Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
the priest, shaking up ii. stupid parish

the priest, shaking up his stupid parish
ioner.
"Don't you want to buy him, Father?"
replied Micky, "He's as fat as butter"
Hes thinking Of selling the pig, " said
O'Ronrke apologetically. SITS got to be
made . riddance OF, and he's drunk enough
to fancy he's back in Ireland-bound for a
fair with the porker.
"Listen, Micky," said the priest. "You
see how that topper, McGlathery died, did ye
not? What can you expect to gain BY this
constant inebriety? Think of McGlathery's 3
end, my MANI
"He'll roast like pipe clay" replied
Micky in maudlin manner, his eyes now
half opened, and tears running down his
cheeks. "And," he continued, ''if it wasn't
for the black spot on his belly he'd bring
more'n I'm AKIN"
"Oh, you are incorrigible, Micky," said
the priest, as he roared with laughter at his
parishioner's answers.
A shout of laughter was heard as three
pretty, bright-taced children came up the
hillside, and, with hands filled with wild
flowers, came running toward the priest,
who received them with kiss for one, an
embrace for another, and taking the smallest
in his arms held her high in the air till she
laughed with childish glee. They were
O'Rourke's youngsters, and had stayed till
dark in Central Park, thus getting home by
moonlight.
"Well, darlings, I'm glad to see ye this
blessed summer evening. You are all as
pretty as the flowers, and refect-great credit
on your loving mother, who takes such good
care of you"
1t is something to be remembered, the
fondness the Irish children have for the
priest. The appearance of ''the Father" in
an Irish village is the signal for a general
assembling OF the children, who run toward
the good man, and. climbing around bis
legs, with shouts of welcome, hug and kiss
him in token of their love and Veneration.
The rocks of Elmwood presented the same
characteristic.
"Run into the house, my darlings," said
Father Hanley. 81 want to speak to Mr..
Begg on matter of business. Come here,
Micky; you are sober enough to listen to
what have to say. Lady Maud Tennison,
from the big house at Kilrona, where you
came from, has written me a letter. She
was very fond of your Nora before you
emigrated. She has lost her own daughter
since then, and she writes that she constantly
thinks of her dead pets foster sister, Nora
Eyes, Father" said Micky, now perfectly
sober from his short nap, "her ladyship was
always fond of Nora, and Nora seemed quite
taken wild her, too. She is true, good
lady, and Christian woman. Sure, didn't
she put beautiful stone over the corpse of
ould Carolan IN Kilrona Abbey, at her own
expense, the darlin', and amt she loved by
the poor people from one end Of Loch Der
mid to the other; God bless herI'
"Listen to me, MIcky, il you're sober
70 Lodi
that she will adopt Nora as her own
daughter, if she can get complete and legal |
release from her parents. suppose it's !
Oonah that must see about it."
Eyes, yer reverence. It's the mother that |
decides"
SIS she able to see me?"
"Please come in and try"
The priest entered the cabin, and found |
the bed-ridden Oonah Begg lying awake on
her couch She was feeble with an incura-
BILE malady, which had been originally |
caused by street railway accident year
before, and which was sure to result in her
death at no distant day. He gave her a
priestly blessing, and then delivered his
gently and considerably, for
be knew that no true mother could at once
tolerate the suggestion of giving away her
laughter. When he had at length read the
etter to her, and she fully comprehended it,
The cried: 30, couldn't do it, Father.
would kill me-"
'It is pity it isn't Dolf that somebody
wants." the priest exclaimed, ''and not the
laughter that is comfort to you."
Don't say one word, If ye phase, against
ne boy. May be he isn't what he ought to
,e, but I am in hopes he will come around
light in time"
"Well, I hope So" and the priest in
iulged in the frankness of advice common
o his profession in dealing with the poor
md ignorant of their parishes: shut he'll
lave to mend deal to become a good boy.
see him too much with the toughs and the
,angs. But there-don't cry, Oonah.
Veil try to reform Dolf; and as to Nora,
hink the matter over. Remember, she will
eceive good education, afd become q