The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-09
W,sreNauv.
THE WIDOW FLANAGAN.
A Story by Lover.

~ ASseAs
Love Is Of as many patterns, cuts, shapes
and colors as peoples garments; and love
set into flame the tender passion which
agitated the breast of the widow FIana.
gan, and made Tom Durfy her slave.
Now the reader must know something
ofthe fair Mistress Flanagan, who was
left in very comfortable circumstances by
a niggardly husband, who did her the ia
vor to die suddenly one day, 10 the no
small satisfaction of the pleasure-loving
widow, who married him in an odd sort OF
way. Flanagan was engaged in supply
ing the export provisi On trade, which ey.
eryone knows Is considerable in Ireland.
and his dealings in beef and butter were
extensive. This brought HIM into contact
with the farmers for many miles round.
whom he met, not only every market day
at every market town in the country, but
at their own houses, where knife and
fork were always at the service OF the rich
buyer. One OF these was q certain Mat
Riley, who, on small means, managed TO
1--we. and rear son and three bouncing.
good-looking girls, who helped to make
butter, feed calves and superintend the
education of pigs; and ON these active and
comely lasses Mr.. Flanagan often cast an
eye OF admiration, with view to making
one OF them his wife; for, though he
might have his pick and choice of many
hne girls In the towns he dealt in, he
thought the simple. thrifty and indus
trious habits Of a plain farmers daughter
more likely to conduce TO his happiness
and profit, for in that principally Law the
aforesaid happiness Of Mr.. Flanagan.
Now, this intention OF honoring one Of the
three Miss Rileys with promotion he new
er limited at IN the remotest degree, and
even in his own mind the Thought was
mixed up with fat cattle and prices cur
rent; and 1t was not until a leisure mo-
ment, one day, when he was paying Mat
Riley Tor some Of his farm produce, that
he preached the subject thus:
MAT"
'.Sir"
I'm thinking Of marrying"
We'll, she II have a snug house, who
ever she is, Misther Flanagan"
Them S fine girls O. yours"
Poor Mat opened his eyes with delight
at the prospect of such match for one of
his daughters, and said they were come
iy Jumps o girls, sure enough; but what
" a. uCttei llleN were XOOu.
That's what I'm thinking" saws Flan-
agan; there S two ten poun' notes and a
i've, and one is six and one is seven: and
three ten pinnies is two and sixpence;
that's twenty-seven poun' two and six
pence, eight pence ha' penny is the lot:
but haven't a copper in my company.
Mat"
'Oh, no matter. Misther Flanagan.
And L. it one o my colleens you've been
throwing the eye at, sirp"
Yes. Mat. it is. You're askin' too
much for them firkins."
''Oh, Misther Flanagan, consider it's
prime butther. I'll back my girls Tor
making up bit o butther agin any girls
IN Ireland; and my cows is good and the
pasture prime"
Ills farthing n poun' too high, Mat.
and the market hot lively"
The butther is good. Mr.. Flanagan:
and not decenther girls in Ireland than
the same girls, though I'm their father"
I'm thinkin I'll marry one of them.
Mat
Sure, an it's proud | be. sir: and
which one o them is it. maybe?''
Faith, don't know myself, Mat.
Which do you think yourself?"
"TrUth, myself doesn't know-they're
all good. Nance is nice, and Biddy Is bid
liable, kitty's cute.
You re a snug man. Mat. You ought
to be able TO give husband trihe with
them"
Nothing worth your while. anyhow.
Misther Flanagan. But sure one o my
girals, without a rag to her back or a
tack to her feet, would be better help TO
an honest. indnsthrin' man than one o
your snowy lantherumwash devils out of
town. that would spend more than she'd
bring with her."
That's thrue. Nat. III marry one of
your girls think.
You'll have my bless,n.' sir: and
broad I'll be-and proud the girl ought TO
be-that III say. And suppose how
you d come over on Sunday and take
share Of plain mans dinner. and take
your pick out Of the girls-there's a tine
bull goose that Nancy towld me she'd
have ready after last mass: for Father
Click sand he come ard dine with Us"
lean tMat; Il must he IN the canal
host 90 Sundays bat III 30 and breakfast