The Irish standard., 1908-09-26

Boots bad, Jack, we'll I'll see have
an old pair left"; "Biddy, be sure t.
send Nellie to school tomorrow, the in.
spector will soon be coming" When
demonstrated with on account of ais
prodigality, he would say: ooh, bless
your heart, man, Ill have enough to
bury me, and the hcusekeeper would
have to lock up the meat or Father
Tom would give away the dinner. 1
see him in the chapel yard among the
flowers, with little hoe in his hand,
and the young children of the village
around him, and the youngest of then
pulling at his soutane tails. VIII y
they CHANGED as children do to squad.
BILE with one another, the offended one
would say, with pout and a clench.
ing Of the little hand, "rll tell the
father ov ye." And, yes, when Mary
came to complain of Catty, or Paddy
Of Ned, for some real or fancied in.
jury done, Father Tom would infalli-
bly, draw his snuff box from his pock /.
Eand, tapping the lid before opening it,
he would take pinch, and, holding it
in his fingers, would say, MARY, that
lad Of yours is one of the brightest in
the fourth class. Ill be getting a
prize for him when the bishop comes
around at confirmation or, paddy
you're the very man want. I was
thinking of making a few drains on
my farm, and you're the only man in
the village that understands the work
ing of drains. Be down there tomor.
row." And thus oil was thrown on til :,
troubled waters. Did l ever see the
serenity of Father Toms temper ruff.
fled? Yes, only on one occasion, and
1T was the following: The seats in thu.
chapel wanted some repairs, especially
in the way of painting, and Father
Tom gave the work to an old man
named Matt Rooney, who was carpen.
ter and painter for the village COM
bined. IF you give the work to Roo
ney," the curate said to Father Tom,
'you may make fire wood of those
seats, for he will destroy them" "Ch,
bless, your heart" replied Father Tom,
Rooney is poor, and he's child of
the village, he paints gates and wheels
well enough, and why not the seats
then?'
"All right, Father Tom, you'll be
sorry
Matt Rooney got the painting of th..
seats, and a proud man he was. The
whole day long he stroked the seats
with various paints, and whenever
Father Tom made his appearance, Roo
ney would cease work. and, stepping
back from the seat he was painting, he
would then twist his head sideways,
and, closing one eye, gaze on the last
streak with admiration, and, having
admired it from different points of
view, would at length turn to Father
Tom with a. smile. which said as plain
as words, "You made no mistake in Sc.
lecting me as your painter" The seats
were duly finished, and when dried
placed in the chapel: The following
Sunday Father Tom made reference to
the seats, and hoped the people liked
them. After mass, as he was goins
from the chapel to the house, Father
Tom met the local ]. p, a personal
friend of his. and the latter accoste1
him with Father Tom, I'm sorry. but
must claim damages from you for the
destruction of a pair of trousers all en-
crusted with glaring red paint II
thought" went on the J. p, that
I was glued for life to those seats al
! yours. fancy some of the old people
are prisoners still. Come and see;'
and then the astonished Father Tom
saw-the reader can imagine what
the impress of various dresses ,.on
every seat there. and where there was
no impress the paint torn away. 1, too
suffered as the rest of the congrega-
ton. and have souvenir still of the
lasting friendship of Rooney's paint in
the shape of pair of trousers. the
seat of which is a brilliant red After
breakfast Father Tom sought Rooney
and threatened him with all sorts ot
major and minor accommodations
but Rooney turned to the good prizes,
with an injured look and said. Be
{ sorra. yer reverence. it's not my fault