Evening journal., 1900-02-08
BILL DO0DY's RENT

"Oh ullagonc. ullagone! this is a
wide world. but what VIII we do iu
il on where win we g0| muttered Bill
Doody. as he sat on rock by the
Lake of kllarny. What viii we 90.
To-morrows 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
giawls (children) win be turned out
to starye on the high road. for the
never a half-penny Of rent have H.
Oh hone, that l Should live to see this
dayr
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 rejOiced beneath the
cloudless sky of a May morning. That
| lake, glittering in sunshine. sprinkl
with fairy islands Of rock and YER
duie. and bounded by giant hills of
ever-Narying hues, might with ts
magic beauty, charm all sadness but
despair; for alas.
How IN the scene that offers rest
And hearth that cannot rest agreer
Yet Bill DoOdy was not so desolate
rs be supposed; there was one listen
ing to him he little thought Of; helm
was at hand from a quarter he could
not have expected.
whats the matter with you, my
poor man?" said a tall, purtly-looking
gentleman. at the same time stepping
out of a furze-brake. Now Bill was
, seated on n rock that commanded the
view Of large field Nothing in the
field could lie conc aled from m ex-
ccpt this furze-brake, which grew in a
hollow near the margin of the lake.
He was, therefore, not little sur
prised at the gentleman's sudden ap-
nparance. md began to question
whether tie 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 had member had charmed
away his butter. and how Tim tie
driver. threatened to turn him out Of
the farm IL he didn't pay up every
penny Of the rent by twelve o'clock
next day.
"a sad story. indeed" said the
stranger; 'hut surely. if you represcn
ted the case to YOUR landlords agent
won't have the heart to turn you
out"
Heart, your honorl where would
Il see your honor does not know him.
besides. he has an eye on the farm
this long time for 4 fosterer of hF
own; so | expect no mercy at all, at
all. only to be turned OUT
"Take this. my poor fellow, take
this" said the stranger, pouring "a
purse full of gold into BilPs old hat
which in his grief he had flung on
the ground "pay the fellow yOur rent
q but I'll take care il shall do him no
good. I remember the time when
things went otherwise in this couu-
try, when | would have hung up su II
a fellow In the twinkling of an eye,
These words were lost upon Bill
who was insensihle to everything bui
the sight Of gold. and before he could
q unfx his gaze. and fft up his head tC
pour out his hundred thousand bless
inCs, the stranger was gone. The bee
wildered peasant loo ed around 1
Search of his benefactor, and at las
he thought he saw him riding on q
white horse long way off on tht
lake.
"ODonoghue, O'Donoghuew shout
ed Bill: tile good. the blessed O'Dol
Oghuew and he ran capering like ;
madman to show Judy the gold ant
TO rejoice her heart with the prOsplc
Of wealth and happiness.
The next day Bin proceeded TO TIE
agents; not sneaeingly, with his la
in his hand, his eyes fixed on the
ground, and his knees bending unde
him: but bold and upright, like a maj
!, conscious Of lis Independence.
"Why don't you take Off your hat
fellow? don't you know you are speli,
le ing TO a magistrateg' said the agent
Re Il know I'm not speaking to thu
y king. sir" said Bill; land / neve
b take of my hat hut to them l can res
pect and love. The Eye that sees ~
knows / have no right either to res
d. pect or love an agont"'
I'd "You scoundrelw retorted the maj
,r in the office biting his lips with rag
u at such an unusual and uneXpertol
opposition. "I'll teach you how to %
insolent again-I have the power, rc
M member"
"A "To the cost OF the country, | know
YOU have" said Bill who still rl
u NAMED with his head as firmly coy
n cred as if he was the Lord kingsal
~ himself.
~ But. come" said the magistrate
have You got the money for mat-tni
Is rent-day. IF there's one penny OF
wanting, or the running gale thai
due prepare to turn ont before nigh
Tor YOU shall not remain another hOu
= In possession.
There Is your rent said Bill wit
an unmoved expression Of tone an
countcnance; you'd better count &
eb and give me q receipt I'm full for th
running gale and all.
be The agent gave a look Of amaZemer
re- at the cold for it was gold-rcal guii
easl and not bits Of dirty RAGGED sma
lis notes. that are only fit TO lght one
Ms pine with. However Willing the arer
od may have been 70 ruin. as he THOUGH
be tho unfortunate tenant he took up i
tv gold, and handed the receipt 10 III
~ who struttcd Off with IT, as proud q
We cat Of her whiskers
rk The agent going to his desk shorl
after. was confounded at heholding
ho heap Of gingerhread cakes instead Z
81, the MONEY he had deposited there =
~ raved and swOre. bur an to no pu
~. pose: the gold had become eineo
~ bread "a o.: inst marked like Z
nt guinness. with the kings head. and Bi
i had the receipt ln his pocket so ?