Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-04-18
A PEEP INTO THE DOMINIONS OF
PLUTO.

PLUTO.
In one of the inland counties of Ireland
there was discovered vein ofsilver, prob.
ably not sufficient TO cover the expense
of drawing II forth, however, for it is now
many years since the search for the miner
al was given up, and the mouth of the ex
cavation closed. Whether the work would
eventually have repaid those who embark.
ed their capital therein, cannot deter
mine, nor is IL at all necessary for me to
do so, as my story refers merely to the
time when the mine was being eXcavated
with its real value, therefore, I have moth
ing to do.
1t was in the gray light of morning in
| spring that party of the miners were on
their way to the mine when one of them
suddenly called out;
| "Hollo, boys! what have we here?"
pointing as he spoke to a dark object
which lay upon the roadside at some dis
tance before them. On nearer approach
the same man exclaimed
| "Be the powers! but it's Darby, the pi.
| per He has been in his cups over night,
an fell asleep here on his way home"
| The men all gathered round, when
Micky Lynch, a wild, harum-scarum
young fellow, cried out;
| "Be this an be that, but well play ould
| Darby trick-we'll carry him off with
us into the mine, an then when he comes
| to, We'll have music for nOthin,' for we'll
make him play whether he will or no.
| What do you say boys2"
"Oh faith, we're all willin enough, for
the ould fellow ill be in the devil of a
| fright when he finds himself down in the
cavern, an it was chance, sure enough,
to light upon him this mornin', for we
were just in want of good laugh
So saying they hoisted the piper on
their shoulders, and having placed him.
self and his pipes in the bucket, by means
Of which they aseended and descended,
| Darby was speedily deposited in the very
depths of the cavern. 1t was no part of
the plan to awaken Darby, so leaving him
| to enjoy his sleep unbroken, they pro
| ceeded to make fires and go on with their
work.
After some time honest Darby awoke,
| and on opening his eyes, the first object
that presented itself to his astonished
sight was huge fire, the miners having
taken care to light one in his immediate
vicinity. He next cast look around the
dark cavern, whose limits were lost in the
distance, and whose gloom was rendered
still more intense by fires placed at In
tervals, appearing as though they shot up
from the bowels of the earth.
Darby's first care albeit in no way re-
markable for piety on ordinary occasions,
but this was no ordinary ocCasion), was to
raise his hand and bless himself devoutly.
He then began to soliloquize as follows:
"Och, then, an is it come to this so
soon? Sure enough / was often tould
that sooner or later it id happen me- but
och murthur, murthur sure | couldn't ex-
pect it this many a long year, because I'm
not an ould man, an | thought I'd have
time for repintance. Ochi och ochl but
it's the sorrowful sight | see. / suppose
they'll be comm presently to put me on
this big fire to roast Och, Johnny Hanni-
gan Johnny Hannigan! but it was the
unlucky hour that | sat down in your
house to drink, for I'm sure died drunk,
an that's what brought me herer'
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 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 devilsm sighed
the terrified piper, 'sure it's laughin' they
are at the fine sport they'll have roastin
me in that blue blazer
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?'
= hn oI -,
the most fawning accents "sure it's ad-
mirin' the fine place | am that my good
fortune brought me into, and hope your
worship ill take no offence, for Pm poor,
harmless piper, Darby Mcbride by name
an the whole parish can tell your honor's
glory that l never did i'll to man, woman
or child Och! sure you'll not have the
pheart to burn me, gintlemenl-sur 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 lis tune, an play your
best or you know what III happen you. 1t
isn't every day we have music here. So
begin at once"
1t may we'll be believed that Darby in.
stantly complied; at first with very bad
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 am at it, your souls! Why don't
you dance?"
"Be the powers o. pewter, but he's right;
it's a pity to lose the music!"
And, so saying, they all commenced
dancing with might and main-the tones
ni la nj inn nara at,1
and Darby himself calling out from time
to time:
"Hurra, boys faix it's yourselves can
do it, Hurra for our sider
The dancers at length gave over when
one of them drew near Darby; with a
well-illed black bottle ofcapacious dimen-
sions in one hand while the other con
tanned glass, which he filled and handed
to Darby.
"Here, piperl we liked your music
well, and here's something to warm your
heart"
"Many thanks oyour Worship 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 loud
smack, Raising his eyes knowingly to
the face of his companion, he asked;
"You call this place he'll, don't youY
"What the deuce else would we call ltY"
returned the other.
"Och then, musha if this is hell where
you keep sich stuff, the sorra heaven ever
myself i'd wish forn
A loud laugh followed, and Darby hav.
ing drank off 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 so bould
as 30 AK what your worships are diggin'
fort"
"Whv. Won old fool didn't vou know