The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-10
A BIRTHDAY GIFT.

A BIRTHDAY GIFT.
It might have happened In London
az II might not. II any one prefers to
1ocAlize this story OF true love at Liver
pool o. Glasgow or any other British
suity where Irish do live, he or she ID!
quite welcome to do So lam not going
to vulgarize . tender idyl by giving
with the fidelity Of a county court sum
mons the precise town. village or other
minute description Of the scene where
The poetic events to be now told took
place III 4 + :. '..5
Mat Casey lodged with Tim Brennan,
who occupied couple Of rooms in .
small house in court of passage in
an alley which branched out Of lane
In back street. ''Sure you're q gintle-
man, for you're as good as the pig that
pays his rint, - Tim used to say to him,
and Mat would reply, ''True for yez,
an it's meself that's proud to be that
same. And then, if either happened
to have a shilling about him, they
would go to the Cobwebs inn and
drink it. II in luck, they would per-
haps have a fight or two in the course
Of the night. If things were depressed
and people were low spiritedly peaceful,
they would in most cases have a fight
between themselves and then fraternal-
II pump on each others heads or repair
their faces from the same stock Of stick
ing plaster. /.
"a Mat was 9 travelling tinker, middle
aged, jovial, ugly, . fine drinker, .
good singer, and, as Tim said, 20 dhivil
4 0f q poet z Tim was an odd job oharac-
an auction porter and q speoulator
IA small lots Mat was 8 widower: Tim
had an extensive wife and q scattered
family. (. I'll e.
At the entrance to the court was .
sort Of half shop, half shed, with big
room behind and q small one above,
where Widow Moloney lived and car
ried on her business, which consisted in
the purchase and sale Of anything from
an old bedstead to q coverless diction.
ary and from 8 broken candlestick to
an indistinct oil painting. Her husband
had been an attendant at sales and q
broker in humble way.
After the inquest on him-now some
18 months ago Mrs Moloney continued
the concern. She found it unnecessary
to 70 to auctions, as, Tim and others
brought their purchases to her, and she
had q tolerably ready means Of buying
and selling, not merely to add from her
neighbors, but also, being we'll known,
among the inhabitants generally in Q
small way.
She was about 40 and weighed 18
stone. A big shawl was always crossed
over her opulent bosom and knotted be-
hind She had q bright eye, q ready
tongue, heavy fist and 9 strong head.
Mat was deeply enamored Of this
gentle lady. OF course Tim was in his
confidence, and many an untruthfnl
word in praise IT Mat did he drop, as if
by accident, in her hearing. and many
an unveracious account Of his broken
heartedness on her account did he sigh
ingly narrate, with the addition Of his
own private opinion that Mat was dy-
ing or would kill himself for love Of
her. Tim was as loyal a friend as So
her though truthful knight Of old.
Tim, . said Mat on the eve Of Wild
ow Moloney's birthday, II want yez to
give her this birthday card from me.
It's great red heart, with q skewer
sticking in it. That riprisints moline
the heart, name. The skewer' - -
'sIt's an arrow, Mat-that's what
they do be calling it. -
''Well, Tim. an there's good Irish
sound about that same. They can't dc
without rs anyway. you see. =
Sorra bit, an you want me to be
afther giving her that?"
Eyes; I'veimproved it I've made it
stiff with red lead an put in q few
dhrops, as if It was the blood OF me
heart that was flowing for her, an
she's SO scornful Of mo sufferings"
''It's illigant'' said Tim, with great
admiration. Ia. .
ian see here, now. I've written
some varses to her to the tune OF
'O'Shaughnessy g Hat Bedad, an they
rowl as swasely as a Jig an as delud-
herring as the cray ther. .
He sang them over in his rich voice
and delicious brogue, and Tim got ex-
cited and promised his most devoted
aid. Then they went to the Cobwebs
and in due course were violently eject
ed, had a tussle with some strangers
about something Of which they had no
particular notion or recollection, lost
each other and finally got home some
how, though separately.
Next morning they arose with IN.
clouded and unaching bruws. and Tim
started ON his mission. Mat waited ct
che Cobweha for his return