The Dickinson press., 1896-08-08


shadows. If Bridget had raised her
head and looked out of the window,
she would have seen her boy running
down the Old Point road with race
horse speed. But her view of him
would have been brief, for he quickly
ran out of sight of the slanty and dis
appeared in the perspective of eddying
snowllakes. He made fair progress i'll
the roadway where the track had
been broken by passing teams. but
when he turned into the wood where
the road dipped toward the river, his
progress was slower. The majesty of
the tall pines awed him n little, and
their heart-quaking tones chilled his
enthusiasm, as he floundered along
through the snow. Now he crossed
little oasis of pine needles where the
keen wind had shoveled away the
snow, and again, he struggled through
drifts waist-high. But, although he
was chilled to the marrow by the
razor-like wind. his courage never left
him. And, as the shadows deepenel,
lie nuttered between his clenched
teeth:
II know where they are! BY the big
rock where the violets grow! I'll twist
them around the sugar bowl in the
mornin' before she gets mp. She'll for
get the, shamrock when she sees
then."
Oh, glorious hope, bourgeoned with
PROMISE! oh, Magician Love, conjurer
of joy!
The lights had begun to twinkle in
the windows of the valley when
Mickey emerged into the hollow he
was in search of. He was skilled in
the mysteries Of the woods. Many q
summer afternoon had lie passed III
the little hollow where lie now stood.
Then the air was heavy with the per-
fume of wild honeysuckle and odorous
with the balsam of the pine. Now,
snow two feet deep, covered it like q
blanket. There was no hesitation,
however, in his manner, as he began
digging in the snow with the coal
shovel. He dug a trench foot wide
across the most sheltered part Of the
hollow. His trench was nearly six
feet long, when his quick eye caught
the faint glimmer Of green through
the dead leaves at the bottom. Stoop-
ing down, with trembling eagerness,
he plucIed u leaf, and, holding it up
against the sky, chuckled with delight
as he muttered:
II have it! l have 1t! Shure, moth
er will be crazy with joy when she
sees it,"
Five minutes later his prize lay over
his heart, tied in a bandanna handker.
chief, and lie was floundering his way
through the SHOW llomeWard.
1t was only 6 o'clock when he start
cd. But mile and half lay between
him and the warm kitcben-a quiet
stroll in summer when the bees were
humming and the catbirds gcssiping-
hut on IN April night, when the storm
wrack was hurtling the air heavy with
biting slcct. and the wind beating like
fail, 1t made the boys heart quake
| and his teeth chatter like castanets.
The ghosts of past venal sins rose be-
fore him, as lie struggled through the
snow. repeating his aves, and adding:
| "Oh, Holy Mary, let me out o. this
for me mothers sake! want to put
it around the sugar bowl agin' the
mornin'!'
The furies of the storm gnashed at
him, they chilled his blood, they
blinded his failing eyesight, they
caught his wailing slogan-"I want t.
put it around the sugar bowl in tn,
mornin'," from his trembling lips
They hardened the tears on his cheeks
until, frozen aud exhausted, he fel
over ledge of rocks and rolled dow,
into the road.
There is legend to the effect tina
when an Irish boy dies, there is al
angel needed in heaven, which woul,
have probably been the case witt
Mickey Finn, had not DIR. Chalker re
turned hOmeward that evening by til
Old Point road. His horses SHE'D a
J the figure in the road, and, rolling til
boy in buffalo robe, the doctor 500
placed him in the arms of his mother
When the little fellow opened his eye
he was dazed by the light, and he mu,
tered:
: Il want to put it around"
: "Yis, yis," said his mother, in pa.
g sion Of yearning fondness rs sl
r hugged him to her bosom, 80 We shall
: acushla. Bring the sugar bowl, Mix.
q But what is it ye want to twist aroun
= the sugar bowl. Mickey?"
"Give him this, first, Mrs. Finn" sal
r the doctor, as he poured a Tablespoon
}. full Of brandy down the partially vi
# conscious boys throat. He gasped q
the strong liquor rippled over his pa
a ate. Then he sat upright.
q "And now will ye tell me what )
want wild the sugar bowl, Mickey, da
lint?" said his mother. anxi0usly.