Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-01

an that's what brought me here,'
1t was no sooner perceived that the
piper was awake than a crowd gathered
around him, and as he gazed on their
blank faces his heart sank within him.
Determined to remain quiet as long as they
would permit him to do so, he looked from
one to the other with such look of ter
ror, mingled with entreaty, that general
laugh was heard to ring through the
vault
Och! the merciless devilsn' sighed
the terrified piper, 'sure it's laughin' they
are at the fine sport they'll have roastin'
me in that blue blazen'
Having enjoyed for some time the fears
of poor Darby, one of the men (our friend
Micky) called out:
what the divil are you muttherin'
there between your teeth, you poor unfor-
tunate wretch of a piper?''
"Och your honOrw returned Darby, in
the most fawning accents 'sure it's adj
mirin' the fine place | am, that my good
fortune brought me into, and hope your
worship i'll take no offence, for IN a poor,
harmless piper, Darby Mcbride by name,
an the whole parish can tell your honor's
glory that | never did i'll to man, woman
or child Och, sure you'll not have the
heart to burn me, gintlemen sure you'll
nOt?"
Burn you, you pitiful wretch! is it burn
you we'd do?-no, faith you're not worth
the trouble we'd have. But any how, up
with you and give us tune, an play your
best or you know what II happen you. 1t
isn't every day we have music here. So
begin at once"
It may well be believed that Darby in
Of nj of |, haH
grace, it must be confessed; but under the
inspiration of his own music, he soon be
came animated; and, forgetting his fright
in the wild excitement of the moment, he
called out:
Up an at it, your souls Why don't
you dance:n
'Be the powers o pewter, but he's right :;
it's pity to lose the musicr'
And, so saying, they all commenced
dancing with might and main-the tones
of the bag pipes waxing louder and louder,
and Darby himself calling out from time
to time:
'Hurra, boys! fax it's yourselves can
do it. Hurra for our side"
The dancers at length gave over, when
one of them drew near Darby, with a
well-filled black bottle of capacious dimen-
sions in one hand, while the other con-
tanned a glass, which he filled and handed
to Darby.
Here piper, we liked your music
well, and here's something to warm your
heart
\ MANY thanks to your worshipm replied
Darby, as he took the glass, which he
emptied without a moments delay.
Having wiped his mouth with the sleeve
of his coat drawn across it, he indicated
his approval of the liquor by a loud
smack. Raising his eyes knowingly to
the face Of his companion he asked:
"You call this place he'll, don't you?'
what the deuce else would we call it,"
returned the other
"Och! then, musha. if this is hell where
you keep sich stuff, the sorra heaven ever
myself id wish for!'
A loud laugh followed, and Darby hay
ing drank off a second glass of the So
much vaunted beverage, became, under its
genial influence, somewhat more cOur-
ageOus.
Sure myself thought" he remarked,
that you had nOthin' to do here in the
wide world, but to shovel Goals on the
fires an keep them agoin'-and now | see
that every one O you is busy diggin'
away for the bare life May | be 50 bould
as to ak what your worships are diggin'
fors"
"Why, you old fool. didn't YOU know
that the day of judgment is comm soon,
an as there isn't room enough for all the
souls that II be sent here, you see we're
jist maxim the place big enough to hould
them ALL
Darby stood aghast on hearing this an
nouncement
''Arrah! do you tell me so?" he earnestly
inquired. AN will your honor please to
tell me will there be many sent here from
the parish o. Observation-Disclosures that's
my parish an I'd wish to know what'Il
become of the ovid neighbors?"
'Tarnation to the one among them but
they'll be here" returned the supposed
imp, gravely; mot one from Jack Nc
Carly, the rich-maal man, down to Owen
Malone, the blind beggar-man.'
"Och, muther in Irish'' calculated
Darby. Can that be thrue? an do YOU
tell me that Phil. Mahony that | was
night | died, that he'll be sent down
here9"
Not a doubt of it, replied his in
formant.
''Well, afther all ~ went on Darby, COM
poor Phil so we'll that | can't be much
sorry for his comm here, becase | know
he loves a good glass, and so if they only
get some way to land him here in safety,
why, myself'll be the first to welcome
him"
When our friend Micky and his com
panions had sufficiently enjoyed their
practical joke on poor Darby, they piled
that worthy disciple of Orpheus with the
contents of the black bottle, until he re-
lapsed into the state of Inconsistencies
in which they had found him; where
upon they placed him again in the bucket
and having hoisted him up once more
into open day, deposited him with his
pipes in the Selt-same spot wherein he had
first attracted their attention. 1t was then
drawing towards evening, so that Darby
had every chance to pass the night where
he had spent the previous one. Alas !.
poor Darby! His lodging was on the
cold ground"
X
1t was late next morning when Darby
awOke, and as it was then Sunday, the
people were hurrying in crowds from
every direction towards the parish chapel
Darby shook himself up, ana without
having any definite end or object in view,
determined to follow the general example
The sight of the chapel (Which name is
applied, in Ireland, to the temples Of the
Roman Catholics and Dissenters, the term
Church being reserved for those Of the
Establishment) recalled Darby's wander
ing ideas; and, entering with the multi