The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-12-21


what will do with the thoughts of it 3?
An those two vilyins that gave it all to,
and they turned me out in my ould days, rs
| done you. No mattern and he fell into
sobbing and a trembling that nearly killed
him for the second time.
Bnt the true friends of his son Garret
nursed him through that, and comforted
hiY so he recovered. But, as he did live,
he outlived those tender feelings whose NOR
tai wounds had so nearly killed him. When
he recovered this last blow he brooded and
brooded, but never shed another tear.
One day, seeing him pretty well restored,
as he thought, tho good farmer came to him
with fat bag of gold sir, said he, soon
after your son helped us, luck set in our
way. Mary she had legacy; we had a
wonderful crop of flax, and with that plant
'tis kill or cure; and then | found lead in
the hill, and they pay me dale o money
for leave to mine there. Pm almost ashamed
to take it, | tell yon all this to show you
| can afford to pay you back that thirty
pounds, and if you please I'll count it out
'Nop said Mr. Taafe, Ill not take Gar
ret's money; but if you will do me favor,
lend me the whole bag for a week, for at the
sight Of it | see a way to--Whisper,'
Then, with bated breath and in strict con-
fidence, he hintcd to the farmer a scheme of
vengeance. The farmer was not even to
tell his wife; for SAID old Brian, the
very birds carry these things about; and
sure it is knowing divls | have to do with,
especially the women
Next day, the farmer lent him a good suit
and drove him to quiet corner scarce
hundred yards from his old abode. The old
farmer got down and left him. Lurcher
walked at his masters heels. 1t was noon
and the sun shining bright.
The wife of Shamus Taafe came out to
hang up her mans shirt to dry, when, 10 !
scarce thirty yards from her, she saw an old
man seated counting ont gold on broad
stone at his feet. At first she thought 1t
must be one of the good people--or faries--
or else she must be dreaming; but no cock
ing her head on one side, she saw for certain
the profile of Brian Taafe, and he was count
: ing mass of gold. She ran in and scream
ed her news rather than spoke it.
Nonsense, woman ! said Shamus, rough
; y; 'its not in nature
Then go and see for yourself, man = said
t she.
/ Shamus was not the only one to take this
! advice. They all stole out on tiptOe, and
n made Il sort of semicirce of curiosity. 1t
a was no dream there were piles and piles 81
f gold glowing in the sun, aud old Brian with
v horse pistol across his knees; and even
c Lurcher seemed to have his eyes steadily
is fixed on the glittering booty. When they
" had thoroughly drunk in the most unexpect-
t. ed scene, they began to talk in agtated
h whispers but even in talking they never
l. looked at each other-their eyes were glued
at on the gold,
IS Said Guillaum, 'Ye did very wrong, Sha
e mus, to turn out the old father as you done
see now shat we all lost by it. That's
st part of the money he laid by, and we'll new
er see penny Of it,"
is The wives whispered that was a foolist
d thing to say: Leave it to us, said they, 'ant
a we'll have it ALL one day
y This beias agreed to, the women stole to
/ ward the old man, one on each side. Lurch
i er rose and snaried, and old Brian hurried
n his gold into his ample pockets and stood oil
d the defensive.
l. oh, father and is it you come back Oh
d the Lord be praised ! Oh, the weary day
+ since you left us, and all our good lucl
d wild VET
e Brian received this and similar specche
=, with fury and reproaches. Then they hum
! bed themselves and wept, cursed their i'll
| governed tongues, and bewaied the meni
n folly in listening to them They fattereC
p, him and cajoled him, and ordered their hus
a bands to come forward and ask the old man
pardon, and not let him ever leave then
1t again. The supple sons were all penitenc
and affection directly. Brian at last consent
j. ed'to stay, but stipulated for a certain cham
o Der with key to it. For said he, 4 hav
= got my strong box to take care OF, as vel
n as myself
,e they picked up their ears directly at men
N tion of the strong-box, and asked where i
/ was
oh it is not far, but can carry it. Civ
- me two boys to fetch it,
"Oh Guillaum and Shamus would carr
- it or snything to oblige long lost father
n So they went with him to the farmer
. cart, and brought in the box, which wa
:, pretty large, and above all very full an
heavy.
, He was once more king of his own house
- and flatterod and petted as he never ha
- been since he gave away his estate To b
F., sure, he fed this by mysterious hints that h
had other lands besides those in that pal
at Of the coustry, and that, indeed, the fu
extent of his possessions wonld never b
) known until his will was read which wi
was safely locked away in his strong box
with other things.
At And so he passed pleasant time imb
II tered only by regrets, PGd very pognar
= they were, that he could hear nothing
to bis son Garret. Lurcher also was take
in great care Of, and became old and lazy.
10 But shocks that do not fill undermn
Before he reached three-score and ten, Br
r an Taafe's night work and troubles tol
f. upon him, and he neared his end He W,
a. quite conscious of it and announced his ow
IN departure, but not in a regretful way. L
Sc had become quite philosopher; and indet
H. there was a sort of chucke about the o
We fellow in speakingof his own death, whiC
daughters'in-law secretly denounced as vi
ot christian, and what was worse, uncanny.
II Whenever he did mention the expect,
NJ event, he was sure to say, And mind boy
., my will is in that chest
~ Don't speak of it, father, was the I
49, 49, ply.
81 :" When he was dying, he called for both