Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22
...H...
Transformation
Involving a Dramatic Scene
on St. Pahick's Day.
By THOMAS G. O'GRADY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

3 Copyright by American Press Asso- (
9 citation, 1911.
Pat Doolan and Maggie McShan
were a young couple living in XII
larney town. Ireland. and at the tim
this story begins were not out Of thei
teens Pat was fine strapping youni
fellow and good looking. though b.
was so poor that his clothes were rag
ged-it's not every man whose mani!
beauty will show to advantage whel
his bare knees are peeping through hi
trousers and a tuft Of his curl!
hair protrudes through hole In hi
hat. But when Pat smiled that goot
natured smile of his clothes were for
gotten and he was taken right Int
the hearts of those he smiled upon
As for Maggie, she was housemait
In a family whose place bordered OF
one Of the lakes, and she was always
well dressed She had a real Irisf
complexion. as white as milk and a:
red as q rose. There was so mucf
mingling between the white and thu
red that If was impossible to tel
where the one began and the othel
ended.
Pat and Maggie did a lot Of walking
about together on the banks of the
lakes. and they were always noted FOL
the difference In their appearance
Pats being in such marked contrast
to Maggie's. But If Maggie's clothes
were spick and span and Pats falling
to pieces. Maggie's face wore a 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 he would sing out:
"Arrah. bedad. man. 90 sell your togs
to q farmer to put up for scarce
crow"
Then Pat would thrust his hand IN
his pocket. and If by any possibility
he should find ha'penny there he
would hand 1t out. saying. with a
twinkle In his eye:
go buy a 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 a 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 a young man
to do who had neither land nor money
and whose only work-if he could get
it-would be dressing himself in livery
and waiting on a master2
Maggie" said Pat one day when he
and his sweetheart were sitting on the
bank of the lake near Maggie's mis-
tress' estate. "Orm goin' to Ameriky." p"
"Oh. Patg' exclaimed Maggie. her
heart falling like the mercury In a ba'
rometer before q storm.
Eyes. Oi'm goin' to Ameriky. where
they say gold dollars as big as cart
wheels are rollin' around in the streets
and all a fellow has to do Is to pick
'em up. Whin Owe collected lot Of
'em Oi'll send for ye."
"But. Pat. how're ye goin' to get to
Ameriky?"
"Worruk me passage"
"In the cabinT
'In the cabin! What would Oi look
loike in the cabin in these togs2 OPll
90 as a coal HEAVIER. Dye suppose Ord
be dancin' around offerin' tay to the
leddies and gintlemen whin I can get
q much more respectable job below 2
And do ye suppose Orn be lettin' the
muscles Of me arm grow soft whin Oh
can keep 'em hardY
"But how're ye goin' to git to the
ahipT"
"Walk. What were me legs gwen
me for? Shurely not for dancin'. be-
cause Owe no illigant clothes. no
grasshopper coat. for balls and par
ties. Oi'll walk to Queenstown and 60
In the first ship that'll take me-"
Maggie had none Of that happy-go-
lucky disposition which was at the
bottom Of all her lovers actions. But
Pats disposition was not only happy
go-lucky; he was a natural gambler.
His proposed move to America seemed
to Maggie a 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 60 anywhere. All
he has to do Is to 60.
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 1t is questionable If they saw
1t. The mingled boughs Of beeches
elms and oaks were putting on theii
summer apparel. Ivy vines springine
from a tangle Of holly and arbutus
clung to the taller trunks. Beyond al
this was the placid bosom Of the lake
contrasting with the emotions In the
hearts of the parting lovers.
Don't be cryin' loike that. Maggie
DEAR" said Pat. "This Is beautiful
scene and one we both love. to be
sure. but whin We see me ag'in yell be
lookin' on a man dressed loike gin
tleman. They say man can do any.
thing he loikes in that free land. and
mebbe OiIl be wearin' the wig and
gown Of a Judge or the uniform Of a
gineraL How would ye loike to see
me marshalin' a regiment o soJers'
Mebbe Orll be governor or president
Or somep'n loike that" -.
"Oh. Pat. We have sich wild dreamsr
Then Pat kissed her. took up bis
pack. slung It on to the other end OF a
STAFF and was about to set forth on
his Journey when Maggie handed him
an envelope.
"Its for me cousin Bridget. who
wint to Ameriky last year. She's WORK
h. in one O. the hotels in Ameriky."
(which wan?"
"Oi don't know. II ye don't foino
her the week afther landin' open II
and read what the writin' says"