ページの画像
PDF
ePub

HOW TO SAVE ONE'S BACON.

EARLY one fine morning, as Terence O'Fleary was hard at work in his potatoe-garden, he was accosted by his gossip, Mick Casey, who he perceived had his Sunday clothes on.

"God's 'bud! Terry, man, what would you be afther doing there wid them praties, an Phelim O'Loughlin's berrin' goin' to take place? Come along, ma bochel! sure the praties will wait ?"

"Och! no," sis Terry, "I must dig on this ridge for the childer's breakfast, an' thin I'm goin' to confession to Father O'Higgins, who holds a stashin beyont there at his own house." "Bother take the stashin !" sis Mick, "sure that 'ud wait too." But Terence was not to be persuaded.

Away went Mick to the berrin'; and Terence, having finished "wid the praties," as he said, went down to Father O'Higgins, where he was shown into the kitchen, to wait his turn for confession. He had not been long standing there, before the kitchen fire, when his attention was attracted by a nice piece of bacon, which hung in the chimney-corner. Terry looked at it again and again, and wished the childer "had it at home wid the praties."

"Murther alive!" says he, "will I take it? Sure the priest can spare it; an it would be a rare thrate to Judy an' the gorsoons at home, to say nothin' iv myself, who hasn't tasted the likes this many's the day." Terry looked at it again, and then turned away, saying "I won't take it-why wou'd I, an' it not mine, but the priest's? an' I'd have the sin iv it, sure! I won't take it," replied he, "an' it's nothin' but the Ould Boy himself that's timptin' me! But sure it's no harm to feel it, any way," said he, taking it into his hand, and looking earnestly at it; "Och! it's a beauty; and why wouldn't I carry it home to Judy and the childer? An' sure it won't be a sin afther I confesses it !"

Well, into his great coat pocket he thrust it: and he had scarcely done so, when the maid came in and told him that it was his turn for confession.

"Murther alive! I'm kilt and ruin'd, horse and foot, now, joy, Terry; what'll I do in this quandary, at all, at all? By gannies! I must thry an' make the best of it, any how," says he to himself, and in he went.

He knelt to the priest, told his sins, and was about to receive absolution, when all at once he seemed to recollect himself, and cried out

"Oh! stop-stop, Father O'Higgins, dear! for goodness sake, stop! I have one great big sin to tell yit; only sir, I'm frightened to tell id, in the regard of never having done the like afore, sur, niver !"

66

Come," said Father O'Higgins, "you must tell it to me." "Why, then, your Riverince, I will tell id; but, sir, I'm ashamed like ?"

"Oh, never mind! tell it," said the priest.

"Why, then, your Riverince, I went out one day to a gintleman's house, upon a little bit of business, an' he bein' ingaged, I was shewed into the kitchen to wait. Well, sur, there I saw a beautiful bit iv bacon hanging in the chimbly-corner. I looked at id, your Riverince, an' my teeth began to wather. I don't know how it was, sur, but I suppose the Divil timpted me, for I put it into my pocket; but, if you plaze, sur, I'll give it to you," and he put his hand into his pocket.

"Give it to me!" said Father O'Higgins; "no, certainly not; give it back to the owner of it."

"Why, then your Riverince, sur, I offered id to him, and he wouldn't take id."

"Oh! he wouldn't, wouldn't he?" said the priest ; take it home, and eat it yourself, with your family."

"then

"Thank your Riverince kindly!" says Terence, "an' I'll do that same immediately, plaize God: but first and foremost, I'll have the absolution, if you plaize, sir."

Terence received absolution, and went home rejoicing that he had been able to save his soul and his bacon at the same time.

HAMLET'S MEDITATION ON DEATH.

To be, or not to be, that is the question,
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer,
The stings and arrows of outrageous fortune;
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them;-to die-to sleep-
No more ; and, by a sleep, to say we end
The heart-ache, and a thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to-'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die?-to sleep?

To sleep?-perchance, to dream.-Ay, there's the rub?
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause; there's the respect,

That makes calamity of so long life:

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To groan and sweat under a weary life;
But that the dread of something after death-
The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns-puzzles the will,

And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment,
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.

SHAKSPEARE.

THE WOLF AND THE MASTIFF.

A WOLF that long had ranged the wood,

A stranger to the taste of food,

Met an old mastiff, sleek and fat

Each known to each they stop and chat.

"Lord!" say the wolf, "how plump you've grown; Is that round belly all your own?

Pray how d'ye live, and what d'ye eat?

I wish you'd give me your receipt ;

For, not to underrate your merit,
I think, my friend, I don't want spirit
To attack the foe by day or night,
And yet you see my wretched plight!"
"Why," quoth the dog, with conscious air,
"My place requires a world of care;
If you desire to serve the great,
Faith! you must work as well as eat ;-
Preferments are not given for nought,
But by some useful service bought."

"Why what service, then, will be expected?
No honest terms should be rejected."
"Why you must watch the doors by night,
Bark at the thieves,-The beggars fright."
"Oh! I should bless that happy change,

For who'd wish through rain and snows to range?

Who snug and warm could take his pleasure,

And fill his belly at his leisure ?"

[ocr errors]

"Well then," says snap, "since 'tis agreed,
Let us with gentle trot proceed."

When lo! the wolf's too curious eye,

Chanced the poor mastiff's neck to spy,-
Gall'd with a chain beneath his ear.

"Ah! ah!" cried he, "what have you there?"
"Nothing," said snap, and turned aside,
"Nay, let's know all," the wolf replied.

Why, as I'm pretty fierce you know,
They chain me up a day or so;

My master's whim-I can't refuse it ;-
There's nothing in't-indeed, I choose it ;-
For as I'm useless while 'tis light,

I sleep by day and bark by night.

When night comes on my chain's unbound,
And then I rove the country round.
As for my meat, I'm well supplied
At table by my master's side;
The servants toss me bones half-pick'd,
And lord! what plates of sauce I've lick'd!
But, come,-what now? you lag behind,"-
"Why, faith I think I've chang'd my mind.
I don't much like that galling chain,
So think I'll range the woods again ;-
Enjoy your scraps, for I'd not be

A king without my liberty."

FUNERAL AT SEA.

(An original Recitation, by S. Bartlett.)

THE sun had just risen, and not a cloud appeared to obstruct his rays-a light breeze played on the bosom of the ocean-the stillness of the morning was only disturbed by the ripple of the waters; it seemed as if the calm and noiseless spirit of the deep was brooding over the waters-the national flag, displayed half way down the royal mast, played in the breeze, unconscious of its solemn import; the vessel seemed tranquil as the element on whose surface she moved-she knew not the sorrows that were in her own bosom, and seemed to look down on the briny expanse beneath her, in all the confidence and security of strength. To the minds of her brave crew it was a morning of gloom; they had been boarded by the angel of death, and the forecastle now contained all that was mortal of his victim-his soul had fled to its final audit. They grouped around the windlass, and were left to their own reflections. The hardy sons of the ocean mingled their sympathies with each other:

they seemed to think of their own mortality-Conscience was at her post-they spoke of the virtues of their deceased messmate, of his honesty, his sensibility, his generosity ; one remembered to have seen him share the last dollar of his hard earned wages with a distressed shipmate. All could attest his liberality-they spoke too of his accomplishments as a sailor, of the nerve of his arm and the intrepidity of his soul; they had all seen him in the hour of danger, when the winds of heaven were let loose in all their fury, and destruction was on the wing, seize the helm, and hold the ship securely within his grasp till the danger was passed by.

They could have indulged longer in their reveries, but they were summoned to prepare for the rites of the sepulchre, and pay the last honour to their dead companion. Then the work of preparation commenced with heavy hearts and many a sigh -a rude coffin was soon constructed, and the body was deposited within it-all was ready for the final scene. The main hatches were his bier, a spare sail was his pall; his surviving comrades, in their tar-stained habiliments, stood around ; all were silent; the refreshing breeze mourned through the cordage, the main topsail was hove to the mast, the ship paused on her course, the funeral service began; his body was committed to the deep-the knell of the ship's bell was heard-I heard the plunge of the coffin-I saw the tears start from the eyes of the generous tars-my soul melted within me, as I reverted to the home scenes of him whom we had buried in the deep-to hopes that were to be dashed with woe, to joys that were to be drowned with lamentation.

THE MAIL COACH.

TUNE---The Country Club.

COME listen to my story;
Now seated in my glory,

We make no longer stay:
A bottle of good sherry
Has made us all quite merry,
Let Momus rule the day;
We hearty all and well are,
Drive to the White Horse Cellar,

Get a snack before we go

Bring me a leg of mutton,
I'm as hungry as a glutton-

Some gravy soup-hollo!

« 前へ次へ »