Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-27
4 CHAPTER OF HISTORY.


the room thoroughly enjoyable. A blazin
IRE of maple wood cracked merrily in tn
stove and the strong draught sent shove
OF golden sparks eddying out into the blacl
night from the rusty stovepipe. Mr.. Fin,
toasted his shins, dozed and smoked. Hi
wife darned the heel of a stockin
drawn over gourd. Micky Firms aunt
Mary Jane O'Houlihan, sat with he
elbows ON her knees looking into the fire
while little Nike pored over volume o
American history. 1t was quite domesti
scene, full of pastoral content.
"And what's that buke we're readin'
Mickey ?n said his aunt as she lit splinte
OF wood and ignited her pipe.
Its history" replied the boy, as
wrinkle of impotence marred his smooth
brow al the interruption.
"a hist'ry, is it?" continued his aunt
Frightening into lively interest, land does
1t say anything about goats?"
Nav, rejoined the boy. with gesture
of annoyance, Its about Injuns"
Now, Mickey, don't be impedint 10
your auntie," chided his mother, tell her
about the buke, that's good boy. What's
the good of hayin' eddication if you don't
tell yer auntie about il? Tell her what
thin things is like you're talkin' about,
that's darlint"
Thus persuaded little Mike came down
from his educational attitude to the level
of his listeners, and closing his book with
Sigh. began. Said he:
We'll, ye musht know, thin, that
NANNY years ago, before pig-stys were
built in America, thare was thousands and
thousands of red min, wild skins the color
OF new bricks, a-roaming around Coonev
Island. They carried lath hatchets in
their naked fists and paycocks' feathers in
their hair, which the same they cotch wild
their hands, for they could run like the
wind. Fax, l think they could walk a
slx-days' walkin' match in four DAYS, thew
were that fast. Every mornin' af9ber
brekfuist these brick. colored haythins
would put mineral paint on their faces
sharpln' their hatchets on grindstone and
start out for to be maxim bonfires of min
and women just for divilment. When they
cotch man they would lie him to post
and STICK red-ho spiinters into him till
they'd see him squirm. The spliniers was
Just Ike the wan you're lighting your pipe
wild, auntie"
story Mrs. O'Houlihan jumped IN from
her seat, her pipe telling from her lap and
scattering fragrant tobacco sparks over the
floor. Selling sadiron which stood on
the stove she exclaimed excitedly:
WHARF are they? Whare are they?
WHARF are the dirty robbers, wild thare
hot splinters, till smash-'
"Arrah, sit down, Mary Jane. wild yer
iron, said Mr.. Finn. %Musha, they were
all dead and the wurrums swallyed thin,
bones and all, ages ago. Don't be maxim
a fool of yourself, woman"
Mrs. OHoulihan sat down, limp and de.
Jected, and Mickey resumed his story, de-
lighted with the effect that it had upon his
aunt.
And whin the Injins were tormentin'
the min and women they cotch by shootin'
arrows al thin and csrvin' the hair off
their heads to make fishlines, they were
maxim a noise like this"
Here Mickey stopped to initiate an In
dian war whoop by stopping his right hand
against his open mouth and making bar
barous noise, ending in a frightfal veil,
which almost lifted his aunt from her chair
from fright.
There was grin of gratified vanity on
the face of the youthful historian as he
turned to his mother ard said:
Mother, me auntie is afraid. | don't
think she wants to hear any more about the
Injins."
Faith, | do" exclaimed Mrs. OHouli-
han, trembling, yet eager. go wan wild
yer story about the murderin' cannibais.
What else did they dor"
We'll, they made the women do all the
work, like plantin' the corn and diggin' the
praties, and maxim the fires"
Us that SOP queried Mrs. Finn, quicken
ing to lively interest in the story. They
were mighty smart min, thin
81 Fs,l~~ I
fond of KILN old min and little babies.
But whin the Irish landed at Ponckhockle
they made it mighty hot for the haythins.
The Irish med their heads that sore wild
their blackthorns that big chief named
Iecumsey sxed for pace, and the Irish and
the lpJuns had crate meetin' on the rail-
road track forninst the limekill. The big
chief wild red, white and blue blanket on
his back and wild no pants on-that was
afore pants were inyentid-made an ille-
gint speech that day. He med it in poetry,
Tor he was mighty smart Ipiun and had
sddicashun. He said, says he, wavin' his
arms and his feathers:
''Ye have rivers and SAYS
Where the billars and braze
Bear riches for ye alone.
Thin why should the Irish harrum the
vans
That niver did harrum to thin %
"Begorrs, but that's like The Harp that
xanst Through Tara's Halls amt it
Mickey" said Mrs. 0'Houlihan, melted
INTO sentimental mood by the jingling
rhythm of the stanZa.
Yes, It's NICE continued the inventive
historian; but twas no good to be readin
poetry TO the Irish at that time, for thew
nad med up their minds to have Coopey
Island all to themselves bekase the pasture
was good there for goats. And so whin the |
ak was over, there was no agreemint be- |
hume thin. 1t looked for awhile as if |
here was nothing 10 be done but for the |
irish to go on lathering blazss out of the |
lnjins for ever and ever, amin. till bould |
Paddy Clancy steps out of the ranks and |
Jays, says he, as brave as a he goat: IN
light amy wan of ye wild sticks to see do |
We or We have the island, says he. y
Tell me this Mickey" inter- upted his |
lunt. was Clancy from Cork or from |
galway 90
''Divil wan O US knows surely. auntie.r |
eplied the unveracious historian, reflect |
vely, but I'm afther thinkin' ne KEN |
rom Kerry, he had such a swate brogue.n /
And did amy wan o. the hsythin ma
,urs step out forninst Clancy wild sthick |
n his hand and say, '0w, ow, me boy
fancy, I'll lave me mark on YEP " eagerly |
Questioned Mrs. 0'Houlihan, while the Ere
topped cracking and the wind died away
o low murmur as if awaiting the reply.
Yes, the big chief Tecumsey stepped
ut, wild war-club in his hand ike stick
cord-wood. His eyes was blazing like
Gals of fire, he was that mad And while
le was poundin' on his chist like bass
rum he shouted SO loud that Jack Brady
leered him in the grocery store, Big Injin
te much, says he. Clancy turned pale as
1hltewash, for he thoucht fbe hiu
hief wanted to ate him widout salt. And
make Clancy feel worse, Tecumsey be.
an recitin' some poetry, for he was CRATE
oct intirely, and yell see his verses in the
chool-books, says he:
"Fee, 70, f, fun,
smell the bleod of an Irishman."
Lux at that, nowp' exclaimed Mrs.
}, Houllhan, with sniff of contempt
And did that hsvthin think he haS O