The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-01

own folly drove him almost mad. Some
times he would curse and thirst fO
vengeance, som etimes he would shed tear
. that seemed 10 scald his withercd cheeks
He got into another county, and begged
from door to door. As for Lurcher, III
did not beg; he used to disappear, OTTER
7 for an hour at a time, butalways returned
! and often with rabbit or even . hare in
his mouth. Sometimes the friends ex-
changed them for gallon of meal, some
! times they roasted them in the woods
+ Lurcher was civilized dog, and did MOI
like them raw.
Wandering hither and thither, Brian
Taafe came at last within few miles OF
his own house; but he soon had cause t.
wish himself farther off it for here he met
his first downright rebuff, and, cruel to
say, he owed it to his hard-hearted sons.
One recognized him as the father of that
rogue Guillaum Taafe, who had cheated
him in the sale of q horse, and another as
the father of that thief Shamus, who had
sold him a diseased cow that died. the
week after. So, for the first time since he
was driven out Of his home, he passed the
night supperless, for houses did not lie
close together in that part. Cold, hungry.
houseless and distracted with grief ut
what he had been and now was, nature
gave way at last, and, unable to outlast the
weary, bitter night. he lost his senses Just
before dawn, and lay motionless ON the
hard road.
The chances were he must die; but Just
at Deaths door his luck turned.
Lurcher put his feet over him and his
chin upon his breast to guard him, as he
had often guarded Carrots coat, and that
kept little warmth in his heart; and at
the very dawn of day the door of farm
house opened, and the master came out
upon his business, and saw something un-
usual lying in the road good way off.
So he went toward it and found Brian
Taafe in that condition. This farmer was
very well-to-do, but he had known trou-
bic, and it had made him charitable. He
soon hallooed TO his men, and had the
old man taken in he called his wife, too,
and babe her observe that it was rev.
erend face, though he was all in tatters.
They laid him between hot blankets, and,
when he came to a bit, gave him warm
drink, and ut last good meal. He re-
covered his spirits, and thanked them
with certain dignity.
When he was quite comfortable, and
not before, they asked his name.
All! don't ask me that" said he pite-
ously. It's bad name l have, and it
used to be good one too. Don't ask me,
or may be you'll put me out, as the others
did, for the fault of my two sons. 1t is
hard to be turned from my own door, let
alone from other honest mems doors,
through the viiyins," said he.
So the farmer was kindly, and said,
Never mind your name, fill your belly'
But by and by the man went out into
the yard, and then the wife could not re-
strain her curiosity. "Why, good man."
said she, "sure you are too decent a man
to be ashamed of your NAME"
I'm too decent not TO be ashamed of
| it," said Brian. g But you are right; an
honest man should tell his name though
they druv him out of heaven for it. am
Brian Taafe-that was.''
Mot Brian Taafe, the strong farmer at
Corrans!'
cay, madam; I'm all that's left of
him."
"Have you a son called Garrett"
II had, then.''
The woman spoke no more to him, but
ran screaming to the door: " Here, Tom!
Tom! come here!' cried she. sTom!
Tom!' As Lurcher, very sympathetic
dog, flew to the door, and yelled and
barked fiercely in support of the invoca-
ton, the hullabalOO soon brought the
farmer running in.
"Oh, Tom ashore" cried she. it's
Mr.. Taafe, the father Of Garret Taafe him.
SELF"
80 Lord" cried the farmer, in equal
agitation, and stared at him. :" My bless
ing ON the day you ever set foot within
these doorsv' Then he ran to the door
and hallooed: "Hy, Murphy! Ellen!
come here, We impSr'
Lurcher supported the call with great
energy. In ran fine little boy and girl.
Look al this man with all the eyes in
your body!" said he "This is Misther
Taafe, father of Garret Taafe, that saved
us all from ruin and destruction entirely.'
He then turned to Mr.. Taafe, and told
him, a little more calmly, "that years
ago, every haporth they had was going to
be carried for the rent; but Garret Taafe
came by, put his hand in his pocket, took
out thirty pounds, and cleared them in a
moment. 1t was way he had we were
not the only ones he saved that way, so
long as he had it to give
The old man did not hear these last
words; his eyes were opened, the iron
entered his soul, he overflowed with grief
and penitence.
"Och! murther! murtherv' he cried. |
" My poor boy! what had to do at all to
60 and turn you adrift. as l done, for no
rsison in life" Then, with piteous,
apologize wall: :" 1 tuck the wrong for |
the right; that's tie way the world is
blinded. Och, Carrot, Carrot, what will |
l do with the thoughts of it? An those |
two vilyins that gave it all TO, and they |
turned me out in my ould days, as done
you. No mather!" and he fell into a
sObbing and trembling that nearly
killed him for the second time
But the true friends of his son Garret
nursed him through that, and comforted
him; SO he recovered. But, as he did
live, he outlived those tender feelings
whose mortal wounds had so nearly killed |
him. When he recovered this last blow he
brooded and broodcd, but never shed an
other tear.
One day, seeing him pretty well re-
stored, as he thought, the good farmer
came to him with a fat bag of gold. "Sir,"
said he, soon after your son helped us.
luck set in our way. Mary she had leg
acy we had wonderful crop of fax, and |
with that plant tits kill or cure; and then |
found lead in the hill, and they pay me
a dale o. money for leave to mine there. |
I'm almost ashamed to take it. tell you |
all this to show you I can afford to pay
you back that thirty pounds, and if you |
please, I'll count it out"
"No!" said Mr.. Taafe, "I'll not take
Carrots money; but if you will do me q |
favor, lend me the whole bag for q week,
for at the sight of it see q way to-
Whisper"
Then, with bated breath and in strict |
confidence, he limited to the farmer a |
scheme of vengeance. The farmer was
not even to tell ito his wife; "for," said |
old Brian, 1.-THE very birds carry these
things about; and sure it is knowing
scamps I have to do with, especially the
women"
Next day, the farmer lent him good |
suit and drove him to a 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, To-!
IL sA