Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-02-28
THE INNOCENT CORK PEO-
PIE.

Il am tired" replied YEARLY.
"Been travelingp"
Eyes, have just come from Cork"
'.Nice place, Cork" said the dark
faced man, glancing at me from under
his bushy eyebrows.
'Well, yes, it is" said /, "a fine
city,"
VERY innocent people, these Cork
people," said the dark-faced man,
whilst he slowly refilled his meer-.
schaum.
'Yes," replied. ''they are; and q
warm, good-natured people. / like
them very much"
"But innocent-they are innocent,
aren't theyP" he asked again rather
curiously.
'Well, dare say they are" said l,
not over-pleased with his assertiveness
on the subject.
Eyes, of course they are" he said,
sententiously, and then relapsed into
silence.
"You have been in CorkP" l asked,
not satisfied to let the conversation
drop.
Eyes, was, young man, once"
you seemed to have admired them
very muchP"
''Of course | did. Who does not?
They have many charming virtues-in-
nocence and simplicity being about
their greatest"
felt there was story behind the
speakers words, so simply said:
"How did you come to learn and to
feel so strongly the existence of these
qualities from one visitp"
Perhaps you are too tired to listen
to it. 1t is rather long story"
mot at all, said |. quickly; lit is
just what L should like of all things.
We shall fill our pipes, and if you will
allow me to rcplenish these tumb-
lers-"
"All right" said he, Ego ahead"
When we had filled our pipes, taken
a few pulls and few sips from the
smoking tumblers that stood at our re-
spective elbows, the dark-faced man
commenced:
One fine autumn evening, about thir-
ty years ago, l was travelling on horse
back from Milstreet 10 Cork.
felt tolerably tired and was looking
out for some wavside inn where l
might pass the night, when sudden
and violent thunder storm came on.
My 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 a neat-look-
ing country inn.
''Well, thought, ''there was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought
rs to this comfortable refuge" And,
alighting, gave him in charge to the
stout farmers boy, who acted as hestler.
When L entered the kitchen of the
humble hotel, I found a number OF
travellers gathered round the fire wait
ing for supper. l 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 10 have his full share.
One had been thrown off his horse, an
other, driving gig, had been upset in
a muddy ditch; all had got tho
ough wetting, and agreed unanimously
that it was dreadful weather. perfect
witches Sabbath.
Witches and ghosts prefer for their
Sabbath fine, moonlight nightto such
weather rs this!'
The words were uttered in n solemn
tone by one of the company. He was
tall fair-looking man, and appeared to
be n commercial traveller.
The next neighbor, who was a gay,
Acknowledgement 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, glancing contempt
uously at him, said:
eYou shouldn't speak so lightly OF
things beyond your comprehension"
The young man stood up, flushed
with anger, but resumed his seat, say
ing calmly:
7sThat taunt would cost you dear,
were IL not such foolish one."
"a foolish one," explained the other,
throwing on the table a leathern purse,
There are fifty guineas, which am
content to lose, II, 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 ali looked at each other; but my
young neighbor, in hooking manner,
replied:
.'You will do that-will youP"
yes" said the other, IF you will
pay a similar sum II you lose"
After short silence the young man
said gaily;
GRITTY guineas, my worthy sorcerer,
are more than poor college student
ever possessed; but here are five.
which, il you are satisfied, shall be
willing to wager"
The other took up his purse, saying
in scornful tone,
II see. young gentleman, you wish
20 draw back"
III draw backl' exclaimed the stu
dent. well, II / had fifty guineas
YOU should see whether / wish to dc
So"
Here" said /, "are four guineas
which will stake on your wager"
No sooner had made this PROPOSE
zion than the rest of the company, at
l. .-tx off tho oHo IT.