The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-12-14

bd$ne0, pony huntefS torlven dup-
ing the summer in q wagonette) with
a great houTfsb-indeed, in reckless
! style, for the bony hunters resented
this unusual AfppaBey On Mixes part,
and praneed on and OF the pathway
with indignant hoofs.
Ny friends whispered TO me that
Mike had intended 10 impress my
English mind. He did; but not eI-
actly in the way he Intended, poor old
| fellow, II was His head. never
saw such head! All the parts that
Ought 20 have stuck out went in. and
vice versa. Then the marvellous
manner In which he had balanced
the shabby cocRaded hat on the con-
trary bumps was in itself . work OF
art; no, yather an outward and Wis
ible sign" Of an inward and spir-
ituar' originality worth cultivating.
They begged me not 10 laugh at
Mike or his appearance, saying, with
a sigh: He is so sensitive. poor
dear; and really l don't know what
We should do without him" All,
what indeed.
had the pleasure OF staying many
months in this genial Irish house,
and my respect-nay, awe-for Mike
! increased daily.
He was coachman. gardener. but
Ter and valet-this, in itself, was TO
! me sufficiently astonishing; but
had only been a week in the house
when | discovered that Mike ruled
! 1t with an iron rod gently welded,
maybe, and with a padded tip; never
theless, from my host, who loved him.
TO Brian Boru (the setter, which had
reason 10 remember Mikes strength
of ARM, no one seemed to question
his right 10 rule them.
Tell me-" ! asked, why do you
all bow down to Mike, and do you
like it,"
NY dear" ! was told, Mike has
been fifty years at Ballyknockshan-
non; he came to my father as a boy to
help in the garden. Times are bad
/ for us Irish landlords, and Mike has
gradually drifted into the proud post
OF general factotum, because we have
no money and because he loves MS. 3"
| My pretty friends pretty eyes filled
with tears, and she went on: You
don't know how good Mike is ana
what he does for us. He is nearly
seventy years old, and il is still
against his principles to sit down
during the day, and only after sup
| per will he rest; so, OF course, we
must put up with his dictatorial fits,
and, worse still, of contrariety.
! Watch him at dinner tonight when
refer TO the table decoration. 1t will
hmuse you
watched. had already observed
silent battles over the immense ag-
gressive bowl OF flowers that orna-
mented the centre of the dinner table
at Ballyknockshannon. Enter the
company, who take their seats En-
ter Mike, with the air of carrying in
! boar's head and truffles, instead OF
vegetable soup; enter Brian Boru,
stealthily, making for the soft mat
under the table, with a wary eye on
Mike withal.
! Dear me. Janet" cries my wicked
little friend; Il cant see a wink Of
you; this bowl obstructs the view.
Mike. I've told YOU that We don't
/ like that thing. but the little silver
vases, why don't you use those"
Mike fixed the bowl with regret
full but determined eye, and muir
INJURED. deprecatingly, Sure 'tis a
! foine beautiful thing, yer ladyship's
honor, and fitting il is to YOU and his
honor; as TO the other things-bad
luck to EN-, they"
That will do. Mike" replies her
ladyship's honor, take away the
bowl"
Mike looked at her with anguish,
then clutching il with feverish
fingers. muttering withal, he moved
it with more force than was neces-
sary to the side OF the table; and then
withdrew hurriedly, as il he had for
gotten something.
Now, you watch" whispered my
delighted host, he will never remove
that bowl"
Mike came staggering in with the
fish
The bowl eff the table, Mike. 90
whispered the wicked one, sternly.
Mike expostulated in an undertone,
And is it not the fish sauce he was
getting; would her honor wish the
fish without sauce. and an Elegant
English lady there etc. And so on
through dinner.
Mike. the bowl, " reproachfully.
IL will, / will" returns he, sooth-
insly; Just wait until he brings in
the foine figure of duck" and 50
on, ad lib. Dear, funny old Mike
He stuck firmly to his point; the bowl
had been used ever since he could
remember, therefore IL should be
used now and for all time.
The old order changeth,
Yielding place TO new.
was incomprehensible heresy TO Mike
Three or four days after the Bat
tie Of the Bowl tas We styled itD !
was sitting under the beautiful trees