The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-05

swooped down the chimney of wattles,
sending a stream Of sparks across the
floor.
Faith, tits that, said Mike, "but
tbs like some other things-aIl the bet
ter for its age
Eyes, yes, grandad," chorused tho
Mulligans, young and old, crowding
around the fireplace. "Do tell US about
the blackthOrn.'
Faith, l couldn't say nay to all yez
gossoons on a New Years eve," replied
the old man as he caressed the shilIalah
which had been in his possession nearly
go years. "Many skull did yez touch
III friendly SPORT" he continued, run
ming his fingers over the stick caressing-
ly and surveying the wood with the eye
of a connoisseur
Twas cut from the straightest root
growing piece of blacktlorn could find
90 years ago. 1t must be root growing,
boys, for if not / could not think twas
worth cutting. A mere branch, no mat
ter how straight and fair it might look,
would be apt to warp and twist in the
tug o war. Whin had it cut and the
branches Topped off, put it up the
chimney to season. Whin twas we'll
dried, took it down and wrapped it in
| brown paper, we'll soaked in hogs lard.
Thin l buried it in warm earth, taking
it out every day to bind it across me
knee till all the twists and turns were
| out OF it. After had it straight, rub
bed it we'll with a wooden cloth covered
| with blacklead and grease, to give it
polish. Twas all ready now for q shin
dy, only for 1t being a little too light
| at wan ind. So bored hole in it with
redhot iron spindle, into which I
poured some melted lead for the pur-
pose O. giving it the Touchdown weight.
| This lead, me childer," continued the
| old man in benignant fashion, "gave
the stick a widow and orphan making
quality, child bereaving touch. as the
poet says, altogether very desirable, to
| say nothing Of the balance in the hand.
| Now, if the stick should split whin yez
are making the hole, yez may put on
an iron ferrule and drive few nails
into it, Paving the nails stick out on
either side, both for arnamint and use
The fortunes Of the Mulligans, me chill.
der, have depinded more nor wanst on
the judicious use of nail in a stick,
and''-
| "But I thought you were going to
tell US about grandma" broke in IT.
year-old maiden with pansy eyes.
| so am. mavOurneen, but yez must
let me tell it in me own way. Whin I
was of yer age, Mike" he resumed,
II was as tidy lad as ye'd meet in a
month of Sundays-well set up about
the shoulders and as handsome as SOL
der. Nanny girl would turn her head
to look at me thin days and I passing
And among thin that gave me bit O.
barney now and thin was the Wildly
Sullivan. She was left widout chick
or child at the age of 90, and q snug,
purity woman she was, wild q warm
complexion and a warm heart Win
I'd be working hard all day on the
farm, I'd stroll down to her liquor store
in the avenin. There was always a taste
O. punch to be had, and mebbe a rasher
o bacon and cup O. tay whin the
avening would be wearing away. Twas
not in the taproom we sat at all, at all,
but in the kitchen. where the turf fire
was burning bright and everything nate
and comfortable, wild the freight dane
ing on the tins on the wall.
Pat, she'd say to me southering-
like, tbs time yez were thinking about
! getting married.
"'Well, says l, 'mebbe I am looking
out for wife. And who should come
to for advice but to yez, that knows all
about it?'
"'Oh, says she, blushing like rose,
tits not me has the age nor the expert.
, , ence to give advice to tidy young chap
like yerself'
"Sure amy wan could see yez hadn't
, the age by looking in yer eyes, acush.
Ia, but ye ought to have the expert.
,, ence, and yer husband dead only 9
year.
= "'But he was an elderly man, rest
his sowl, Pat, says she, wiping her eyes
with her apron. ''Tis a lottery all
around, this marrying
"'' IT'S so indade, says I, hitchine
me chair up little closer.
But mebbe ye'd be giving m.
n some advice yerself, Pat?' says she al
). sly as a weasel. I'm q wildly wild M
d wan to look out for me, and I'm tina
lonesome, Pat, yez wouldn't believed
have three as fine feather beds as eve
It kept a man warm on q cold winter
!, night, round dozen O. silver spoons
Gxvo -