The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-05

Nike Mabony was an freshman,
every whit ; but be was a shrewd
Irishman, and obtained morc money
and cold victuals by his wit than by
hard labor. In fact, he was deter
mined to make this country what he
had been told it was before be came
over the water, q place where a man
could live aisy.
1t happened one day tina: Mike,
who had strayed up into the country.
was anxious to reach a railroad de-
pot. His legs were weary, and
though be had partaken of a sub
stantial breakfast from the well
spread table of a hospitable farmer, the
idea of travelling sixteen miles before
nightfall, had little charms for q lazy
fellow like Mike.
Mike had travelled about q half
mile when be observed a large hand
bill posted CD a certain sign post;
though not much of a scholar he man.
aged after spelling the hard words to
read as follows:
STOLEN "A man calling himself
William Claflin, hired of the sub
scriber a gray horse and Concord
built wagon for the purpose of going
to Keystone and return the same
day, but has not been heard of since.
Said Claffiin was a small man, peck
marked with a seal under his eye.
THAT'S me-" said Mike, "barrin'
the scar, and that's easy made"
He logged along to the tavern, en-
tering with a downcast look and took
q seat before the fire.
In a few minutes be heard a whis-
pering among the inmates, and felt
that his prospect of a ride was not
so bad as it might be.
Soon the landlord entered and af-
ter whispering a few minutes, tapped
Mike on the shoulder and said
where is your horse, my good fell
low 2"
Horse" said Mike looking up.
"Yes the horse you hired"
"Sure an the owner has him. You
wouldn't accuse an honest lrishman
of the like of NE stealing a horse,
would you?"
"You may look like an honest man,
but don't you see that's au Exact de-
scription of you?"
AN what docs hat say. sure
"That you stole a horse and wa
gon."
as it me you mane 2"
Certainly"
Take me out of this, by the bless
ed st. Patrick" and Mike was max
ing fast for the door, when the land
lord stepped before him.
"No you don't", said be taking
Mike by the collar.
Mike began to shed tears. and
tried to soften the heart OF the land,
lord.
"An' sure you wouldn't be the
names of putin Il poor fellow to pris-
on. Let me go now, and III never
darken the doors of your house again,
sure as my names"
What? ?" asked the landlord.
can what's the name Ye read en-
the paper 7"
Flt's no matter=i'm sufe he's the
said the landlord don't you
think so z" addressing himself to the
crowd who had gathered in the bar
room.
Yes" WAS the response.
In less than half an hour the land
team was at the door, and Mike
was ordered to get in.
"Sure, you'll give me a drop of the
CREATURE" said Mike, "afore We take
me out into the cold weather"
Yes, said the landlord, ordering
boy to set out the decanter
Here's to the health of ye," said
Mike, and may the blessed Virgin
purtect We, and save ye fcJn ever be-
in in my sltlvatIoR."
The liquor was drank and Nike
and the landlord started OF for the
town from which the horse had been
During the first part of the Jour
ney, Nike was exceedingly taciturn,
aud the landlord was not disposed to
disturb his meditations. They had
proceeded some nalf dozen miles
when Mike asked
"And what will you get for this
OBJ, mister ?"
twenty-five dollars, perhaps" re-
'lied the LANDLORD.
"Sure an' yell make better bust
less of it than myself, il We get that"
Eyes, ! guess so" replied the land
ord.
Nike relapsed into silence, and af.
er an hours ride they halted in front
# a stable and the landlord sung out
o the proprietor:
Here's the fellow that s,ole your
wagon"
This brought out the s~tablekeeper
nd the hostlers, and the former hav-
ng thrown Mikes head back so as to
ct q fair view of bis face aud said /:
That isn't the man"
Isn't the man." repeated the as
onisbed landlord,
"An' didn't tell you 500 said
like, "but it's myself that's abliged
D ye for takin' NE here, an savin'
lie the trouble of a weary journey on
DOT. An now" turning to the stable
eeper, "if yell tell me the way to
ne railroad, it is Mike Mahony that
ill be quick out of a country where
ones. men are oncivily treated"
The road was pointed out TO him
nd he trudged off at a lively pace,
bile the landlord, deliberately turn
x his team around departed amid a
lout of laughter, inwardly resolved
yer to arrest a man for horse steal
lg again.
santa Anna's Daughter.