Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-09
JERRy'S MIDNIGHT MASS.
BY PARAGON BOWLES.

A-Se
Lough Iney is situated in one of the
widest valleys in the West of Ireland.
The Life Assurance Company has cree
ted lodge by the edge of the lake, for
the convenience of the disciples of old
Isaac, but for some reason best known
to that distinguished guild, the internal
arrangements have never been compile
ted, and it stands, virtually a bleak
house, resembling that sterotyped dead
sea fruit, the rottenness of the core OF
which is so often m ade capital of by
simileloving htterateurs.
4 was fishing Tough Iney-the month
was August, the year one thousand
eight hundred and seventy three. 1t
was melting day, with murky clouds
overhead, and just chance of a breeze
later on. My rod lay bobbing at its
own reflection from out the end of the
boat was smoking the calumet of
peace, and engaged icawberwise
waiting for something to turn up. At
the bow sat Jerry Donovan, my guide,
philosopher and friend, in the act of
''reddyin' his dhudeen, or little black
pipe. Jerry's eye was as bright as a
little glass bead, and twinkled like a
dissipated star. He was Myles ma Cop
paIeen, except that he was trifie more
ragged; the complicated patchwork up
ON his small clothes would have puz-
zled the Davenport Brothers. Jerry
aud / were on terms of the easiest ia
mi iarity, which cautiously cemented
by occasional ''golligogues," as he in
variably called them from out leath
ern flask which hung suspended to my
waist, and the giving of which general
ly evoked from the recipient a thor
oughly Irish sentiment, or fragment Of
song. -.
Jerry had lighted his pipe, and
had re7flled, when he suddenly asked:
did you ever hear tell o Martin
Hannegan's ass, sir?''
answered in the negative
''He was spare sort av haste. He
dhrank whin he was dhry.
That's broad hint, Jerry"
"Begorra, I'm as dhry as cuckoo"
Having poured him out 'golliogue,
he held the vessel in his hand while he
delivered himself OF the -four ishing sen
timent:
''May yer days he as bright as the
bades on this sperrets, and may yer
heart be always as strong"
'There is no chance ola fish, Jerry !
''Divil a wan, yer amer"
"Any chance of a story, Jerry g.
'Troth, thin, there is, bekase we've
thrated me dacent, and Ill teh ye what
happened me in regard az sarvin mass
in the little chapel Of Ballymacluskeen
over the hill beyant," pointing as he
spoke in the direction of a mountain,
known as Honnamonhoul, towering
right over us. Having carefully taking
three or four vigorous pulls at his pipe,
he removed it from his mouth, and com
menced as fellows:
''Well, sir,l was lump av gassoon
about, thoth its long time ago, sure
enough-and divil resave the buke I'd
read, or sum Id do, but its afther the
rabbits l was, and ketchin fish, and d.
vartlng intirely, whin one mornin' =,
nigh Christmas, up comes Father Myle
Macmanus-may he be sayin the rosa
ny in beautifcation this mint, amin. >
And Jerry reyerently reno we'd his ha,
''Up he KEN to where me poor mother
was sitting foreninst the fire, and says
he, ''Misses Kinshella," says he, "wh,
the blazes here Jerry coughed vic.
lently; 'them's not his riverence's exact
words, sir, but, We see he was riz
Misses Kinshella, says he, have We nc
regard at all, for to be in glory when
We shovel off this mortal coil ! says he
ooh ye riSerance, says she, "why
wud We luther thin hard words agin
beginning fof to cry. J
"Bekase, nam, says he, little sof
tened, we're not dom yer duty"
'sOh Father Myles, what is it ! don
wrongs says she; roarn' till ye'd thin
her heart wud sphlit." !.
"Nhy don't you send that gassoon,