. broth.
err" aud the speaker rose more rigidly
erect than ever on the roof
"Oh. Thady come down sure it's me !;
your own Kathleen. that bids We. Come
down or ye'll break the heart Of me.
Thady. jewel, como down. them" The
poor girl rung her hands as she said it.
and east look upward. that had visible
effect on the muscles Of the soldiers coun.
tenancc, There was more tenderness in
tone, but it conveyed the same resolution
as before.
Its honor, honor bright. Kathleen"
and as il to defend himself from another
glance he fixed his look steadfastly in
front, while the renewed cntrea,ics burst
from all three in chorus with tho same
answer
Come down. Thady. honey .-Thady
ye fool conc down. Oh. Thady. come
down to me ~
:" Its honor mother its honor broth.
cr r.-lIonor bright. my own Kathleen !"
Although the poor fellow was a pri-
va,e. this appeal was SO public, that ! did
not hesitate 10 "a down. to inquire into the
PARTICULARS Of the distress. IL appeared
tha, he had been horc on furlough to
visit the family. aud having exceeded. as
be thought. the term Of his leave, be vas
going to join his regiment and to undergo
the penalty Of his neglect. asked hin
when the fsrlosgh expired.
4" The first Of March, your honor-bad
luck to it; Of all the black days in the
world. and here i. is. come on like a
shot =
/" The first Of March Why. my good
fellow. you have day to spare. then
the 6rst Of March will no, be here till to.
morrow. It is leap Year. and February
has twenty days"
The soldier was thunderstruck
Twenty nine days is il? You're Ger.
tain ofihe sancY Oh. mother, mother
the devil ay away wid yere oald almanac
"a base crater Of book. to be dccaven
ono after living so long in the family a.
mong US"
His first impulse was to Gu, capcr on
the roof Of the coach. and throw up his
cap. with a loud huaza His second was
10 throw himself into the arms Of kath-
lccn, and the third was to wiring my hands
of in acknowledgement.
Its happy man | am. your honor,
for my VOID is saved. aud all by your
honor names. Long life to your honor
for the same. May yc live a long hun.
dred-and leap years every one Of them. 4"