Connecticut western news., 1883-07-04
Born to Good Luck.

Born to Good Luck
 Patrick O'Rafferty was small farme in the County LeiDster. He and hi father before him had been yearly ten ants to Squire Ormsby for fifty years o1 very easy terms.
 Patrlck-more uneasy than his sire = now and then pestered this Squire for lease. Then the Squire used to say "Well, if you make a point of it, I vii have the land valued and lease drawr accordingly" But this iniquitous pro posal always shut O'Raferty's mouth for a time. He was called in the village Paddy Luck; and certainly he had the luck to get into good many fights and scrapes and to get out of them wonder fully. It was he who set the name rolling; his neighbors did but accept it.
 He professed certain powers akin to divination, and they were not generally ridiculed, for he was right one time in five, and that was enough, for credulity always forgets the usual and remembers the eccentric.
 This worthy had COW to sell, and drove her in to the nearest fair. He put twelve pounds on her, and was laughed at. She was dry, and she was ugly. s'Twelve pounds Go along wid ye. !" "Never mind her," was Pats reply. s'I'm Paddy Luck, and it's mese1f that will sell the haste for twelve pounds, and devil hay peany less." This was his proclamation all the morning. In the afternoon he condescended to take ten pounds just to obige the community. Atsunsethe managed toget eight pounds, and by-stander told him he was lucky fellow.
 That IS no news, thin, said he. It was dark, and he was tired; his home was twelve Irish miles off; he resolved to sleep In the town. In the meantime he went to a tavern and regaled his purchaser, drank, danced, daffed, showed his money, got drunk, and was robbed by one of the hght-fngered gentry who prowl about 8 fair.
 The consequence was that the next time he ordered liquor on 8 liberal scale flor he was one who treated semicircu- larly in his cups-he could not find shilling to pay, and the landlord put him out into the street. He cooled himself at neighboring pump, and went in search of gratuitous lodgings. The hard-hearted town did not supply these, so he walked out into sweeter air. He was not sick nor sorry. Quite the reverse. He congratulated himself on his good luck.
 "Sure, now, said he, 'ifI had sold her for twelve pounds, it's four pounds I'd be losing by that same bargain.
 Some little distance outside the town he found 8 deserted hovel; there was no door, window nor floor; but the roof was free from holes in one or two places, and there was 8 dry corner, and heap of straw in it. Paddy thanked his stars for providing him with so complete and grstuitous a shelter, and immediately burrowed into the straw, and was about to drop asleep when the glimmer of lantern shot in through the doorway and voices muttered outside.
 Patrick nestled deeper in the straw; he was trespasser, and it seemed too late and yet too early for the virtues, charity included, to be afoot.
 Two men came in with sack, a spade and lantern; one of them lifted the lantern up and took 8 cursory glance around the premises. Patrick, whom the spade had set a-shivering held his breath. Then the man put down the lantern, and his companion went to work and dug, not grave, as painting Pat expected, but a big round hole.
 This done, they emptied the sack; out rolled and tinkled silver salvers of all kinds, coffee-pots, tea pots, forks. spoons, brooches, necklaces, rings-a mine of wealth that glowed and glittere1 in the light of the lantern.
 Patrick began to perspire as we'll as tremble. The men filled in the hole stamped the earth firmly down, and then lighted their pipes and held con- sultation. The question was how to dis pose of these valuables. After some differences of opinion they agreed that one Barney was the fence they would in- yite to the spot, and if he would not give one hundred pounds for the spoil they would take it to Dublin. It transpired that Barney lived at some distance, but not too far to come to morrow evening and inspect the booty. Then, if he would spring to their price, they would go home with him and receive the coin.
 My luck ? thought Patrick. ssWhat need had they to light their pipes and chatter like two old women about such &