Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-08-04


"Twenty.one pound-doion, the day they're
married, house an home, feather-bed, an
the finest mule in the parish-that's what
Ill dol"
"But the land-Tom is giveng two acres"
Peter observed "think Of that Corny 2"
Dermott'll have the land aither me, an
enough to eat Of it till I'm gone. have no
one but him. Tom Dillon has three more TO
provide for !"
An plenty to do it with an I'll make IL
three acres, Peter, OF the best upland in Bal.
lymoyne!" Tom replied. .
ats very fair, an I'm obliged to 20 Tom I"
Peter said slowly.
"l'll make II twenty-five down, aud throw
in heiler" Corny cried.
otis very dacent, Corny, an I'm obliged
to ye," Peter quietly observed in the same
tone.
"I'll throw in a calf" exclaimed Dillon,
Twenty pound, three c,es of land, a bonive,
a hoiter, an u calf. Now, Peter-done or
not 2"
81 think ye spoke two bonives, Tom 2"
Peter said quietly.
"No, no only one; It's all l can spare
an | think it's not bad, Pether -
"Bedad, Tom, think We said couple of
bonives," Peter said again.
"NabockliSh (nevor mind), Pether. I'll
throw in clutch IA whole brood) O. ducks
take il or lose il Twenty-Five pounds down
the day they're married, q house an home,
a feather-bed, fine mule, hefer, an
clutch O. ducks" said Corny, putting his
money back into his stocking.
"Faix, an clutch O. ducks isn't bad !"
observed Peter. They're better than calf
to them that hasn't COW to feed it. an
Corny's is the best house, an Kate'll have it
all to herself When your Matt an James
marry, it'll be mighty narrow for ye all!
James is going to America, Pether," said
Tom.
"Well, that makes a differ. But isn't
there anything else yer inclined to offer
Dermott is the best match at this minute ~
observed Peter.
"I'm done !" said Tom. Then suddenly
starting up, he cried "Wait a minute :" and
ran out OF the house, returning in quarter
OF an hour, staggering under a great sack of
seed-potatoes. "There Corney O'Bryue /;
put that in yer pipe an smoke il I" he cried
exultingly.
Corny, at first sight of the sack, started
to his feet and put on his hat. await n
minute, Pether," he cried; "I'll not be long"
and running oil the way home, he was soon
there.
Get me a sack, Judy-the meal.sack-
an be quick, ashore - he cried excitedly.
ARA be aisy Csrny, shure an the male is
in it,"
"Betther an betther," cried Corny. going
into the room which served as dairy; and
without vouchsafng another word to the AS.
tonished Judy, he shoulders the sack, and
trotted of with it as fast as he could.
Completely out of breath, he reached Pc.
ter's, bathed in perspiration; but on entering,
he unluckily tripped over the doorstep and
fell with the sack full length into the kitchen.
The string round the neck of the bag gave
way, and covered with the meal, he groaned
and staWmered breathessly: "Th-there,
Pe-pe'ther Lins-k-ey! Wh.while the praties
was growing the zeal would keep them alive |!
W-what d. ye say, Pe.pe-ther 2''
"Begorra, Corny, | say what often said
before, that yer decent mau-au' yer boy
is welcome to Kate Linskey."
"What do you mean, Pother?" cried Tom
Dillon.
what | say, Tom nor more nor less.
The children might die O. the fareU1artha
"a iainting brought on by hunger, or over
fatigue without proper sustenance) while the
pratics were CROWN. Dermott O'Byrne can
best provide my little girl with comforts, an
he's welcome to her."
At that monient a merry laugh caused the
three old men to look round, aud Corny tried
to scramble to his feet In the doorway
stood Kate Llnskey, her hands pressed to her
sides, the tears Of mirth coursing down her
pretty face. "Im sorry for your trouble,
Corny," she said advancing; "but could not
help laughing, you look so queer !" and she
burst into fresh peal.
"Be quiet, Katie, an come here" said
Peter, beckoning his daughter to his side.
81 was matchmaking for ye an the bargain
is closed between me an Corney for you an
Dermott O'Byrne!"
aye don't mean it, father!' said Katie
with comcal glance at Corny and Tom
Dillon.
Sure enough, do, ma colleen; have ye
anything to say agin it2" replied. Peter
knocking the ashes out Of his pipe.
"Musha, not word at all, father dear
only--only"-
"Only what, Katie?
"Only, l was married last Tuesday to
Jack Mangan the painter !" she replied with
a loud musical laugh, which brought her hus.
band to the door.
"What" shrieked Tom Dillon.
"What ~ echoed Coruy.
"Oh, Pether Linskey, Pether Linskey
yer after humbugging us !" cried Tom re.
proachfully.
"Ay, humbugging us !" echoed Corny
mournfully; and Peter, who was a sly old
humorist, put his head against the wall, and
laughed heartily at their establishment.
The two ambassadors silently took up their
respective sacks, and slowly departed, each
thinking himself much injured, and 10 their
mutual discontinue forgot their animosity.
As for old Peter, he was only too well
pleased to have his daughter well married
and off his hands without even "new gown"
or priests dues-though he could afford to
give her good fortune--as good fortunes 90
in that part Of the country.
When next Corny went "ma tch. making"
he took care to find out beforehand if the
young woman was "wiling !" aud as for Tom
Dillon, he vowed it served him right to be
"humbugged," as be only wanted to bother
his neighbor Corny O'Byrne with whom he
was ever after good friends) and he declared
that in future his boys should 90 matchmak.
ing for themselves Chambers Journal