Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-02-13
IRISH WAYSDF LIFE.
What the Stranger Secs on Ein's
Green Isle.
Pat Does Not Eeii-ve In a Direct Answer.
Bot Uses Many Words and Long Ones
-Fondness for Naming
the Deity.

Pat Does Not Eeli-ve In a Direct Answer.
Bot Uses Many Words and Long Ones
-Fondness for Naming
the Deity.
Writing of the characteristics of the
Irish people the London correspondent
of San Francisco paper says Pat is
not guided in his dealings by the Scrip
tural admonition to tlirectness. His
communication ia never yea" nor
''nay" He is fond of words, and long
ones, and when these fail he has still
the blackthorn as an aid to argument.
From the beginning to the end of my
jaunt no one answered yes" or mo" in
reply to any question that required q
simple affirmative or negative. There
is prodigious waste of words in this
diverting country .
Ibid you take the letter to the post
Officer
81 did, sor"
"Have you been to the village this
morning?''
81 have not. sor."
One longs for straight Eyes" or
mo-" and he becomes decidedly weary
Of hearing the name of the Deity
dragged into every discussion from the
prospects of home rule to the price of
eggs. Its the best you'll find in the
country, please Godr' said an ancient
Celt who was trying to sell cow at
Dingle market. The beast was sorry
looking, but 'please God, she'll give
more milk than any other wan in
Kerry"
When Pat exclaims: Its q fine morn
ing, thank Cod" you are not to sup.
pose that his cry comes from devout
and grateful spirit, nor need you be-
lieve that the morning is necessarily
fine. One day, at remote coast settle
ment, ! was awakened by the proprie-
tor of the cabin where we lodged
"What is the weather." said l. God
be praised, it's fine day." said he, go
ing to the window. throwing aside an
old shawl that served for blind. and
revealing a landscape soaking under a
steady rain.
An Irish gentleman. whose guests we
were for few days, had been fort
night trying to induce the local carpenter
to effect some simple repairs about the
place. A days work would have been
sufficient, but Phil Finn, who lived in
the village half dozen miles away.
could not be persuaded to put in an ap-
pearance.
''I'll come Monday, please God" said
Phil Finn. Monday came but no Phil
Tuesday passing farmer left a mes
sage: Phil Finn says, please God, he'll
come tomorrow. Similar reports pre-
coded Philip for week. Sunday morn.
ing the worthy carpenter turned up in
his best clothes.
"But you can't work to-day. Phil.
"Surc, sor. an it's that I've come to
tell yer. But it's tomorrow I'll be
here; in Gods name, will"
But another week went by before the
work was begun.
Pat is not thrifty in our Anglo-Saxon
sense of the word Yet he is rarely AZ
poor as he looks, and he is often q
great deal richer than you will have
any reason to suppose. His notion of
prosperity is not comfort, but hoard
ing. He has as keen an eye as any
other man for a bargain when trading
is to be done. | have known some old
fellows whose appearance would excite
the commiseration of tourists and sen.
timental folk to have been the owners
of snug fortunes, which were slowed
away under their garments or in holes
in their cabin walls. Instances of this
kind are not rare.
A gentleman in Kerry told me good
story about close-handed old tenant
on his estate. Daniel Sheehan was not
model tenant, but he was in many re-
spects typical one. He owed several
years rent, and always complained of
the hard times when he was asked to
pay trihe on the arrears. Excuses
were not wanting-from a bad season
to big family-he had them all at
his tongues end. One day he fell i'll.
and when it become evident that he
could not recover he sent for the land
lord, who is a good-natured man and
well liked in the neighborhood. When
his visitor arrived Daniel called him to
the bedside and sent everyone else from
the room.
'sNow, Mr.. -" said he, ..it's a
dyin' request have to make to We. an
KNOWN it's good man We are. I'm
that sure yell not refuse me-"
'Well. Dan. what is it?''
"'What is it?' ye ask. It's yerself
knows I'm owing yer trif1e av rint.
An how much might We put it at?"
1.-TWO hundred pounds"
''Truer word We never spoke. But
it's that same two hundred that's both
erin me last thoughts. It's wishin' to
lave the family with a roof over their
heads am. It's trife av money !
have by me foreninst this day. an. for
the sake av the ould woman an the
childer, I'd be askin' yer to take fifty
pounds and give me recate for the
whole Pm OWN We. It's good man ye
are known to be in the country, and
you'll be doin' the same for the sake av
the vans lave behind"
The transaction was effected Two
days later Daniel died, and it was then