Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-11
The SQUIRE AND The MOB.

I'LL CQUIitL AMI I'LL NlUUI
For more than twenty years it has
been my custom to recruit myself every
autumn with walking tour of over a
months duration. By this means I have
seen more of these islands than any of
my acquaintance, and have had peeps
into the inner life of the people such as
few tourists obtain.
One OF these autumns, over ten, and
less than twenty years ago, [ made the
west of Ireland the field of my opera
tions. Starting from Galway, in little
less than three weeks time | beheld the
broad waters of Corrib, Mask and Conn
had lost myself in the wilderness under
the shadow of Croagh Patrick-and
looked with awe at the bold headlands
of Mayo, against which the restless At
lantic beats with ceaseless roar.
By the evening of the twenty-first day
[ found myself at Balina, my mind full
of indecision, as to how | should occupy
the week or ten days had yet to spare.
To 90 back over the same ground / looked
on as waste of time; to plunge inland
was to doom myself to days of weary
trudging through rather uninterested
country. After deliberation, [ decided
to head for Sligo, feeling sure that the
beauties of Tough Gill would well repay
me my long walk thither.
Next morning | was up early, and,
knapsack on my back and stick in hand,
started off.
After ten hours almost constant
walking / found myself in the little vii
loo oOfp oI1 r LII e.
as may be expected, was both tired and
hungry.
A good dinner, however, soon made
wonderful change in me for the better.
There were still a couple of hours to
pass before dark, and how better could I
employ them than by attempting to cover
in an easy way the five miles between
me and Sligo? Once there, I could
make up by days idleness for this day
of extra exertion. So, after a short rest,
[ shouldered my knapsack, grasped my
stick and started off again.
Presently [ reached a spot where four
roads met, and while [ stood doubtful
which to take, gig, driven by some one
singing in loud key, overlook me. At
sight of my lonely figure the gig was
halted suddenly, and the driver ceased
his song.
"Ah, thin, may [ ask, is your honor
goin' my way" said full round voice.
cts myself that's mighty fond O COM
pany O nights about here
II don't know what you may be-" [
replied. Il wish to go to Sligo"
tsAh, thin, an it's that same n Sligo, the
weary be on it, that I'd be after going to
i d
your honor looks tired-manin' no
ofince-an' perhaps you'd take lift in
the gig
Thank you; I will take Eeett,' re-
piled, as | stepped forward and sprang
quickly to the seat. 'tThe truth is, [
feel rather tired, as you say"
An has your honor walked farp
asked the driver, as the gig rolled on to-
ward the town.
"Pve walked from Ballina since morn
ing" | replied, quietly.
From Ballina! There, now, the Lord
save usw cried the man, as he half
turned in his seat and gazed at me in as
tonishment. "Why, that's days work
for the best horse in the masther's sta
bles''
:" Your master must keep good horses,
if [ may judge by the one before u.s." 1
answered.
"The best in all the county, your hon
or, though / say it. There isn't a Cos
soon in the three baronies but knows
that"
Your masters a bit Of a sportsman,
them"
Yes, yer honor; an if he'd stick to
that, it's himself'd be the best liked man
from Ballina to Ballyshannon. You
wouldn't find better rider or a warmer
heart in days march. But thin poll
tics has been his ruin with the people"
Oh, alb [ have heard that Sligo is
rather hot place during the elections"
replied. But surely the people don't
turn upon their friends at such a time Y'
They'd turn upon their own father
If he wint agin them," replied the driv-
er, solemnly. See, now, here I am,
drivin' the masther's own gig to town
just be way of blin', we see, while he's
got to slip down the strame in Jimmy
Sheridan's bit of boat. All, thin poll
tics, thin politicsp'
"Oh then, there's an election about
to take place, [ presumed
Thrue for We, your honor, thrue for
ye," replied the man dolefully. "There
nivir was such ruction in Sligo before,
in the mimiry OF man. Two lawyers a
fightin' like fends to see who's to be
mimber"
Then I'm just in time to see the fun"
Fun, your honor@ echoed the man.
" It's not meself that id object to bit
of a scrimmage now an again. But it
murther your honOr'll see before it's all
over, or my name isn't Michael O'Con-
nor. Whist now! Did We hear nothin'
behind that hedge there's
At this moment we were about the
middle Of rather lonesome stretch of the |
road, one side of which was bounded by
a high, thin hedge. The dusk of the
evening was fast giving way to the gloom
of night.
"Lah-yes, surely there is something