The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-01-02


outside wayside Irish station, where
he had drawn up q pair Of i'll
matched, bony hunters (driven dur
ing the summer in a wagonette) with
great flourish-indeed, in reckless
style, for the bony hunters resented
this unusual flippancy on Mikes part,
and pranced on and off the pathway
with indignant hoofs.
My friends whispered to me that
Mike had intended to impress my
English mind. He did; but not eX-
actly in the way he intended, poor old
fellow! 1t was his head. l never
saw such a head All the parts that
ought to have stuck out went in, and
vice versa. Then the marvellous
manner in which he had balanced
the shabby cockaded hat on the con-
trary bumps was in itself a work of
art; no, rather an outward and Wis
ible sign" of an inward and spir-
itual" originality worth cultivating.
They begged me not to 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 indeedi
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
1ay opd ct in itca1f n
me sufficiently astonishing; but l
had only been a week in the house
when l discovered that Mike ruled
It with an iron rod, gently welded,
maybe, and with padded tip; never
theless, from my host, who loved him,
reason to remember Mikes strength
of arm), no one seemed to question
his right to rule them.
"Tell me-" l asked, why do you
all bow down to Mike, and do you
like it?"
my dear" 1 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
Tor us Irish landlords, and Mike has
gradually drifted into the proud post
of general factotum, because we have
no money and because he loves u.s."
My pretty friends pretty eyes filled
with tears, and she went on: You
don't know how good Mike is and
what he does for us. He is nearly
seventy years old, and 1t 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
amuse you"
watched. l had already observed
Dilent battles over the immense ag
gressive bowl of flowers that orna-
pented the centre of the dinner table
1t 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,
Btealthily, making for the soft mat
under the table, with a wary eye on
Mike withal
Dear me, JANET" cries my wicked
little friend; 81 can't 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 a regret
ful but determined eye, and mur-
INJURED, deprecatingly, Sure tits a
foine beautiful thing, yer ladyships
honor, and fitting it is to you and his
honor; as to the other things-bad
luck to 'em, they"
THAT will do, Mike" replies her
ladyship's honor, take away the
bowl"
Mike looked at her with anguish,
then clutching it with feverish
fingers, muttering withal, he moved
1t with more force than was neces-
Bary to the side of the table; and then
withdrew hurriedly, as if he had for
gotten something.
Nov, you watch" whispered my
delighted host, "he will never remove
that bowl
Mike came staggering in with the
6sh.
"The bowl off the table, Mike -
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.
II will, l WILL" returns he, sooth.
ingly; "just wait until he brings il
the foine figure of duck" and sc
on, ad lib. Dear, funny old Mike
He stuck firmly to his point; the bow
had been used ever since he coult
remember, therefore it should bt
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" (as we styled it,