The Irish standard., 1886-11-27
At this. the devil put both his hand

l
to his sides and burst out in tit OF
4 laughing. 'send you sense! you foolish
man, y said he, stif the devil had nothing
to do but to carry away all the tithe-
proctors that's voted to him in a sum-
mer's-day, he'd be soon compelled to
look out for new corner to taFe up in.
for they'd have all hell to themselves in
less than no time"
'sWhew!'' says the doctor, eff this be
the way with you. I'm likely to make
great deal by my bargain. GeS out OF
my way, you laxy gaffer,' said he
Growing cross) to little boy that was
sitting on style where he wanted to
pass.
':I'm no lazy gafer, you great natur-
al" said the lad, 'and TIL not stir out
of this, for you have no right to trespass
on my mothers ground. "
The doctor made no answer, only
looked at him for moment, and then
riz bis stick, and then laid him on the
ground quite easy.
ooh, murder alive! you Turk, you
killed my boy,'' cried the mother, who
was sitting co'nbing her wool at the
cabin door. ''Why then" said she,
falling an her knees, and lifting up her
two hands, 'sthe mothers curse upon
yo',r head; and may the Diconce carry
you this night, for drawing the blood Of
my child!''
"Come, my good man, comet said
the devil, seizing the doctor by the col
lar, "the favor of your company down
below. The mothers curse is on you. -
"Oh! nonsense, nonsense! easy, easy,
man." said the doctor, "but--
Before he could we'll know what he
was about, his friend whished him up
and about into the air, and warm was
the corner he had for him before that
night, I'll be your bail"
"Wen, Jerry, you bate cockfghten
for them ould fables; but aisy, an tell
me who are those over the hill?''
| The speaker pointed to three horse
men who had just turned from beneath
the projection of asnall hilloc]z, through
which the wild and broken highway had
been cut, and who were pushing on
with as much rapidity as their ill-con-
ditioned horses could be prevailed upon
to use The better mounted and better
looking of the two foremost wayfarers
belonged to that numerous class of
itinerant preachers, one OF whom may at
this day be always discerned in fine har-
vest weather, lowering about the Pala-
tine villages, and may be recognized at
the distance Of half q mile, jogging it
softly down hill on a well-fed, fat
manned, rough coated pony, an UNI
brella tightly folded and placed i'll rest
upon the thigh, while the smooth and
glazed oil cover of his haI flashes
----'back again the western blaze.
III lines of dazzling light
at the same time throwing his perhaps
too jovial rotundity Of countenance inio
becoming and devotional shade. The
specimen OF the order here presented Off
ferea but little from the generality of
his brethren. He was q person Of irn-
mense proportions, particularly as re-
garded the paunch, which was region
of unparalleled richness and extent, and
showed to particular advantage as he sat
on horseback, his position there causing
ii to project considerably farther in ad-
vance than was it natural wont when OH
foot. His pony was a sturdy little
animal, but of statue SO diminutive, that
the feet of the rider might have ma
te1ially assisted his progress along the
road, we're it not that the sack-l1ke
formation of the members caused them
to describe an equilateral triangle, in
order to afford space to the fat little
beast between-an arrangement which
made clear course of nearly half the
kings highway.
The horseman who rode beside him,
aud who, from his brick-red complexion,
sloping forehead, and small eyes, sup
Piled very sufficient evidence Of his Pa
latinate extraction, had the appearance
of a wealthy farmer, considerably adj
vanced in years, though not sufficiently
so to abate or qualify, in the slightest
degree, the expression of a countenance
which was marked by the strongest and
hardest lines which an habitual violence
of character could produce, or to soften
the fire of a small and piercing eye,
which glanced from beneath it's grizzled,
sandy brow, with spirit of strong in
quiry and resolution.
The third traveller, who rode at little
distance behind, as if rather in the
quality of servant than companion to
the other two, we shall suffer to be DC
scribed by the group of peasantry, who,
in the indulgence of that idle curiosity
which forms a shade IN that dark side