The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-03-17
An Irish Story.


sleep in Il little snug basket near the
.ire but l didn't speak for 1 was
frightened. 1t was repeated still loud.
CT, and then came cry:
"Con Cregan! Con, I say, open
the dooi :! / want you"
[ knew the voice we'll it was
Peter McCabe's; but I pretended
to be fast asleep, and sno,ed loud.
sy. At last my father unbolt ed tho
door, md teard him say
so, Mr. Peter, what's the matter
Is the ould man worse -
"Faix that, what he is, for he's
dead," replied Peter.
"Glory be his bed :" When did it
happen :"
about an hour ago." said Peter,
in a voice that even I, from my cor
ncr, could perceive greatly agitated.
"He died like an ould heather, Con
and never made w!li.'
"That's bad" says my father, for
he was always a p,,ite man, and said
whatever was pleasing to the com-
P'ny.
"It is bad" said Peter but it
would be worse if he couldn't help
it. listen to nc now, Corucy; I
want yc to hel me in this business {;
d acre are five guireas in gold if
ye DO what BID ye. You kno "
that ye were always rcchoncd the
very image Of my father, and before
he took i'll ye wcro mistaken for
each other every day of the week."
"Anun !" said my father, for he
was getting frightened at the notion,
without we'll knowing why.
"Weli, what I want is for 20 to
come over into tho house, and get
into the bed"
"Not beside tn corpse 7" said my
father trembling.
':By no means, but by yourself !;
and you're to pretend to be my faith
er, ahd that ye want to make yer
will before We die and then I'll send
for the nsighbors, aud Billy Scanlan,
yho Schoolmaster, and yell tell him
what to write, leaving all the farm
and everything to ME, e understand. (.
And as the neighbors will see yc and
hear yer voice, it will never be be.
Iicved but it was himself that did
it,"
"The room must be very dark"
says my father.
"To be sure it will but have no
fear! Nobody will dare to como nigh
tho bed and ye'll only have to make
cross with yer pen under the
name"
"And the priest 2" said my faith
"My 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 it must be all
finished before the day Breaks"
call right" was the reply.
My 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. l sat
up in the basket, and listened till
they were gone some minutes; aud
then, in costume as light cs my
parents, set out after them to watch
the course of the adventure. 1
thought to take short out, and be
there before them but by bad luck
I fell into bog hole, and only esoap-
cd drowning by chance AS it
was, when I reached the house, the
performance had already begun.
) I think I soc the whole scene this
instant before my eyes, as sat on a
little window with one pane, and
that broken one, and surveyed the
proceeding. 1t was o large room, at
one end of which was bed, and be.
side it was table with physic bot
ties; and spoons, and tcacups lit.
tic further off was another table, at
which sat Billy Scanlan, with all
manner Of writing materials before
him. Tho country people sat two
and sometimes three deep round the
walls, all intently eager and anxious
for tho coming ovent; Pctor himself
went from place to place, trying &c
smother his grief, and occasionally
helping the company to whiskcy
whlcn was suPpiieu "u''h mo'o VIA"
accustomed liberality.
All my consciousness Of the deceit
and triokery GOULD not deprive the
scene of a certain solcmnity. The
misty distance of the half.lightee
room; the highly wrought expires
sion of the country peoples faces
never moro intensely excited thar
at sumo moment of this kind tn
low, deep.drawn breathings, unbro
, ken save by sigh or sob; the tri
buto Of aGeotionate sorrow to som
lost friend, whose memory was thu
foroibly brought baok,-these weI
all 80 real, that, as I looked, thrill
ing sense of awe stole over me, and
actually shook with fear.
A low, faint cough from tho dar