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

Peter said, poking the iro with his shoe.
can Mary, throw on couple o. sods O.
dry turf, an sweep up the hearth, will ye ?"
Mary did as her husband desired and
then going to recess in the wall by the
fireplace, took out from thence new clay
pipe and piece of tobacco probably got at
the last wake she had been toy. "Will 70
light tho pipe, Corny2" she said, handing
them TO tho old man, who took them with a
nod and "Thankeo kindly" and filed slowly,
kindled with coal from the hearth, blew a
few whiffs in grave digni6od silence, and
then handed it to Peter, who in equal 81.
lence, smoked il for few moments, and
then handed it back to Corny aud proceeded
to light his own pipe.
They both smoked steadily for a time.
then Mrs. Llnskey pulled small table be.
tween them, produced from her chest stone
jar Of potheen, and a couple of cracked
glasses, which she set on the table with a
noggin Of cold water and taking up her
pail, proceeded to the barn to milk the
cows.
"Thats purity colleen of yours, Pcther :"
Corny said after long silence.
"Thiue for yc; an good, sensible, little
girl into the bargain it's happy's the man
that'll get her." Petor replied after due con-
sideration.
THAT'S what said myself; and | come
over to see if we can't make match between
my Dermott an herself" O'Byrue said after
another interval
"lIe's likely boy" pursued Peter, reaec-
lively.
"Ye may we'll say that, Pether an he'll
make good husband, no doubt, for he's
good son. What do yo say to it2" Corny
asked, leaning forward on his stool.
"I'm pleased
"God save all here !" said harsh grating
voice, and head appeared in the doorway
"Good evening to ye, Petherw
"GOOd.evening, kindly" Peter returned.
"Come in and take safe, Tom"
The new conner entered, and took a stool,
and casting questioning glance at Corny
OByrne, proceeded to light his pipe aud
smoked for some minutes. lie was stout,
manufactured man, with loud voice. He
was not much Of favorite in the village
and especially disliked by Corny 0'Byrne-
who never lost an opportunity of annoying
Tom Dillon. He was a comfortable farmer,
and one Of his sons had been "making up"
to Katie Linskey some time before. After
a silence, during which three old men smoked
energetically, Dillon cleared his throat two
or three times, and then said abruptly: APE.
Their, want to make match between your
little girl and my Martin have ye anything
to say agin it ?"
"Sorra one word, Tom; only me aeighbor
Corny O'Byrne an myself were spanking O.
the same thing wnen ye come in :" Peter re.
piled, with shrewd glance at them both.
"First come, first served Pether," Corny
said, shaking the ashes from his pipe, by
knocking the bowl against his thumb. mail
"mind that !"
TO be sure, to be sure" Peter replied
and there was another long pause.
Gan we may as well clinch the bargain at
onct," Corny continued
ITO be sure, to be sure" Peter again as
sented, smoking steadily.
"Ye have nothin' agin my Martin, have
ye, Pether Linskey2" Tom Dillon said, lay
ing down his pipe.
"Agin him? No; he's a nice dacent boy
an have great regard for him." Peter
answered
can he has great regard for your little
girl, an sorra days good he'll do till he's
married." calculated Tom, bringing his fist
down on the table "He set his mind on it,
an I'll back him out !"
Turf an tundther Tom Dillon, didn't
Peter Linskey tell you came matchmaking
for my Dermott z"
"Tundther an turf! CorDy OByrne, don't
| tell you that come to do the same thing
for my Martin; an l suppose u Dillon may
ask Linskey in marriage any day--an' be
can afford it, too ~ Tom added, Shaping his
pocket.
"An' let me tell ye, an OByrne can put
down pound for pound with a Lnskey any
day; or, for that matther, with Dillon"
Corny said, with a scorniul glance at Tom,
who was in his working clothes "Pether,"
he continued aye know what | came for
what fortune are ye goin' to give Katie?"
Peter took out his pipe, empticd it, pro-
ceeded to refill it leisurely, poked the fire,
relit the pipe, settled himself back in his cor
ner, and said slowly: Fortune, Corny
Katie is fortune herself. I'm poor man
an the times is bad, an beyont new gown,
a couple Of Aeeces of wool, an hank or so
of yarn, can't give her any fortune"
Corny looked astonished, and pushed back
his stool, as much as to say that all further
negotiations we're useless, when Tom Dillon
said
"Never mind, Pether; there's them as'll
be willin' to take her without any fortune,
an can afford it, too !"
"Thrue for ye, Tom Dillon, an one o. them
is Dermott O'Byrno. We're not dependin'
on few bare pounds-not but what it's we'll
to have something to put by for the childer,"
he added cautiously.
40 be sure, Corny, to be sure" Peter
assented.
"Well, Pether, is it to be me or Corny
Is Dillon to be put behind the door for an
O'Byrne 2 Isn't my Martin as likely a boy
as there's in the barony2 He'll take your
colleen without brass penny, an do we'll
for her. What do ye say to that 2" Tom
asked, shaping the table.
Bedad, then, Tom, I'm in a fix intirely.
Here's Corny, dacent old man, with fine
steady gossoon of q son-hes first an here
is yourself, an honest man an good neigh.
bor-sorra better-an' sure Martin is the
pride of the parish on Sunday. I'm both.
cred intirely, an what can say, but settle it
between ye. Whichever of ye can do the
best for her, take her, in the name of St.
Pathrck !" and Peter resumed his pipe and
sunk back into his corner.
The two old men eyed one another 81.
lently for few minutes, then Dillon pulled |
a little bag from his pocket, opened it delib.
erately, and took out another, from which he |
drew forth third, made ofpurple stuff, fast
ened with piece of red braid. Very slow
ly, his eye still fixed on Corny, he pulled |
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