Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-07-20
whatever. stop a bit, oh. HOLY No

While seemed to be forced by the
stick into rum He began to shout
excitedly, and they all ran after him
He ran full tilt against dismounted
water barrel. and the end of the stick
struck it with such impetus that it
knocked the barrel over, then flew out
of Patrick's hand to the right, who
himself made spring the other way,
and stood glaring with all the rest at
the glittering objects that strewed the
lawn. neither more nor less than the
missing plate.
Shouts and screams of delight. Ev-
erybody shaking hands with Patrick,
who, being a consummate actor, seem
ed dazzled and mystifed, as one who
had succeeded far beyond his expeeta-
TONS
To make a long story short, they all
settled it in their minds that the
thieves had been alarmed and hidden
the plate for time, intending to re
turn and fetch itaway.
Mr.. Ormsby took the seer into his
study, and gave him a piece of paper,
stating that for a great service rem
dered to him by Patrick O'Rafferty he
had, in the name of him and his,
promised him undisturbed possession
of the farm 50 Tonga as he or his should
farm it themselves and pay the pres
ent rent. ....
Pats modeaty vanished at the
Squire's gate; he Dragged up and
down the village, and henceforth no.
body disputed his seership in those
parts.
But one day the Sassenach came
down with his cold incredulity.
A neighbor's estate, mOrtgaged up to
the eyes, was sold under the hammer,
and Sir Henry Steele bought it, and
laid some of it down in grass. He was
breeder of stock. He marked out
park wall, and did not include GER
tain little orchard and q triangular
plot. The seer observed and applied
for them. Sir Henry, who did his
own business, received the application
noted it down, and asked him for a
reference. He gave Squire Ormsby,
Il will make inquiries said Sir
Henry. Good morning"
He knew Ormsby In London, and
when he became his neighbor the
Irish gentleman was all hospitality.
One day Sir Henry told him of o.
Ratferty's applications and asked him
about him.
"Oh," said Ormsby, " that is our
seer"
Your what
"Our wise man, our diviner of Sc
crets; and some wonderful things he
has done
He then related the loss of his plate
and its supernatural recovery.
The Sassenach listened with a cold
incredulous eye and sardonic grim.
Then the Irishman got hot and ac-
cumulated examples.
Then the Sassenach, with the OBJ
stinancy of his race, said he would
put these pretensiOns to the test. He
had picked out of the various nara
tives that this seer was very fond of a
good dinner, and pretended it tended
to enlighten his mind, so he laid his
trap accordingly.
AT his request Patrick was informed
that next Tuesday, at 1 o'clock, if he
chose to submit to fair test of his di-
vining powers, the parcel of land he
had asked for should be let to him on
easy terms.
Patrick assented iauntily. But in
his secret soul he felt uneasy at hay
ing to encounter this SaSsenach gen
tleman. Sir Henry was the fortunate
possessor of what Pat called ga nasty
glittering eye, and over that eye Pat
doubted his ability to draw the wool
as he had done over Celtic orbs.
However, he came up to the scratch
like n man. After all. he had moth
ing to lose this time, and he vowed to
submit to no test that was not preced-
ed by good dinner. He was ushered
into Sir Henry Stecle's study, and
there he found that gentleman and
Mr. Ormsby. One comfort, there was
a cloth laid, and certain silver dishes
on the hobs and the fender
We'll, Mr.. O'Ratterty," said his
host. Il believe you like good dim
ner?"
"Thrue for You, sorr, =" said Pat.
well, then, we can combine bust
ness with pleasure; you shall have a
good dinner
Long life to your honor"
Il cooked it for you myself.
God bless your honor for your con
descinsion"
You are to eat the dinner first. and
then Just tell me what the meat is, and
the parcel of land is yours on easy
terms
'Patrick's confidence rose. Sure,
thin. it is fair bargain. said he.
The dishes were uncovered. There
were vegetables cooked most delicious
"; the meat was a chef-d seuvre-a
sort of rich ragout done to a turn, and
SO fragrant that the very odor made
the mouth water
Patrick seated himself. helped him
self, and took a mouthful; that mouth
full had double effect. He realized
in one and the same moment that this
was a more heavenly compound than
he had ever expected to taste upon
earth. and that he couId not and never
should divine what bird or beast he
was eating. He looked for the bones;
there were none. He yielded himself
to desperate enjoyment. When he
had nearly cleaned the plate he said
that even the best cooked meat was
none the worse for a quart Of good ale
to wash it down.
Sir Henry Steele rang bell and or
dered quart of ale.
Patrick enjoyed this, too, and did
not hurry; he felt it was his last dim
ner in that house, as well as his first.
The gentlemen watched him and
gave him time But at last Ormsby
said:
We'll, Patrick
Now Patrick, whilst he slipped, had
been asking himself what line he had
better take; and he had come to con
clusion creditable to that sagacity and
knowledge of human nature he really
possessed and moderated accordingly.
He wodld compliment the gentlemen
on their superior wisdom, and own
he could not throw dust in such eyes
as theirs then he would beg them not
to make his humble neighbors rs wise
as they were, but let him still pass for
a wise man III the parish, whilst they
laughed in their superior sleeves. To
carry out this he impregnated his
brazen features with a world of comic
humility.
And" said he, in cajoling accents,
''ah, your honors. the old fox made
many turn, but the dogs were too
many for him at last"
What more of self-depreciation and