Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-07-20
BORN TO GOOD LUCK.
How Paddy O'Kancrty Made His Rep
utatIon-A Capital Irish story.


father before him had been yearly ten
ants to Squire Ormsby for fifty years
ON very easy terms.
Patrick-more uneasy than his sire
now and then pcstered this Squire
for a lease. Then tho Squire used to
say, "Well, if you make point Of it,
! will have the land valued and Il
lease drawn accordingly" But this
lniquitous proposal always shut
O'RafYerty's mouth for a time, lie
was called in the village Paddy Luck
and certainly he had the luck to get
into u good many fights and other
scrapcs, and to get out of them won
derfulIy. 1t was lie who set the name
rolling; his ncighbors did bat mcept
it,
He profcsscd certain powers akin to
divina ION, and they were not gcmcr-
ally rIicuIcd, for he was right one
time in five, and that was enough, for
credulity always forgcts the usual and
remembers The eccentric.
This worthy Ead COW To sell, and
drove her into the nearest fair. He
put twelve pounds on her and was
laughed at. She was dry and she was
ugly. "Twelvepounds. Go along wild
We. - Never mind her" was Pat re
ply. 'I'm Paddy Luck, and it's me
self that will sell the haste for twelve
pounds, and diviI ha'penny less. y
This was his proclamation all the
morning. In the afternoon he condo
seconded to ten pounds, just to obligc
the community At sunset he manag-
ed to get eight pounds, and "A bystander
told HIM he was a lucky fellow.
THAT is no news, them said he. 1T
was dark and he was tired; his home
was twelve Irish miles oil. He rcsolv
ed to sleep in the town. In the mean
time he went to u tavern and RECALLED
his purchaser, drank, danced, dali'cd,
showed his money, got drunk, and
was robbed by one of the lightiinger-
ed gentry who prowl about a fair.
THE consequence was that the next
time hc ordered liquor ON Il liberal
scale for hc was one who treated
semlcircularly in his cups he could
not find shilling to pay. and the
landlord put him out INTO the street.
lie cooled himself at Il ncighboriug
pump, and went III search of gratui-
tous lodgings The hard hearted town
did not provide these; SO he walked
out of it INTO SwCCtcr air. He was
not seek nor sorry quite the reverse.
He congratulated himself ON his good
luck Sure, now, said he, If had
sold her for tl2, it's Il I'd be losing
by that same bargain.
Some little distance outSitr the town
hc found 1t deserted hovcl; there was
NO door, window, nor iloor; but the
roof was free from holes in one or two
places, and there was Il dry corner,
and a heap of straw in it, Paddy
thanked his stars for providing him
with so completes and gratuitous u
shelter, and Immediately bWrowcd
INTO the straw, and was about to drop
asleep when the glimmcr of Il lantern
shot III through the doorway, and
voices muttcred outside.
Patrick nestled deeper in the straw /,
he was trcspaSScr. and it seemed too
late and yet too early for the virtues,
charity included, to be afoot.
Two men came in with a sack, II
spade and lantern; one of them
lifted the lantern and took a cursory
glance round the premises Patrick,
whom the spade had set aShiycrin%,
held his breath Then the man put
the lantern down, and his companion
went To work and dug, not Il grave, as
painting Pat expected, cut n big round
hole.
This done, they cmpticd the sack;
out rolled and tinRlcd silver salvcrS of
.,II ~.
spoons, brooches, necklaces, rings u
mine of wealth that glowed and gilt
tered IN the light of the lantern.
Patrick began TO perSpirc as well as
ucmblc The men filled i'll the hole,
stamped the earth firmly down, and
then lighted their pipes and held Il
consultation The question was how
to dispose of these vaIuablcs. After
some differences Of opinion they
agreed that one Barney was the fence
they would invite To the spot, and if
he would not give tI0O for the spoil
they would take ii Ia Dublin. 1t
trauSpircd 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 90 home with
him and receive the coin.
My luck :" thought Patrick
"What need had they to light their
pipes and chatter like two old women
about such Il trtlr. without searching
the straw FIRST, the unadhamS,' The
thieves retired, and lucky Pat went
quietly To- sleep
lie awokc IN broad daylight. and
Strollcd back into the town He
walked iawtily, for if he had no
money, he possessed a secret. lie was
too Irish and too sly To 90 To the po-
leo office ut once; his little game was
to try and find out who had been
robbed, and what reward they would
give.
Meantime he had to breakfast of 4
stale roll given him by baker out of
charity. About noon he passed
through principal street. and 10, in
Silvcrsmth'S shop was a notice
written very large;
"flFrN GUlNEA$ REM ARD,
Whereas, these premises We're broken
INTO last night and the following val
liable property distracted
Then followed an inventory a foot
long.
The above reward will be paid To
amy person who will give such infor-
nation rs may lead to the conviction
of the thieves and the recovery of the
stolen goods, or amy considerable part
thereof
Patrick walked in and asked to see
the proprietor. \ little fuSSy man il
great state of agitation responded t,
that query.
Are you in arrest, now, sorr." sale
Pat
in earnest, or course | am"
What if dacent poor boy like ms
was to find you the silver and thieve
and all."
I'D give you the 80 guineas and m,
blessing into the bargain
Maybe you wouldn't like to Civ,
me my dinner an ALL by raison In
just furnishing with hungerl"
This proposal raised suspicion, anC
the proprietor asked his name.
Patrick O'Ratferty I'm tenant Il
Squire Ormsbyn
Il know him. Well, Patrick. sup
pose you can give me some informa
ton. I'll risk the dinner, anyway"
"Ah, well, sorr, said Patrick, ''the,
say fling a sprat to catch a whale
rump steak and a Quart of ale is fl
vorite repast of mine; when l hav
L. Al L Il.