Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-28
THE INNOCENT CORK PEO-
PIE.

i
dark-faced man, taking the pipe out of
his mouth and addressing me as we sat
together one winters evening in the
fireplace in the commercial room of the
Gresham, in SackVille street.
Il am tired replied YEARLY.
Been traveling?"
yes, / have Just come from Cork"
Mice place, Cork" said the dark
faced man, glancing at me from under
his bushy eyebrows.
''Well, yes, it is" said l, "a fine
city
Every innocent people, these Cork
people, said the dark-faced man,
whilst he slowly refilled his meer-
schaum.
Yes, replied. they are; and a
warm, good-natured people l like
them very much"
But innocent-they are innocent,
aren't tbey?" he asked again rather
curiously.
well, l dare say they are," said I,
not over-pleased with his assertiveness
on the subject.
Yes, of course they are he said,
sententiously, and then relapsed into
silence.
You have been in Cork?" [ asked,
not satisfied to let the conversation
drop.
yes, / was, young man, once.
You seemed to have admired them
very much?"
.:Of course [ did. Who does not?
They have many charming virtues-in-
nocence and simplicity being about
their greatest"
/ felt there was a story behind the
speakers words, so / simply said:
s'How did you come to learn and to
feel so strongly the existence of these
qualities from one visit?"
Perhaps you are too tired to listen
to it. 1t is rather long story"
mot at all, " said [, quickly; cit is
Just what / should like of all things.
We shall fill our pipes, and if you will
allow me to replenish these tumb-
lers-"
"All right, said he, ''go ahead"
When we had filled our pipes, taken
few pulls and few sips from the
smoking tumblers that stood &C cur re-
spective elbows, the dark-faced man
commenced:
One fine autumn evening. about thir-
" years ago. 4 w dS ILdh CI1I2 OlI uOlSC-
back from Millstreet to Cork.
felt tolerably tired and was looking
out for some wayside inn where ]
might pass the night, when a sudden
and violent thunder storm came on.
NV horse, terrified by the lightning,
fairly took the bride between his
teeth and started of with me at full
gallop through the lanes and cross
roads, until at length l managed to
pull him up at the door of n neat-iooh-
ing country inn.
We'll, thought, there was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought
t. to this comfortable refuge" And,
aighting. | gave him in charge to the
stout farmers boy, who acted as hostler.
When | entered the kitchen of the
humble hotel, [ found a number of
travellers gathered round the fire wait
ing for supper. joined the party.
Presently, being summoned by the
hostess, we all sat down, twelve in
number, to a smoking repast of bacon
and eggs.
The conversation turned on the mis-
hapS, Occasioned by the storm, of which
every one seemed TO have his full share.
One had been thrown off his horse, an
other, driving a gig, had been upset in
muddy ditch; all had got a thor
ough wetting, and agreed unanimously
that it was dreadful weather. perfect
witches Sabbath.
Witches and ghosts prefer for their
Sabbath line, moonlight nightto such
weather as this!
The words were uttered in a solemn
tone by one of the company. He was
tall fair-looking man, and appeared to
be commercial traveller
The next neighbor, who was q gay,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS young man, burst
into peal of laughter, saying:
You must know the custom of
+ ghosts very well to be able to tell that
they dislike getting wet or muddy"
The first speaker, CHANGING contempt
uously at him, said:
You shouldn't speak so lightly of
things beyonf your comprehension"
The young man stood up, flushed
with anger, but resumed his seat, say
ing calmly:
''That taunt would cost you dear,
were it not such a foolish one"
"A foolish one, explained the other,
throwing on the table leathern purse,
There are fifty guineas, which am
content to lose, if, before the hour is
ended, do not succeed in showing
you the form of any one of your friends,
and, after you have recognized him,
you will let him press his dead lips
against yours.
We all looked at each other; but my
young neighbor, in hooking manner,
replied:
.'You will do that-will you?"
yes" said the other, ''if you will
pay similar sum if you lose"
After a short silence the young man
said gaily:
FIFTY guineas, my worthy sorcerer,
are more than poor college student