The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
DROLLERIEs OF DONEGAL.
MANS, THE SEASON NAN.
BY sEUMAs MACMANUs.
copvriOl,,d 1899 BY ne S. s. Mcc,ur. Co.

long ago there was a man named Manis who
supported himself and his old disabled mother
by making bcsoms out OF the long heather on
the lonely where they lived. One day
when Manis was driving very sorry old insti-
tuition Of horsc-that you could count every
| bone in his body through the skin--to the town
with load Of besoms for sale, he began 10 ru-
inmate TO himself on the bad trade this same
besom-makng was becoming. entirely, that
he could hardly keep body and sowl sticking
| together himself, let alone support his mother
| and an old horse that would soon die on his hands
anyway; and then he'd be in a fix, for he couldn't
scrapc as much money together would buy
| new straddle let alone new horse. And then
| as for selling this one. it's what he'd have to pay
a man to take him off his hands, let alone get
money for him. But it's disaise that can't be
| cured, somehow, MANS said TO himself-so he
| began TO consider TO himself how he could sell
his rickle of pony TO advantage.
| MANS had about as clever head ever was
| set on ignorant shoulders-and right well he
| knew thisand he was not long finding a
| way out OF the pickle. When he went 70 the
town and disposed Of his besoms. and got the
| money for them, he put the money into shilling
| pieces. half-crown pieces and one halfsovereign.
and, inquirng for the grandest hotel he put
his horse into the stable, and stuck the gold half
| sovereign and all the other pieces into the holes
| III us nluc-lOT tne poor DdStt skin ndu nOleS
| enough to hide away fortune in, goodness
| knows slipping them just where you'd know
in under the skim and then he went into the hotel
and ordered the best of everything eating and
| drinking for himself, and as for the horse, he
! told them not To spare the corn and bran mashes
| on him. for he was going TO put him into train
| ing for Il great race. MANS got all he called
| for and the horse too, got everything of the best
and all Jared well until it came to the paying Of
the bill, which came To big figure entirely.
When the bill was put before him. Mans said
| he would call again and pay il; that he had no
ready cash about him now, and all that But
the walters raised the divil of ructon, and sent
for the owner Of the hotel himself. who happened
! 70 be mayor over the town. And they pointed
| out MANS TO him. and told him the whole story
and the Mayor said that il Manis didn't take
and pay the money on that instant moment he
would send for the soldiers and have him hung
| by coortmartial at once.
We'll, we'll" Manis he. But this is
| a nice how-do -you-do that gintlcman can't
be trusted for few shillings only this way. Sweet
| good luck TO you and your house" SEE he TO the
| Mayor. II never yet in all my travels met with
such ondaiccnt people Though have a shabby
coat on me atself," SCI MANS, don't Judge me
by that for that's my notion, and it's the way
| ! choose to go. And look you here now Misther
| Mayor" SEE he, Il could not only pay for my own
| dinner. but could invite every mothers sowl
in this towngood, bad and indifferent, big
wee and middling here, and give them their
dinners and pay for them, and buy you out Of
house and home then. and make a present Of
the whole consarn to your waiter there the next
| minute, and live as ondependant as a prence
still after" sez MANS. But il you must be paid
| for your hungry bit of a dinner that wouldn't
break mans fast Good Friday, We must
! left my purse behind me at home, and didn't
| just want to abuse my poor haste now, scen
he's after long journey; but to stop your throat
| I'll do anything, so here he goes"
And with that Mans plants his hat his
head and away out TO the stables with the Mayor
and all the waters after him to what he was
| up to at ALL at all MANS led the pony out TO
| the yard, and telling the crowd 10 stand off him,
| he got the pony by the head with one hand and
with stick in the other he struck the horse 8
ribs Just beside the place he hid the hef-sovercign,
| and the horse flung up we'll he was able -
bekase for six years before he never had the spirit
| to fling till he got the feed OF corn and bran
and out jumps the gold halfsovereign and rolls
| Just right TO the Mayors feet The Mayor looked
| down al it bewdered
will we kindly" Mans, SEE he. in an OF
hand sort of way to the Mayor will yer Mayo!
ship kindly pick up that coin, and tell me how
much it Isl"
| -hds"i pi'hVu ~ up anu iic ioohcu AZ u,
| and he turned il over and looked at the other
side and then iingled it on the ground, and next
bit il with his teeth.
| Well. by all that's infarnal," SEE he, but it's
a good shining good haf-sovereign," SEE he,
with the kings head ON it,"
"Humph!" sez Manis sez he, lis that all. That's
not enough, then. We must try again"
So MANS whacked the horse again. and again,
and again; and the horse flung up again. and
again and again; and the coins jumping
out, rolling among the walters, and them picking
them up and shouting out every time how
much they were When Manis got enough 10
| pay the bill
Now" SEE he. when have my hand on him,
may well take the price OF box of matches
and bit of tobacco out Of him." and he floggcd
out another couple Of half crowns the Mayor and
| the walters looking on with their mouths open
and rubbing their eyes every and then to
see whether it asleep or awake they were.
When MANS had finished, and had all the pieces
logged out of him except couple he yoked
him into the cart, as II he was going to start
Il say. my good man." SEE the Mayor when
he got his breath with him: Il say, my good
man." SEE he, would you sell that horse"
is il sell him." MANS, sez he; Not by no
means"
Il would be content to give you good penny
for him." SCI the Mayor lust curiosity to
show my friends you know"
You'll have to get some Other curiosity for
your friends this time then" SEE Manis This
would be rare curiosity, entirely"
Il wouldn't refuse you $50 down in cold cash
for him." ser the Mayor
"FaiA, l suppose you would not" SEE Manis
tartly.
Il wouldn't refuse you clo0 down for him.
now that think Of it," sez the Mayor
Think again" SEE MANS.
20. but l think that a big penny" ser the Mayor
And wouldn't you think five hundred bigger"
sez MANS,
20. l couldn't think OF that, my good man. ="
SEE the Mayor.
Very we'll and good, then" said Manis, When
every sticks TO their own no mans wronged
Good morning and good luck" seq he, pretending
to go and To drive off
Hold on, ye," seq the Mayor, running forward
and catching the reins rs II very expensive,
his keep? Have you 10 feed him on anything