Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-09

gay Tor some wan TO attlnO last mass
and was wudout my breakfast till it
was time for to go to me dinner, says
he, an / am not over sthrong,' says he,
raisin ave me heart that's wrong
He'd only Spite yer mass, yer river
ance," says me poor mother, thrying for
to get me off.
"Sind him to me on Christmas Eve, -
says Father Mac. "and I'll larn him
how to do it-for he must attind the
midnight mass says he.
$50, for to make long story short,
yer amer, he got the soft side O. me
poor mother, an l was stint wud sore
heart over the hills to that little chapel
forenirst ye on Christmas eve, for to
lam for to sarve the midnight mass.
"Well, sir. Father Myles was the
brother av priest. He never thought
of nothing but the souls Of the faithful
departed, an av the sinful meandherins
av some av his flock; an in regard O.
the drink he was cruel hard Av he
got the taste av smell O the sperrits
off boy, he was at him like cock to
a blackberry. He'd pick, pick, an pick
at him until he wouldn't leave a fllther
on him, AN we'd do all sorts to get out of
his claws.
81 whit up to the chapel, and he fair
ly bothered me wud ct cum spirit tew
tew oh, till | dem away wud an ass
load av Latin in my head, but all role d
! up like plate Of stirabout, 80 that
whin l had ''Dominny all right, av
was to be sent to Botany for it. could
not bowl out the vobiscum.
"Blur and ages (says j, whatll do
at all. must only thry and bother
him wud the bell "
Jerry paused and threw a Sleeps eye
at my fast, which l pretended not to
perceive, and taking prolonged pull
at his chudeen. continued
''Divil SIGH night ever KEN out av
the sky for snow 1t bet all We ever
heerd tell av The fakes was as big
as hin's eggs, and there was
wind BLOWN that wud tie the strings as
yer broguts.
, eyer not goin for to find the gassoon
out SIGH hard night, says me poor
father.
There's no help for it, says M
mother
"Hcll be smuthered wtld the cow!d
Be sed be me, and let him stay where
! he is
she must sarve midnight mass says
me mother.
'There II be no one to hear it., saws
me mother. She got the better av him
av coorse, an was stint out to Grass
that very hill, for we wor Twin below
tnefe In the Dog.
"rhat must have been damp spot,
jerry" | in,erposed.
'Damp, avic! Its betther nor half
the year undher wather, and the very
snipes has the newralgy. It's only fit
fora say gull,or dispiusary docthor"
A more dreary looking regivn (
never beheld. Even in the bright
Summer sunlight it looked dismal
swamp.
Il had four good mile to put undher
me" Jerry, resumed, "Four good mile,
as bad as tin, for it was all up hill, and
|, only l knew the short cuts on me
road as we'll as crow, be me song |
was mulvadhered, an it's in the
bottom av the lake here among the
salmin dad cess to thin, why won't
they take the illigant flies that yer
honor is timpting thin wud-I'd be as
sure as there's bill on a crow.
SIT was tough work, yer amer,
sthruglin agin' wind an snow, and
going entirely again me likin, an not
word av what Father Myles had dis
coorsed to me in the morning but was
clane bet out O. me head. More nor
twice't | was goin for to turn back, but
somethin tould me to go on. There
was wake at Phil Dimpsys. and a
dance at sheebeen beyant Glenda
Tough, but somethin' sed: Go on, Jerry,
yer wanted, and on | whit wud snow
balls as hard as marvels stickin' to me
brogues
''By Jove, Jerry, if l had been in
your place, I'd have left Father Macma.
mes in the lurch," said 1.
$50 ye wud, and that's just yer igno
rance" retorted Jerry, in an offended
tone. CAV. We hear me out, yell see
that was in the right in purshuin
the path, but folly yer own way. Az
We don't like the story, ye can lave it,
sir" J, >.
A golliogue restored mutual conf
dence, and he resumed:
"Whin got up to the chapel, there
wasn't a slim av light, an I crept
round to the vesthry doore, and knock
. 49,
ed respectful ike, but no answer. II
knocked agin, no answer. / riz. the