The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-01
IRISH SKETCHES.
(From "Life aud Unpublished Papers of
Samrel Lover" London, 1874.
THE IRISH PosTBoY (1S35).

sented with the white-iacketcd, silk
hated, top-booted and bright-spurred
gentleman we are accustomed to in
England, as trim as his own horses. and
as silent. till he touches his hat to get
his fee for driving them. The Irish
postboy. on the contrary. is as scanty
in his attire as he is abundant in his in
telligence, having always something to
tell his passenger Of the localities they
pass through, as though he took him
for book-maker who was taking notes
upon the way. He fulfills a double
function-he is guide as well as driver,
and his humor often lies as much in
what he does as what he says. He will
commence something in this fashion:
''Do you see that house, yen honor,
Mr.. D'Arcy's!''
'Yes, ! do. Mr.. Darcy is very rich,
/ believe!
'Well. sir; maybe he is and maybe
he ism t.
"Why, I thought he was a man Of
fortune
''Well, you see, he was purity well off
till he got how'd Of the property
'Till he got it !! What do you mcan!''
"Why, sir. when he was heir to the
property he had great expectations and
SO. on the strength of that, you see, he
got whatever money he wanted
''Well. and SO he ought, when he was
heir to $4,000 year,
That's true. yer honor, that's true,
sir! But then, you'll understand, that
he was heir to $4,000 year that was
spint.
"Oh, see!!''
$50, when he got the property, Of
course the gintleman was ruined
''Hillo! take care-you were nearly
in the ditch then
''Never fear. sir; it's that BLACKBOARD
mare that is always shyin'!-Hurrupr -
''How close her ears are cut
''lis, they are. sir-oh, they re close
enough; but nothing will cure the vii
lain
Cure her! How do Tou meant
''Why, sir, persaved that, whenever
she started, she always cooked her ears
up, SO cut them off, you see, to make
her leave off the trick Of startin': but.
bad luck to the vagabone! she's Just as
bad as ever
In particularly dangerous part
Of the road. with a precipice on one
side of you, you observe the post boy
keeps casting an inquiring glance to-
ward his vehicle.
whats the matter!" you inquire:
rather an awkward bit of road here
''Oh, it's nothin', sir; it's grand
prospect.
''Ies-of going over. Why, it is
some hundred feet to the bottom
well, it may be-but look at the
prospect, sir; them mountains-oh,
they re grand, sir; they beat the world
for dignity. You'd never see their likes
again if you were to 60 over dozen
pr ecipusses.
After many other tales and difficult
ties you reach your journeys erd, and
then the post.boy, as you have sur
missed. expects good gratuity. You
give him what you consider to be a.
handsome reward Of services, but still
he is not contented.
Sure he says, "your honor
wouldn't mind another shillin' g.
NO. You reply, Il think l have.
paid you literally
''But you'll consider the way drove
you. sir e.
'.Not pleasant one, by any means.''
"And the power of stories l told
you! !"
Some of which I have heard be-
fore"
''Well, then. give me another shillin',
sir, and III tell you sometain' which I
will undertake to say you never heard.
before
Every good then, there's shilling.
Now, what's the story I have never
heard! -
"Well, then, of course your Honor
remembers the three miles we came
along with the cliff upon one side Of
US 2"
Remember til shall never for.
get it!''
"Well, then, you don't know, sir.
that drove you them three miles With
out inch-pin -