Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-11-18
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER Is, 1882.


1t las very often, indeed, been said
and am one who believes in the truth
OF it-that there is no general rule, but
with the subject of our sketch-Pat. De-
laney. RN
lam not sure am correct in naming
Pat al the subject OF the story inasmuch
as his gray mare figures as conspicuous
ly in 1t as he himself does; in short the
story is not of Pat Delaney, but of Pat
Delaney and his Old Gray Mare.' NJ
The Irish are proverbially charitable,
hospitable in the extreme. All who
have seen or written of them agree in
saying hospitality is one of the chief
characteristics of the Irish people. but
in this particular respect Pat Delaney
was most decided exception. ~ .2-l
He was Of stingy, grasping, miserly
disposition, utterly regardless how he
made money, so that he made 1t, and
deaf to the applications of the needy
who sought relief at his hands. ~ 50
He was farmer one of the better
class-and cultivated large farm in
one of the northern counties of Ireland,
and though possessed of considerable
wealth, was SO mean and despicable in
his nature, that a stranger, judging
from his appearance, would readily take
him for mendicant, because Pat con-
sidered it vastly extravaganza to be gull
ty of trifiing outlay to clOthe himself
anew, while he could by any means
manage to make his old gar.
ments cover him.
Among his cattle was an old gray
mare, which Pat himself always drove,
and the trappings of this associate of
In or M
with the proprietor's character-worth-
less.
When told that, in addition to being
superstitiOuS in the extreme, the reader
will be able to form some idea of his
character.
Besides the produce of the farm, there
was another source of wealth Pat profit
ed largely by. This was selling meal
on credit at very eXorbitant rate to
the poor of the locality, who, possessed
of sm1ll farms, were thus able, by CIV
ing him note on the growing crop to
secure his payment.
If not able to satisfy him beyond the
possibility Of doubt that he would De
paid, he certainly would not satisfy the
wants of those who appealed to him; but
when thus satisfied, the desire TO add to
his wealth more than balanced the feel
ing Of regret he always experienced at
parting with anything even for time.
Now to our story. 1t was a hot, sultry
day in July that Pat put the we'll worn
harness on his gray mare and proceeded
toward the mountain for load of turf.
The American reader may not know
what turf" is. Turf" is fuel, and
serves the Irish peasantry of the rural
districts as coal does our citizens here.
Moss, cut to pieces the shape of brick
but about twice the, length, is, when
thoroughly dried, called turf" and
makes an excellent fire. Turf" is cut
with turf spade, peculiar in shape,
and we'll adapted for this special use.
Seated in his old creak:ng wagon, and
every once in while urging along his
miserable animal that was hitched to
it, Pat proceeded. 20
He passed close to the cottage of Mrs.
HOgarty, a very poor widow, who had |
for some days previous been meditating |
an appeal for meal; but Pats character
istics being well known to her, she had
but little hope of succeeding in getting |
any. ... ..i.J.
resolved to embrace the opportunity, and
meal. She accordingly came down the
path to the highway and accosted him
with:
"Good-morrow, Pat. How are ye, sirY"
"GOOd-mOrrOw, Peggy" he replied,
I'm bravely troth, cOnshiderin the kind
iv times we hev."O atr14 TOON fYqf |
"The kind iv times did We say, Pat?
Musha, it's myself that thinks you know
little indeed of the times; it's me and
the likes o. me knows the times Is hard,
very hard, and no mistaken
"Its thrue for you, poor crethur," said
Pat, in sympathetic tone, and he got
out of the wagon and walked up to the
cabin to get a light for his pipe, while
the mare, taking the advantage of the
opportunity, began cropping the grass
by the wayside.
"It's thrue for ye," said he as he re-
turned, smoking, and again entered the
wagon, "but yer mistaken whin ye say |
don't know the kind iv time that's in it
as we'll as anybody else, for it's hard
1 am, not doubt iy It,"
To give a verbatim report of their con-
is not believed necessary, but
let it suffice to state that after good
deal of by-play and q great many broad
hints on the part Of Peggy, and
a well assumed Ignorance of their mean
ing on the part Of Pat, she at length
said:
"Well, seeing as how am 80 short iv
money and names at the prisint speak
ing, might venture to ask We for hun
llhered weight Nv meal until sich times
as can pay We, which won't be long,
praise gOOdnessy"
"A numbered Nv meal, did ye say2"
said Pat, as though he doubted his ears.
''ThrOth it's glad would be to sorye We,
but it's beyant my power SO 1t is, or IT'S