Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-11


N. Y. Evening sun: The FINN family
were at supper. The light from the
Kerosene lamp on the homcly mantle
fell upon n modest ropast. The chief
dish was smoking pot of old-gold sup
pawn. Mrs. Finn was bustling back
and forth between the stove and the
;nblo. ladling potatoes out of pot bub-
bling glccluily on the fire. arranging
the dishes aud performing ail those lit
tie houscwifcly offices which at II
ioothnr'S hands add SAVIOR to the most
meagrc meal Mr.. Finn was helping
himself to II second plate of cabbage,
and little Mike was making haste to Sc
cure his share of the succulcnt vcgcta-
bic before it should be too late. The
meal proceeded in silence for a few
suppose VII be tachin, tn
by how & fight aein tn sup
per is cleared away, Mike Finn.
Musha, but yen make him IL skull
cracker, so We will. Amt We 'shamed
O yersel', ye big brute. t'achin' "A little
by like that t he putin up his tishts
loike Il bruiser till livery wan he meets?'
"Arrah. thare We are agin. replied her
husband with his mouth full OF cabbage.
"Shure I'm only t'arhin' him now to de-
find himsel'. An 'divil' S the lad on Cooney
Island iv his weight an inches will
sthand up agin him, give an, take;
ain't that so, Mickey" Mickey nodded
his head attirm0tivcly, for his mouth
was too full for utterancc. Then, with
an eagerness that almost choked him,
he said: Jack Eudden has II bloody
nose, an a black eye, | gev him this
mornin'. Twas rough an tumble. |
gev him tn fut. an settled him wild me
two han S. An anxious look came into
Mickcy's eyes. however, as he went on
to relate to his father how Patsy t'o-
garty, the terror of Shanty Hollow, was
coming to school on purpose to do battle
with him. The fame of little Mikes
tistc successes had gone abroad in the
land, and Fogerty was coming to the
little red school house to whip the
champion OF Cooncy Island. Mr.. Finn,
after hearing the mOmentous intelli-
gcnce. became thoughtful. He slipped
his tea slowly. and considered within
himself what would be the Ocst line of
fighting for his boy to pursue, for he
realized that the struggle would be a
fierce one, ana the honor of the house
of Finn must be maintained at any cost.
Looking keenly at his son, Mr.. Finn
said: "Iou re not trcckened o Fogerty.
Miciey?o 'indade, thin. I'm not.'
he?' He mostly fights at
arms lcngth.' ''Oh. no; thin
VII have l. tackle him rough AN -tum-
Bile BY this time the table had been
cleared away. While Mrs. Finn re-
tired to the outhouse tie wash the dishes.
Mr.. Finn gave his boys a few lessons in
the art of physical otfense and defense.
Now, you sthand there and I'll sthand
here" said he to his son. ''l'll be
nn
toe agin my toe an LUX at me eye.
Niver moind me lishts. Kape yer eye
Oh mine. Now, whin [ r'ache out me
catch til blow ans Bang! came the
fiat of Mr.. Firms hand alongside of.
Mickey's head, and headlong flew
the boy into the woodboX,
dlslodging two dominici hens
and a rooster, who few around the room
loudly. Little Mike got out
of the wOOdboX slowly and just tritle
groggy. A piece of skin as large as a
cent was missing from his nose. But
his blood was up as he came up to the
scratch a second time. "A few welts
said his father. '.Ye see, We was not
ready wild yer left whin | welted ye.
Now come on" Mickey was like cat
for agility. He jumped back and
avoided two blows which would un-
doubtedly have sent him over the
stove. His eyes gliItered like those of
a tiger kitten about TO spring. He
fought entirely on the defensive until
his father, in an unguarded moment,
had dropped his guard. Then. like an
infuriated bull, he rushed in, seized
one of his fathers legs, and lift
ing it from the ground toppled him
over backward, and he fell like ton of
coal on his head, iarring the shanty to
its foundations and bringing the stove
pipe to the floor. Before he could rise
the young demon mounted him in
cloud of SCOT and began raining blows
upon his face until he roared with pain.
To add to the confusion Mrs. Finn APP
peared upon the scene with her broom,
which she used without discrimination
upon both of the combatants until they
were glad to escape to the yard. Bad
luck t'ye, me young bull, ye hav' th'
skin scratched aft me face" roared Mr..
Finn, looking around in the darkness
Tor club. ITS square we are thin,
father" replied little Mike from the
other side of the fence. "Shure you
skinned me nose iirst!" "Yis, and III
skin yes both wild tn sthove leg comm
in" said Mrs. Finn as she stood in the
doorway.