The Van Buren press., 1874-11-17
NO. 81

the farm and everything to me-ye un.
derstand! And a. the neighbors will see
ye. and hear yer voice, it will never he
believed but 1t was himself that did 1t. :"
1.-THE room must be very dark, ssys
my father.
ITO be sure it will But have no fear.
Nobody will dare TO come nigh the bed;
and ye' Il only have to have cross with
yer pen under the name" /"
"And the pfiest:' said my father
any father quarreled with him last
week about the Easter dues; and Father
Tom said he'd not give him the rites
and that's lucky now. Come along, now.
quick for we've no time to lose 1t
must be all finished before the day
breaks.
"All right was the reply.
Ny father did not lose much time at
his toilet--for he just wrapped his big
coat round him. and, slipping on the
brogues, left the house. sat up in the
| basket, and listened till they were gone
some minutes Then, in costume ~
light as my parents, | set out after them
to watch the course Of the adventure. |
thought to take a short cut, and be be-
fore them; but, by had luck, fell into u
bogholc, and only escaped drowning by
chance. AS it was, when reached the
house, the performance had already be.
gun.
think see the whole scene this in.
slant before my eyes, as sat On little
window, With one pane. and that broken
one, and surveyed the proceeding. IL
was large room, at one end OF which
was bed, and beside it was table with
physic bottles, and spoons, and teacups.
| A little further oil was another table, at
which sat Billy Scanlan, with oil manner
of writing materials before him.
The country people sat two anil some
times three deep round the walls, all in
tently eager aud anxious for the coming
event. Peter himself went from place to
place, trying TO smother his grief, and
occasionally helping the company to
whisky, which was supplied with more
than accustomed lbegality.
All my consciousness OF the deceit aud
trickery could not deprive the scene of a
certain solemnity. The misty distance
of the half lighted room; the highly
wrought expression Of the country peo-
pies faces--neyer more intensely excited
| than at some moment of this kind the
low, deep. drawn breathings, unbroken
save by sigh or sob--the tribute Of
alccionate sorrow to some lost friend,
whose memory was thus forcibly brought
| back these were all so real that, as
looked, thrilling sense OF awe stole
over me, and ! actually shook with fear.
| A low, faint cough from the dark cor
ner where the bed stood seemed to cause
even deeper stiffness; and then, In si.
| lence where the buzzing Of a fly would
have been heard. my father said:
where's Billy Scanlan2 want to
make my will r.
He's here. father r said Peter, taking
Billy by The hand, and leading him to the
bedside.
"Write what bid ye, Billy, and be
quick--for haven't long time afore
me here II a good Catholic, though
Father O'RalIer,y won't give me the
rites -
A general ciorus of muttered, "Oh!
musha musha y was heard through the
room; but whether in grief over the sad
fate of the dying man, or the unhinching
severity Of the priest, is hard to say.
II die in peace with all my neighbors
and all mankind. F"
Another chorus Of the company sccm.
ed to approve these charitable expres-
sions.
beqacath unto my son, Petcr--and
never was there better son or decent
or boy Have you that down ?-I be-
queath unto my son Peter the whole OF
my two farms Of Killmundoonery and
! Kuocksheboora. with the fallow mead.
ows behind Lynchs house, the forge and
right of turf on the Doorac bog ! give
him-and much good may it do him =
Lanty Cassarns acre, and the Luary field
with the limekln. And that reminds me
that my mouth is dry Let me taste what
yc have in the Jug" Here the dying
man took very hearty pull, aid seemed
considerably refreshed by it.
"Where was |, Billy Scanlan p says
he Oh remembcr--at the limekiln.
leave him--that's Peter ] mean-the
two potato gardens at Noonan's Well;
and it is the elegant, fine crops grow
there"
"Ain't you getting wake, father, dar
lin p says Peter, who began to be afraid
of my fathers loquacousnees--for. to
say The truth, the punch got into his
head, and he was greatly dispose! to
talk.
II am, Peter, my son, F" says he-"I