Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-04-22
From all the Year Round. -
BERRY DONOVAN'S MIDNIGHT MASS.

Tough Iney is situated in one OF the
widest valleys in the west of Ireland.
The Law Life Assurance Company have
erected lodge by the edge of the lake,
for the convenience of the disciples of
old Izaak, but for some reason best
known to that distinguished guild, the
internal arrangements have never been
completed, and it stands virtually
bleak house, resembling that stereo-
typed Dead Sea fruit, the rottenness Of
the core of which is SO often made cap
Etal of by loving iterateur.
I was fishing in Tough Iney-the
month was August, the year one thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-three.
It was melting day with murky clouds
overhead, and just chance of breeze
later on. Ny rod lay bobbing at it's
own reflection from out the end of the
boat, and I was smoking the calumet
of peace. and engaged Micawberwise
waiting for something to turn up.
At the bow sat Jerry Donovan, my
guide, philosopher, and friend, in the
act of freddy in his dhudeen, or little
black pipe. Jerry's eye was as bright
as glass bead, and twinkled like
dissipated star He was Myles IA Cop
paIleen, except that he was trife more
ragged-the complicated patchwork
upon his small-clothes would have puz-
zled the Davenport Brothers. Jerry
and I were upon terms of the easiest
familiarity, which [ cautiously cement
ed by occasional 'golliogues," as he
invariably called them, from out leath-
ern flask which hung suspended to my
waist, and the giving ofwhich generally
evoked from the recipient thoroughly
Irish sentiment. or fragment Of song.
Jerry had lighted his pipe, and I had
re-flled, when he suddenly asked:
Ibid. We ever hear tell O. Martin Han
negan's ass, sir? %
I responded in the negative.
HE was quare sort ov haste. He
dhrank whin he was dhry."
ssThat's broad hint, Jerry
Begorra, I'm as dry as cuckoo"
Having poured him out ''golliogue"
he held the vessel in his hand whilst he
delivered himself of this Furnishing
sentiment:
"May yer days be as bright as the
bades on this spirits, an may yer heart
be as sthrong."
StThere's no chance of fish, Jerry %
DlVll a wan, yer amer"
r.. -ssAny chance of story, Jerry ?"
~ Troth thin there is, bekase ye've
Grated me dacent, and I'll tell We what
happened me In regard av sarvin' mass,
in the little Chapel of Ballynacluskeen,
over the hill beyant,' pointing, as he
spoke, In the direction of mountain
known as Honnamondhoul, towering
right over us. Having carefully taken
three or four vigorous pulls at his pipe,
he removed it from hismouth, and com
menced as follows:
.tWel, sir, was a lump ava gossoon
about, thoth it's a long time ago, sure
enough-and divil resave the buke I'd
read, or sum I'd do, but it's afther the
rabbits was, and ketchin' fish, and di-
vartin' meself intirely, whin wan morn
. IN, nigh Christmas, up comes Father
Miles Macmanus-maybe sayin, the
rosary in beatifcaytion this blessed
mint, amin" And Jerry reverently
removed his hat. cup he KEN te
where me poor mother was sittin' fore
ninst the fire, and says he, 'Missis Kin.
shella, says he, why the blazes p
here jerry coughed violently, "thim's
not his rlyerence's exact words, sir, but
We see, he was riz. Misses Kinshella,
says he, have ye no regard at all for te
be LII glory whin ye shovel off this NOR,
kyaf eOil2' SAWS he
"oh yer riverence, says she, "why
wud We luther thin hard words agin
me?" beginnin' for to cry.