The Irish standard., 1886-05-01
honor, for since dochthors ordhered him

honor, for since dochthors ordhered him
down here for the benefit of his health,
there's no comfort to be had wild him,
night or day---but sure, if he didn't
lose his mimory, it wuoldn't be so bad,
allthegither. And then I'm shamed out
iv my life wild him. Why, if you'd only
hear to him, Mr. Peterslam--- --ahem!
that's if you were a stranger, you know,
sir, like that gentleman, YOU'RE most
obedient, sir,-and didn't know the diff
fer, ye'd think there wasn't screed iv
dacelcy left about him, at all, at ALL
and as he thus went on to make his pri-
vate complaints to the captain, still,
however, in voice loud enough to be
heard by the American, he kept ever and
anon glancing at the great silver salyel
or the table, as if making silent ap.
peal to it for testimony against his mas.
ter.
During this little conversation with
Captain Petersham, the |ight-keepel
called him several times, but was toe
much engaged to attend him.
:Roger!- are you deaf? Roger"
:ss3ir, sir.'
rs this all the brandy you have in
the house?. Answer me, yes or no.
'sAhem? Answer you yes or no; why,
av coorse Ill answer you--that is, if |
knew whatyou name"
"WeN look here, ''-and Mr. Lee
stepped over to the old man, and shook
the decanter within an inch of his eyes
YOU call this brandy?"
t'Sartinly, sir, the best cogniac; it
cost just seyen-''
'sNever mind the cost; you have here
about three thimblefuls or thereabouts-
for three gentlemen.
'sNo, sir, there's a good half bottle,
and more-ahem! ahen it looks little,
but it's on broad bottom; hem it's a
broad bottom, sir.
"We]l, now, I wantto know--if you've
any more OF the same left?-that's plain
enough, I Think
'sWhy, dear me, such question:
Och, och-and two casks untouched in
"Ho!d your lying tongue and answer
me, sir; have you?y yes OF nos
eyes, yes, puncheons Of it,"
''Go fetch it then, forthwith-go now
instantly and he pushed him gently
towards the door.
s'sartinly, sir, sartinly," replied
Roger, moving off as fast as his old,
shaky limbs would carry him, the long
skirts Of his old bottle-green coat oscil-
lating AS he went. 1sMost sartinly, sir;
it's aisy enough to do that--why, if I
only knew what in the world ye we're
coming at, all time, I'd have it here
now.''
"He's the greatest old plague, that, in
the whole universe, said the light-keep-
er; 'snot respectable visitor ever comes
to see us, but he acts just iii the same
way. He would make you believe, MI.
Weeks,-Captain Petersllam here knows
all about him long ago,--he would make
you behave his master as rich as Gree
sus, and staying down here only by ad-
vice of his physician. You observed
the old bottle-green livery he wears;
we'll: he has worn that, to my knowledge
five and twenty years, and in all probab-
ility, his father before him, for as many
more. AS for this antiquated piece OF
plate on the table, he brings it out on
every possible occasion. The old coat
and the old salver are in fact his great
and with these he imagines
he can make a show of 'dacency,' were
the house as bare and empty as the
ruins of Baalbec."
"Poor Roger said the captain; ''he's
. regular Caleb Balderstone. y
"Precisely-the only difference, per-
haps-that Caleb WAS creation. and
Roger reality
'sBalderstone,' said Weeks; ''let me
see; Balderstone-warn't he something
% the Balderstones of Skowhegan, down
,ast?''
CHA, ha!' chuckled Captain Peter
sham; stcan't say as to that
.tWell, them Balderstones of Skowhe-
gan were tremendous smart men, I tell
7ou; and cousin Nathan said they fought
It Lexington like tigers and cata-
MOUNTS"
tNo, no; Caleb was Of quite another
replied the ight-keeper.
sHe was born Of wizard, and shall live
IS long as the world lasts. Some, in
Iced, go SO far as to say, that he and
last man are destined to ex-
,ire together"
"Well, he was not mortal I reckon
.sNo, sir, he's immortal as the gods"
During this latter part Of the CONVEX
ation, Roger O'shaughnessy had re-
urned as far as the room door, and re-
named standing on tie threshold, for