Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-11

There first passed the One VINO, IN pity
OF all the great yearning, awaits
To point out the Beautiful City
And loosen the trump at the gates.
james W. Riley, in Indianapolis Journal.
BORN TO GOOD LUCK.
Patrick O'Rafferty was a small farmer
in the County Leinster. He and his father
before him had been yearly tenants to
Squire Ormsby for fifty years on very easy
terms.
Patrick-more uneasy than his sire-now
Then the Squire used to say: ''Well, if you
make a point Of it, l will have the land
valued and a lease drawn accordingly.n
But this Ubiquitous proposal always shut
0'Rafferty's mouth for a time. He was
called in the village Paddy Luck; and GER
many fights and other scrapes, and to get
out of them wonderfully. It was he who
set the name rolling; his neighbors did but
accept it.
He protested certain powers akin to di-
vination, 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 &C.
centric.
This worthy had a COW to sell, and drove
her into the nearest fair. He put twelve
pounds on her and was laughed ct: She
was dry and she was ugly. "Twelve
pounds! Go along wild ye;" "Neyer mind
and it's meself that will sell the haste for
twelve pounds, and niver a ha'penny less"
This was his proclamation all the morning.
In the afternoon he condescended to ten
pounds, just to oblige the community. At
sunset he managed to get eight pounds,
and a bystander told him he was q lucky
fellow.
''That is no news, then?" said he. It was
rJo,,I- --l L. ,-,~ ks.ol. L. $500 80
twelve Irish miles off. He resolved to
sleep in the town. In the meantime he
Went to a tavern and RECALLED his purchaser,
drank, DATED danced, showed his money, got
drunk, and was robbed by one of the light
fingered gentry who prowl about a fair.
ordered liquor on a liberal scale-for he
was one who treated semicircularly in his
cups-he could not find a shilling to pay,
and the landlord put him out into the street.
He cooled himself at a neighboring pump,
and went in search of gratuitous lodgings.
The hard-hearted town did not provide
these; sohe walked out of it into sweeter air.
He was not sick nor sorry. Quite the re-
verse. He congratulated himself OF his
good luck. 'Sure, now," said he, "if I had
SAD 81 b her 1o1 for twelve we IT,E pounds ouma i its four pounds
Some little distance outside the town he
found a deserted howell; there was no door,
window nor floor; but the roof was free
from holes in one or two places, and there
was a dry corner, and a heap of straw in it.
Paddy thanked his stars for providing him
with so complete and %gratuitous a shelter,
and Immediately burrowed into the straw,
and was about to drop asleep when the
glimmer of a lantern shot in through the
doorway, and voices muttered outside.
Patrick nestled deeper in the straw; be
was a trespasser, and it seemed too late and
yet too early for the virtues, charity in
Guided, to be afoot. .
Two men came in with a sack, a spade and
a lantern; one of them lifted the lantern up
and took a cursory glance over the prem
lses. Patrick, whom the spade had set
put the lantern down, and his companion
went to work and dug, not q grave, as pant
ing Pat expected, but a big round hole.
This done, they emptied the sack; out
rolled and tinkled silver salvers of all sizes,
cotfee-pots, tea-pots, forks, spoons, brooches,
necklaces, rings-a mine of wealth that
glowed and glittered in the light of the Ian
tern.
Patrick began to perspire as well as trem-
bic. The men filled in the hole, stamped
the earth firmly down, and then lighted
their pipes and held a consultation. The
question was how to dispose of these valu.
ables. 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 f10O for the spoil they would
take it to Dublin. It transpired that Bar
ney lived at some distance, but not too far
booty. Then, if he would spring to their
price, they would go home with him and
receive the coin.
"Myluck!O thought Patrick. "What need
mad they to light their pipes and chatter
like two old women about such a tri1e
hauns!" The thieves retired, n lucky
rat went quietly to sleep.
He awoke in broad daylight, and strolled
pack into the town. He walked %Jauntlly
Tor, if he had no money he possessed a secret
lie was too Irish n too sly to go to the
police office at once; his little game was tc
try II find out who had been robbed, anc
what reward they would give.
Meantime he had to breakfast off a stale
roll given him by a baker out Of charity
About noon he passed through a prlnclpa
street, and 10! in a silversmith's shop was
snotice, written very large:
"F1FrY GUINEAs REWARD!
Whereas, these premises were broken int
last night, and the following valuable propert!
abstracted-"
Then followed an inventory q foot long
"The above reward will be paid to an.
person who will give such Information a
may lead to the conviction OF the thleVe
and the recovery of the stolen goods, o
any considerable part thereof"
Patrick walked in and asked to see tn
proprietor. A little fussy man i II q grea
staet Of agitation responded to that query
Pat.
I'm earnest! Of course I am"
What if a dacent poor boy like me wa
"a ind You the silver and thieves all: