Part 12 (2/2)

”Saints above!--the Lord forgive me for bringin' down their names upon a Christmas Eve, but it's beside himself the man is! an' him knows that the phaties wor boiled an' made up into b.a.l.l.s for them airly this mornin'!”

In the meantime, the wife's good-natured attack upon her husband produced considerable mirth in the family. In consequence of what she said, he hesitated: but ultimately was proceeding towards the door, when the daughter returned, her brow flushed, and her eye sparkling with mirth and delight.

”Ha!” said the father, with a complacent smile, ”all's right, Peggy, you seen him, alanna. The music's in your eye, acushla; an' the' feet of you can't keep themselves off o' the ground; an' all bekase you seen Barny Dhal (* blind Barney) pokin' acra.s.s the fields, wid his head up, an'

his skirt stickn' out behind him wid Granua Waile.” (* The name of his fiddle)

The father had conjectured properly, for the joy which animated the girl's countenance could not be misunderstood.

”Barny's comin',” she exclaimed, clapping her hands with great glee, ”an' our Frank wid him; they're at the river, and Frank has him on his back, and Granua Waile undhor his arm! Come out, come out! You'll die for good, lookin' at them staggerin' acra.s.s. I knew he'd come! I knew it! and be good to thim that invinted Christmas; it's a brave time, faix!”

In a moment the inmates were grouped before the door, all anxious to catch a glimpse of Barny and Granua Waile.

”Faix ay! Sure enough.. Sarra doubt if it! Wethen, I'd never mistrust Barny!” might be heard in distinct exclamations from each.

”Faith he's a Trojan,” said the _farithee_, an' must get las.h.i.+ns of the best we have. Come in, childher, an' red the hob for him.

”'Och, Christmas comes but wanst a year, An' Christmas comes but wanst a year; An' the divil a mouth Shall be friends wid drouth, While I have whiskey, ale, or beer.

Och, Christmas comes but wanst a year, An' Christmas comes but waust a year; Wid han' in han', An' can to can, Then Hi for the whiskey, ale, and beer.

Och, Christmas comes but wanst a year, An' Christmas comes but wanst a year; Then the high and the low Shall shake their toe, When primed wid whiskey, ale, an' beer.'

For all that, the sorra fig I care for either ale or beer, barrin' in regard of mere drouth; give me the whiskey, Eh, Alley--won't we have a jorum any how?”

”Why, thin,” replied the wife, ”the devil be from me (the cra.s.s about us for namin' him) but you're a greater _Brinoge_ than some of your childher! I suppose its your capers Frank has in him. Will you behave yourself, you old slingpoke? Behave, I say, an let me go. Childher, will you help me to flake this man out o' the place? Look at him, here, caperin' an' crackin' his fingers afore me, an' pullin' me out to dance!”

”Och, och, murdher alive,” exclaimed the good man out of breath, ”I seen the day, any way! An', maybe, could show a step or two yet, if I was well fixed. You can't forget ould times, Alley? Eh, you thief?”

”Musha, have sinse, man alive,” replied the wife, in a tone of placid gravity, which only betrayed the pleasure she herself felt in his happiness. ”Have sinse, an' the strange man comin' in, an' don't let him see you in such figaries.”

The observation of the good woman produced a loud laugh among them.

”Arrah what are yez laughing at?” she inquired.

”Why, mother,” said one of her daughters ”how could Barny _Dhal_, a blind man, see anybody?”

Alley herself laughed at her blunder, but wittily replied, ”Faith, avourneen, maybe he can often see as nately through his ear as you could do wid your eyes open; sure they say he can hear the gra.s.s growin'.”

”For that matther,” observed the farithee, joining in the joke, ”he can see as far as any of us--while we're asleep.”

The conversation was thus proceeding, when Barney _Dhal_ and young Frank M'Kenna entered the kitchen.

In a moment all hands were extended to welcome Barney: ”_Millia failte ghud_, Barny!” ”_Cead millia failte ghud_, Barny!” ”Oh, Barny, did you come at last? You're welcome.” ”Barny, my Trojan, how is every cart-load of you?” ”How is Granua Waile, Barny?”

”Why, thin, holy music, did you never see Barny _Dhal_ afore? Clear off from about me, or, by the sweets of rosin, I'll play the devil an' brake things. 'You're welcome, Barny!'--an' 'How are you, Barny?' Why thin, piper o' Moses, don't I know I'm welcome, an' yit you must be tellin' me what everybody knows! But sure I have great news for you all!”

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