Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-11
Barrett, the Piper.

Barrett, the Piper, you see, lost his skill,
and was advised to 60 to the Black North
to recover it. Barrett was a Munster MANI.
Well, he took his little boy with him, and
they walked till the dark came, and then
went into cabin by the roadside to look
for lodging
"God save all here !" says they.
''Save you kindly !" says the man of the
house, but he left out the Holy Name
GLOW are you, Jack Barrett Z"
''Musha, pure and hearty sir; many
thanks for the aXing, but how do you know
me 2"
''Och, knew you before you were
weaned. Sit down and make yourself at
home here you stay till morning"
Well, faith, they got good supper of
pratees and milk, and good bed of straw
was made for them by the wall up near the
fire, and they lay down quite comfortable
to good sleep. But some bad thoughts
came over Jack Barrett in the dead of the
night, and he got up and went out of the
bed, and into the fields by himself, and q
couple of mad dogs running after him.
There was a big tree near him with ever so
many crows nests in the top, and he run
and climbed up into it from the dogs, and
if he missed the dogs he found the crows,
and didn't they fall on him to tear his eyes
out He bawled, and he roared, and the
man of the house came into the kitchen,
and stirred the fire, and there was Jack
Barrett on the hen-roost, and the cocks and
hens cackling about him.
''Musha, the sorra's s on you for a Jack
Barrett How did you get up there among
the fowls?'
''The goodness knows; it's not their
company | want. Will you help me down,
honest man 2"
Well, he got into bed again. and if he
did he was not long there when bad
thought came into his head, and up he got.
He was going into the next room, when
where did he find himself but by the bank
of big river, and the same two dogs tear
ing along like vengeance to make gibblets
of him. There was a tree there, and its
boughs were out over the river. Up climbs
Jack, and up after him the dogs and to
get out of their clutches he scrambled out
on long bough. The dogs were soon feel
ing after him, and he going out farther and
farther, till he was afraid it would break.
AT last he felt it cracking, and he gave a
roar out of him that you'd hear mile off,
and the man of the house came into the
kitchen and stirred the fire, and there was
Jack, sthraddle-legs on the pot-rack.
''Musha, Jack, but you're the divel's
quare youth at your time o. life to be max
in horse of my pot-rack. Come down,
you onshuch, and go to bed"
''Well, the third time, where did the
divel guide him but to bed in the next
room, and when he Topped into it he let
such howl out of him that you'd think it
was heaven and earth coming together.
whats in the win now, Jack 2" SAYS
the man of the house.
''Oh, it's the pains of labor am !" says
the unfortunate piper.
'Will we send after the midwife for
you!" says the other.
ooh, the curse of Cromwell on Yourself
| an the midwife !" SAYS the poor man cit
wasn't God had hand in us the hour we
| darkened your door. Oh, tattheration to
you, you ould thief won't you give us
some aise z"
Father, honey" says the boy, cts
pishrogues is on you. A drop of holy
water will do you more good nor the mas
ter o the house, God bless him!"
'I'll tear you limb from limb" says the
ould villain, when he heard the Holy Name,
eff you say that again.
"Well, anyhow" says the boy, "make
the sign of the cross on yourself, father, and
say the Lords Prayer"
The poor ould piper did so, and at the
blessed words and the sign his pains left
him. There was no sight of the man of the
house on the spot then; maybe he was in
the lower room.
When the piper and his son woke the
next morning, they were lying in the dry
moat of an old rath that lay by the high
road.
The conquIror is regarded with awe,
the wise man commands our esteem, but
u is the benevolent man who wins our