Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-03-11
...A...
Transformation
Involving a Dramatic Scene
on St. Pairick's Day.
BY THOMAS G. O'CRADY
Copyright by American Press Assoc
cfatiOn 1911
BY THOMAS C. O'CRADY
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.


teens Pat was fine strapping young
fellow and good looking. though he
was so poor that his clothes were rag
ged-it's not every man whose manly
beauty will show TO advantage when
his bare knees are peeping through his
trousers and tuft OF his curly
hair protrudcs through hole in his
hat. But when Pat smiled that good
naturcd smile OF his clothes were for
gotten and he was taken right into
the hearts Of those he smiled upon.
As for Maggie. she was housemaid
In family whose place bordered on
one OF the lakes. and she was always
well dressed She had real Irish
complexion. as white as milk and as
red rs a rose. There was SO much
minglng between the white and the
red that IL was impossible to tell
where the one began and the other
ended.
Pat and Maggie did lot Of walking
about together on the banks Of the
lakes and they were always noted for
the difference In their appearance.
Pats being in such marked contrast
TO Mnggie's. But II Maggie's clothes
were spick and span and Pats falling
to pieces, Maggie's face wore serious
cast. while Pats was always alight.
His rags could not overcome the cheer
fulneSs of his disposition nor chill his
generous heart. for whenever he would
meet any one worse dressed than him
self lie would sing out:
"Arrah. bedad. man, go sell your toys
to farmer to put up for scarce
crow"
Then Pat would thrust his hand In
his pocket. and II by any possibility
he should find n ha'penny there he
would hand 1t out, saying. with
twinkle In his eye:
go buy n new suit of clothes"
The trouble with Pat was not that
he was lazy. but that he was the kind
of young man who needed opportu.
nifty. And what opportunity was there
for him In region where the land
had all been taken up long ago by the
gentry; Was not the road leading
around the lakes so hemmed In by the
estates of the aristocracy that the
beauty of the scenery was shut OF
completely? What was young man
10 do who had neither land nor money
and whose only work-if lie could get
itwould he dressing himself in livery
and waiting on n master?
Maggie" said Pat one day when he
and his sweetheart were sitting on the
bank of the lake near Maggies mis-
tress' estate. "Oim goin' TO Ameriky."
"Oh. PAT. exclaimed Maggie. her
heart falling like the mercury In ba-
romcter before storm.
Yes. Oi'm Goin to Ameriky, where
they say gold dollars as big as cart
wheels are rolin' around In the streets
and all fellow has to do is to pick
'em up. Whin Owe collected a lot of
'cm Ofll send for ye.''
But Pat. how're We goin' to get to
Amerikyt"
"Worruk me passage"
"In the cabin?"
"In the cabin. What would OF look
loike In the cabin In these toys? ORR
70 ms II coal HEAVIER. Dye suppose Ord
be dancin' around offerin' tay 10 the
leddics and gintlemen whin | can get
a much more respectable job below?
And do We suppose Oi'll be lettin' the
muscles of me arm grow soft whln oil
can keep 'em hard"
"But how're We goin' TO git TO the
ship"
walk. What were me legs given
me for? Shurely not for dancin'. be-
cause Owe no ilIigant clothes. no
grasshoppcr coat. for balls and par
ties ORR walk to Queenstown and 20
in the first ship that'll take me-"
Maggie had none of that happy GO
lucky disposition which was at the
bottom uf all her lovers actions. But
Pats disposition was not only happy
golucky: he was natural gambler
Ills proposed move to America seemed
to Maggie n jump in the dark. Pat
was looking at the chances. There
were surely none for him In ireland,
and there might be some for him In
America. Ergo America was the
place for him. As to his getting there.
why. any one can go anywhere. All
he has To do Is TO go.
on the morning before Pats depar-
ture he stood with Maggie on the banks
OF the lake where they had stood so
often before and would probably never
stand together again. They were look
ing out on the beautiful scenery,
though II il questionable II they saw
II. The mingled boughs Of becches,
elms and oaks were putting ON thell
summer apparel. Ivy vines springing
from tanelc Of holly and arbutus
chung to the taller trunks BEYOND all
this was the placid bosom ~ the lake.
contrasting with the emotions In the
hearts of the parting lovers.
"Don't bc cryln' loiie that. Maggie,
dear" said Pat. "This Is n beautiful
scene and one we both love. Ia be
sure, hut whin We see me ag'in veil he