The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-16
BILL DOODY's RENT

Lake of Killarny. "What will we dof
To-morrow's rent-day, and Tim the
Driver swears If we don't pay up our
rent, he'll cart every ha-porth we
have; and then, sure enough, there's
Judy and myself, and the poor little
grawls children will be turned out
TO starve on the high road, for the
never half-penny of rent have Il
oh hone that l should live to see this
dayw
Thus did Bill Doody bemoan his
hard fate, pouring his sorrows to the
reckless waves of the most beautiful
lakes, which seemed to mock his mis-
cry, as they reioiced beneath the
cloudless sky of May morning. That
lake, glittering in sunshine, sprinkled
with fairy islands of rock and YER
dure. and bounded by giant hills Of
ever-varying hues. might, with its
magic beauty, charm all sadness but
despair; for alas,
How i'll the scene that offers rest
And hearth that cannot rest agree?'
Yet Bill Doody was not so deSolate
as he supposed; there was one listen
ing to him he little thought Of; help
was at hand from a quarter he could
not have expected.
Whats the matter with you, my
poor MANI" said a tall, portly-looking
gentleman. at the same time stepping
out of a furZe-brake. Now Bill was
seated on a rock that commanded the
view of large field. Nothing in the
field could be concealed from him ex-
cept this furZe-brake, which grew in
hollow near the margin of the lake.
He was, therefore, not a little sur
prised at the gentleman's sudden ap-
pearance, and began to question
whether the parsonage before him be-
longed to this world or not. He, how
ever. soon mustered courage sufficient
to tell him how his crops had failed
how some bad member had charmed
away his butter, and how Tim the
driver, threatened to turn him out Of
the farm if he didn't pay up every
penny of the rent by twelve o'clock
next day.
"a sad story, indeed" said the
stranger; "but surely, if you repre- on
ted the case to your landlords az II,
won't have the heart to turn yoI
out"
Heart, your honor! where would
an agent get heart" exclaimed Fil
II see your honor does not know him;
besides, he has an eye on ;he larm
| this long time for a fosterer of his
own; so l expect no mercy at all, ut
all. only to be turned out"
Take this. my poor fellow, take
| this" said the stranger, pouring
| purse full of gold into Bills old hat,
| which in his grief he had flung on
the ground. PAY the fellow your rent
| but I'll take care 1t shall do him no
|
things went otherwise in this coun-
try. when would have hung up such
n fellow in the twinkling of an eyer
| These words were lost upon Bill,
who was insensible to everything but
the sight OF gold, and before he could
| uutix his gaze, and lift up his head to
pour out his hundred thousand bless
| ings, the stranger was gone The be-
wildered peasant looked around in
search of his benefactor, and at last
he thought he saw him riding on
white horse a long way off on the
lake.
"O'Donoghue, O'Donoghuew shout.
ed Bill; 1.-THE good, the blessed O'Don.
oghue." and he ran capering like a
mailman to show Judy the gold, and
to rejoice her heart with the prospect
/
The next day Bill proceeded to the
agents; not sneakingly, with his hat
in his hand, his eyes fixed on the
ground, and his knees bending under
him; but bold and upright like a man
conscious Of his independence.
'Why don't you take off your hat,
fellow? don't you know you are speak
ing to q magistrate?" said the agent.
| 70 4ho
king, sir" said Bill; land l never
take off my hat but to them can res
pect and love. The Eye that sees all
knows 1 have no right either to res
pect or love an agent!'
you scoundrelr' retorted the man
in the office, biting his lips with rage
at such an unusual and unexpected
opposition. "Ill teach you how to be-
insolent again-I have the power, re-
member"
',ro the cost of the country, know
you have" said Bill, who still re-
manned with his head as firmly COW
cred as if he was the Lord Kingsale
himself.
But, come" said the magistrate;
have you got the money for me?-this
is rent-day. If there's one penny of it
wanting, or the running gale that's
due, prepare to turn out before night,
for you shall not remain another hour
in possession.
"Fhere is your rent" said Bill, with
an unmoved expression of tone and
Il countenance; you'd better count it,
and give me a receipt in full for the
II running gale and all.
The agent gave look of amazement
| at the gold: for it was gold-real gum
H cas-. and not bits of dirty ragged small
notes. that are only fit to light ones
pipe with. However willing the agent
may have been to ruin. as he thought
the unfortunate tenant, he took up The
gold, and handed the receipt to Bill
who strutted off with it, as proud as
cat of her whiskers.
The agent. going to his desk shortly
after, was COMPOUNDED at beholding a
heap of gingerbread cakes instead of
the money he had deposited there. He
raved and swOre. but all to no pur-
pose: the gold had become ginger.
bread cakes: just marked like the
guineas, with the kings head, and Bill
had the receipt in his pocket; so he
saw there was no use in saying any
thing about the affair." as he would on
I ~ get laughed at for his pains.
From that hour Bill Doody grew
rich: all his undertakings prospered:
and he often blesses the day that he
met with O'Donoghue, the great
prince that lives down under the Lake
| of Killarney.
Danger Averted.