Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-01-08
Select STORY.
The Jeyial Quaker.

Many years ego, in one Of the pleasant
Villages of Chester county, Pa, stood a
little inn CT tavern, which is not wholly
unknown to fame. An institution Of
learning was located in the same village,
which attracted students froul the differ
cnt portions of the keystone State, and
from adjoining States, and at which were
educated some boys. who, in their man
hood figured cousricuously in the history
of the country. The village inn was the
scene Of many of their mad prauks and
folies, which were not forgotten by them
TO their dying day.
The tavern was not Metropolitan,
St.. Nicholas, or Continental but as it
was the only institution of the kind i'll
the village, its little bar-room was gener-
ally thronged with idlers, jokers, and
those famous with the power to tell
yarns.
One of the most frequen. Of visitors at
the inn was a jolly Quaker, whom we
shall call Joshua Miller. He was well
to do farmer ana his large and colnforta-
ble dwelling and barns stood but short
distance from the village Joshua had
two strong predilec:ions, which were
somewhat at variance with the doctrines
Of the society Of which he claimed to be
a member. One of these weaknesses was
for strong drinks, and the other for prac-
tical iukes. The 'Sorrel Horse Inn,' be
ing good place to obtain the former and
indulge in the latter, it followed that his
idle hours were generally spent at that
place.
One cold night in January as Joshua.
in company with select party of his con-
vivial companions. were indulging in his
favorite beverage and cracking jokes in
his accustomed place of resort, rap was
heard at the door. succeeded by the en-
trance of a man whom the little company
in the bar room at once identified as
very verdant son of the Emerald Isle. Af
ter obtaining permission from mine host
to stay over night, the Hibernian took
his seat in the little circle of the votaries
of Bacchus, who by this time were quite
ripe for fun. and fully impressed with the
idea that the Irishman would make fine
subject for diversion. After a short 81
lence Joshua commenced the game, and
the following dialogue took place
"What is thy name T.
Patrick O'Brien. yer Honor
GLOW long have you been in the coun-
hy 2
"Siven wakes jist to day sur"
ais ireland good country 7"
"Shure. yer honor, and finer country
ye could never clap yer eyes on"
"Why so =? Come. explain thyself"
"Becpuse there yer kin get as much
for sixpence as ye kin here for a shil-
ling"
"Why, than, did thee leave it p
''Troth, sir. came over to Ameriky
fur the sixpences, as they are ecarce in
ould Ireland"
A general laugh followed this unex-
pected reply from Pat, and Joshua felt
that the tide was turning against him.
The laugh subsiding the Quaker twitch-
ed about on hie chair and opened up
afresh on the Irishman.
"Come, tell us, friend, how thee ex-
poets to get the sixpences in this country.
Does thee imagine that they grow on the
trees r.
"D-1 bit, your honor /; fur if that
was the case ye'd have more of them
yourself.
"Well, how does thee expect to get
anyhow =
al expect to work for them and I'd
be plased ye'd be afther telling me were
Id get job of work for the winter"
"Well, perhaps l can tell thee pray
what can thee do :"
"Innything, your honor, innything ! l
am the man that kin do innything from
digging pertaties to graseing a wagon"
"But, Patrick, thee must know we
don't dig potatoes here in the winter"
"And shure 1 ought to have kno wed
that If dad a job I would show yer
how / can work."