Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-11-17
NUMBER As.


wrapped up in one of the mourning
cloaks, trying to warm his hands at the
fire.
"' 'Salve hoe nomine patri y said my
father, crossing himself; av :t's your
ghost, God presaive mo y
"Good evening t'ye, Mr.. Free said
the ghost and av l might DO bould.
what's in the jug ?'-for ye see my father
had it under his arm fast. aud never let
it go when he was asleep.
"'Pater noster qu es in potteen, sir,'
said my father, for the ghost didn't look
pleased at his talking Latin.
I" Ye might have tho politeness to AZ
if one had u mouth on him, then says the
ghost.
"Sure, didn't think tho likes of you
would taste sperits.,
"a Try me- said the ghost and with
that ho filed the glass, and tossed it OF
like Christian.
/" Beamish y says tho ghost, smack
ing his lips.
"' Tho same,' says my father; and
sure what's happened you has not spoilt
your tasto.'
"If you'd mix little hot says tho
ghost, I'm thinking 1t would DO better
the night is very sevare.'
" Anything that your reverancc pleas
es, says my father, us he began to blow
up good fire TO boil tho water.
80 And what news is stirring p says
the ghost.
go Devil n word, your reverance your
own funeral was the only thing doing
last week times is bad except tho
measles, there's nothing in our parts
I" And we're quito doad horoabouts
too says the ghost.
There's some OF us so, anyhow,
says my father with II sly look. Taste
that, your roverance.'
go Pleasant and refreshing,' says the
ghost 'and now Mr.. Free, what do you
say to little spoil avo, or beggar my
neighbor p
"' What will we play for p says my
father for thought inst struck him
maybe it's somo trick of tho devil to
catch my SOUL
60 A pint of Boamish,' says the ghost.
60 Donc,' says my father cut for
deal tho nee Of clubs-you have it,.
Now the whole time the ghost was
dealing tho cards, my father never took
his eyes of Of him, for he wasn't quite
nsy in his mind ut all but whom no saw
him turn up the trump, and take u strong
drink afterwards, ho got more ut case and
began the game.
How long they played il was never
rightly known but one thing is sure,
they drank cruel deal of spirits three
quart bottles my father brought with him
were finished, and by that time his brain
was SO confused with the liquor, and all
no lost-ior somehow no never won q
game-that ho was getting very quarrel
some.
80 You have your own Of it, says he,
at last.
"' True for you and, besides, wo play
n great deal where come FROM
go I've heard so,' says my father. I
lead tho knave, sir, spades bud cess To
it, lost again.
"Now il was really very distressing /;
for by this timo, though they only began
for a pint OF Beamish, my father went on
betting till he lost the hoarse aud all tho
six horses, mourning cloaks, plun.es and
everything.
"' Are you tired Mr.. Free may be
you'd like to stop.
"' Stop faith it's nice time to stop |;
of course not
90 We'll, what will ye play for now p
"The way he said these words brought
a trembling all over my father, and his
blood curdled in his heart. 'Oh murth-
or = says he to himself, it's my sowl he
is wanting all the time
"I've mighty little left,' says my fa-
ther, looking at him keenly, while ho
kept shuillng the cards quick as light.
ming.
mighty little no matter, we'll give
you plenty oftlme to pay, and il you can't
do it, it shall never trouble you as long as
you live
"Oh, you numbering devil = says my
father, flying at him with a spade that hs
had behind his chair, Two found you
out.
with one blow he knocked him
down F; and now q terrible fght began,
for the ghost was very strong too ; but
my fathers blood was up, and he'd have
faced the devil himself then. They roll
cd over each other several times, the
broken bottles cutting them to pieces, and
the chairs and tables crushing under
them. At last the ghost took the bottle
that lay on the hearth, and levelled my
father to the ground with one Llow down
he fell, and the bottle and the whisky
we're both dashed into the fire that was
the end Of it, for the ghost disappeared
that moment in blue name that nearly
set fire TO my father as he lay on the floor.
Och it was a cruel sight To see bim
next morning, with his cheek cut open.
rnd his hands all bloody, lying there by
himself oil the broken glass, and the
cards all around him tho coffin, too.
was knocked down off the chair +; maybe
the ghost had trouble getting into it,
? However that was, the funeral was put
off for a day; for my father couldn {
speak and, as for the sexton, it was y
quser thing, but when they came to call
him in the morning, he had two black
eyes, and cash over his car, and he new
or knew how he got them. IL was easy
enough to know the ghost did it ;'but my
father kept the secret, and never told it to
any man, woman or child in them parts.