THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 309, 4 January 1908, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

£ MATCH LV XUK k U* Miw VJiAittj lUI. &VaU jttH ohm father Kyan, you i. y&a that be «nt " i'rinui' im u aay, you'll know Uui wuiu *.» JtiS, i.u v« any slcui in seeing Itioj. <uuf«iicii>kic4 'lite Utbtf Id alivrt luu wwfUH u>v. ruuiul auuut, but nut an a» tiOi>j v. luitruldy. tie naa a brw.M, -aat i—abort neck, tad aquar* »ou«. >'««>> »».» ml are small and shape..., bi u«mn are not only small, u.. im.v •> *n lute woman's, and be Has •- W4V .mi*lij way of turning inus. aaao* wiw war t«e other upon bi» iun tncat, a* though lit) wen • »«y heljde», fßuaiae, and undty p«r>on. Amiai>kand Kindly Bo aouiH. he is, when it cum-* w be hatnleaf 1 ' aw-wow-wow, Uat it an t.nH atfttir entirely.

rather Uyat* hard, square head ia mi 5 B|M.a kM shoulders as though it were £>L>. u»fi* |o *{aj(,,#»d kit neck ia on* of iue ansa in Ike whole world that on aiawui wojjidtautk of trying to break, lae bark hts bead is a feature ui gnat exprawtua, and the meaiuug of n w—«ar. Were it not lor a tace a* fresh tad bland aa the laee oi a bkiude yuuug r leUaie aaint, father Kyan woutu pj-» for * belligerent person. Ihe exprts-i.m e l ' ui tia lacu aad haada eoutradicta all l■■ *. r dike p"*« about him. Ami then u< - [' gwit Manner, especially in hi» ap- •>• pftiwh Iw strangers, is as jmV idfc an t foot-jear-old child's. In lat-l, jjv tifaunner leeßMto confide ia the inmmmie tad good«e*s of every creature. n l ' I(is aot known to all people bow the ' reCgmw organiaation known an liie h BMM UUhoiie Church determines upou t tha beal itaeaa of the priesU aad tuist ajWllill it acak'to all puinU of Uie B 4hqjfam f bat it i» known by otwenration f ■ that it often iad* the proper man fur L f>e tight place. If thia work of pious 1 ■kdha wen done away off yonder in E. tfe Kniia city of Italy, aa aoaw perK.CIIpa tharga that it b, it would be bvtle HNiaß'then ■iraenloua. If done by the Ktletal bkhopa, IS perhaps it may tie, it PBykp«| » wondroua knowledge of men and

; Before Father Byan came quietly into Wr tough mining town, we had never

" •. llHwmi any auspicious religion) characUr imsing around lor a guapal ranch, fart auoe of us had ever taken ' Mhuwjkt to aak if any man in the cauip |W any religion of any kind; bat when "Attar Bjran came there he seemed to |htM>w all about it. lie called the people the faith together, or visited tht-iu >«W «t a time, and amoqg the first thing* we knew, he began with his own huaa, '"ai'ted by other*, to grade a | M apot ob one of the rock-faced hills Mneoadißg the-town. •When we stopped on our way to and fnm Work and asked: "What'ur goin' to pal lip?" the father, embracing liin shovel handle long enough to s«*m to be about to spit oa his gloved hands, stood up Ui replied: "A null edifice to the worship of God." j, . ' "Oh! church, eh!" <-"■"* Well, begging your pardon, hardly a ithareh; but a bit of a chapel just." "Wlu. dad?" i ' "Catholic." And the father went on (hoveling the loose earth and small ■ - nicks over the side of the grade as if had bo greater concern in the matter vfchan. the employment of his time until Kjtywmlowii. By-and-bye the chapel began _ . -to assume the form of a structure, j* ■ which, like each of the various hoisting works, looked down from its stony eniinf ,"«nee upon the town of cabins clustered Ub the hollow of the hills, f. When the house was roofed in, and BwlWlMlly complete, the irreverent wits kgi the camp dubbed it "Purgatory Works." ■S 1 The new title coming to the earn of Father Byan he smiled meekly and said: "Sue, it'a not a bad name at all; >- and, glory be to God, I've great hopes IU lie the means of hoisting many a poor aiml into eternal glory." It was ao eaay hatter to collect the i momej to pay for the religious building ; in oar camp, baeaoae we had all been so hug away from what are called religion* influences, and free from the su- , called restraints of divine grace, that we ! Uxwght sach notions superfluous. We i had seen oar fellows sicken and die, ur t die withoat being lc; we had cared : for, mined, or boried them without the "benefit of the clergy," til we were iu , a ggat degree emancipated from the L tdx-instituted guardianship of the piuui \ glte-keepers and tell-gatherers who inj-" test the journey through life. Full j'-many a hiuuh refusal and profane snub f feU to the lot of Father Uyan, he !; vent) from mine to mine on pay-days in it'" hfc effort to gather inte the treasury of i- the Lord a small part of the hard earnJ tiaad to cross the green cloth of the : gaming table, or disappear through the 5.; jitt of the bar-room counter, llut lii-t S "liieieucc * abated no jot of hi" humor, nor one iota of his perseverance, i Begnlarly during the first day after K eteiy pay-day he came up the pathway B toearh mine, pofling and complaining nf ■ dnrihess of breath, hat in hand, entiling K. jnqt li»»uiiog with'benevolence, and he B, if ever went empty away. E- . "it's a fearful atmosphere this, on K the hmg*," he would say; "it makes lie K fat bkjr a fat man in a fut-race." y "Oftell yon whatll cure ve of that." ■F"-vjnOeed, 1 wkth you would, then." - e / "Change 'shifts' with me for a month."

'f-'- "Iked I would, then, if 1 could beKilieTe that either of us could do the work ■ ? pf the other u it ought to be done; I'd Jake four advice and be glad to get it." "I'm afraid you'd peter, padn, in the t, lower levels..Mighty warm down theri." r \ "Fall well I know it's truth you're L jpakfor about the heat and hard labutir >. 4bwn below," said the father, with ftis : kindliest amile; "and I know I'm u<n o you in bouily powers; but there b atill a lower level, where it's not "!o : uy warm, but powerful hot, and I'm % fttmißg or utmost to keep yuu out 'ui J that." "Ail right, padre; if you can copper 7 hell we'll chum on the chips," and the jCfcud hand of the miner passed bis rcLSp«u contribution into the soft hand f of the priest. "I cannot say that I clearly comprehend your words, but your actions havr an elegance that moves nie to thank yo.i

Jimr and forever/' Tlnu went about the hills, pulijrvv " talking, and gathering the eoul-tax. The sr miners, with or without much regard t» . hi* religions exertions, came to like him i in a pale, mild, moderate sort of wuv. ,tut the came a time at last when "h* traits—or, as the miner, P ,iv t hiimelf " —in .-mil a way tUlt r their liking became almost enthusiastic. » The pay-days in the mine- in our <a uij) were from the Ist to the 4th of e;u-ii Vwath, bat in the year when l'atl«-r Bya» was building his chapel two of the largest works announced th.it their ■ Btofs wonkl pay off on the day before , Chrktma*, and shut down for' repairs daring the holidays. , Now,. -alxrar half-way between these shut-down mined and the town, there i *a« § Uttls swale in the hilMde at an 1 elbow in the road, in this little; tinb, and OB the level with the road-; ted, in enterprising spirit graded into I ooth level plai-e. i |ne front batf of this level, and' . rtlHiyilfe a()Q9t haH (lie space, th? man j dpjgtyfyfwo «*•***! what the p.x4* call Pljptffrl*. that h to nay. » pit; moath aVnhotk anil nicntithp of the magotta to anil fru between the j lises. It was a roii^li• HflKMjMßfl hufldmff. roofed with willow* I with rye-grass, and weighted with a coating of earth. The two ■MI IHted np against the rocky iiiile« graded nceu. The front w.n to architecture. nr.! *h< .*sß like the front, only instead of Un| any road-view, it formed one si.l pqoare unroofed tho.itri», the other Bjftfcof whirh was walled about by the, faTi of the naturnf rook. * Tfii-t bud a native rook flooring. and chipped smooth, for n> other than for ;» | of *forajre for empty fcarreN.' But shortly after the in | alcoholic entertainment in I aiM before the yard could be [ to it« intended n*e, there w,i' ; | wre«»tHnp lw>ut in t hi- i-on j ( but crude nreim. aiul tn»m tlu! , the hoii*? .md plare !«»• 'j for and wide anion*; 'he * ■m v the "Collar ; .nd Klbow." , and Elbow" t honc»ef<hrt si j j of fierce uyroiu>inm. at r atrenjfth were performconfined in the fVmr i\f lh" n'a«| re to fall or m di-heri upon: I PRt tfcrn the natumj/fein envelop* a j MtjJpaii V r «r*« Hi" Hfenrt ww ho«fiitahl]r. dfepeMing^^^Jj

egg-nog to its patrons, and the low log hou*c was full of noisy, brawny men, talking, gesticulating, drinking, smoking, and profaning the King's English artistically. Father.Ryan came beaming like a ?tout cherub into the irowd, autl, taking off his hat, said in a mellow, soft voire, as he laid the hat upon the end of the counter:

"A happy Sew Year to you, gentlemen, one and all, and many li.ippy re turns of the same."

"Hello, padre, come up and take a miner in a rough kindly way," looking inquiringly into the father's face, and laying a lraud gently on his shoulder.

" Itully for you, old man. Hive the |>adre a bumper o' nog. Damn the padre that can't stand in with the liojs." ' N-i, if you will excuse me," said the i'' • "it's not egg-nog I'll take,l>ut a g'.i— of wine. I've a poor head for mixed liquors." ".Ml right, padre—anything you like." The bar keeper, with a respect tempered, no doubt, l>v inherited regard for the ehureh, quietly passed the wine to the priest.

"llere's the recipient of the wiue was beginning to .-ay. "Stop your damn noiiie. The padre's goiu' io drink. Let's all jine liim." "lndet-d, then, I'm in hopes you will a.I joiu uie, nut here alone, but elsewhere.' -

'i.oud enough! The padre means to ineet ui all in the "sweet by-and-by.' That'» a damn line sentiment. Well drink un it. All fixed ? Here we go.' ~Nu», gentlemen," said Father liyan, after emptying his gla.--. and with his hat still on the counter, "if you'll kindly excuse me, 1 have a little business with each of yuu." "Well, well excuse you. What's the little business!" "Well, then, it's just this. I'm in sore need of a few more dollars to finish the house on the hill, and I'd be obliged to each of you if you'd put what you think you can spare into my hat there on the counter, aa a holiday contribution to the good cause." "See yer, boys, the padre wants to finish his h'istiu' works. Let's all chip in. There's mine," and the miner threw his half-doDaiK into the hat. The example was contagions; »uj the silver was piled into the hat. Father Ryan stood beaming on the boys as they contributed to bis holy store. "Hae everybody an teed? See yer, Xate," to a big-boned, American built man, who (at at tbe end of the board bench in the ocmcr, "come up and pool." "Xot if 1 know myself," said Xate sulkily. , "Cor fer him padre—speak a piece to him. Jerk a hunk o' hell lire at him. i Damn a man that won't ante for the gospel!"

The men turned about and faced the dissenting Nate, jeering and going at him.

"Oh, now, gentlemen, lie ai.-y." said his reverence with a light wave of the hand. "Kvery man lias a right to give or refuse as his feelings prompt him; and I'm thinking" it's not for regard ot the money* that the gentleman refuses to contribute. If I might I would ask him if lie does not think some kind of religion a good thing?" "lou can ask me anything you damn well please; but I'm not buildin' nicetin'houses."

"Do you not think they ought to be built!" said the father softly. "I don't care a damn whether they are built or not. I'm not in the business."*

"Wouldn't you give to a charity!" "Meetin'-houees are not charity." "I'll tell you what 111 do," said the priest, *'if you'll add ten dollars to tin■tinouil la iny hat, 111 agree to show you before next Sew Year's day, if yoa are alive, that it is \ charity, or I nil! on that day pay you back the money and two per cent, a month interest; or, if you die before that day, the money shall be paid towards your funeral expenses. .Come, now, what do you say!" "I don't say nothing to that. But I'll tell you what 111 do." "What?" asked his reverence. "I'll put np twenty dollars against any man's twenty that I can throw any man in the bouse, best two falls out of three, and if I lone, the money goes in the hat." "O-a-ah!" growled someone, '"yer don't want to challenge a priest, do ye!" " You can take it up it you want any of it." "I ain't no champion rustler, but I'll "Whist! Wait a moment," said Father Ryan, interrupting the speaker. Then turning to the challenger, who still sal in his corner: "When and where do you propose to wrestle!" I '•Right now, and right here, in the back yard, on the stone floor " " What hold!" "Collar and elbow." The men in the room became silent, n- thev stood watching and listening to ! the controversy. "IJentlemen," said Father Ryan, blandly, as he turned to the crowd, "if one among you will be kind enough to put up the money, with the help of (Jod I'll try my l»est to win it." "HereV your money," said the barkeeper, spanking the heavy gold twenty on the I>oard. ''And here's the mate of it," said Xate, rising from his place in the corner and striking a second twenty on top of the first. Now all was excitement. The eggnog was forgotten, whilst betting became the order of the hour. "Twenty dollars even that the padre wins! Damn if I don't bet my last dollar on religion every pop!" "Two' to one on Nate Smith—from ten dollars to a hundred.'' And so the shouting and buzzing went on with a vehemence and rapidity beyond the power of a written report. When it had somewhat worked off the lialx-l of its omfuMon and settled down, Father i!yrfh, in a business-like way, asked: "Who is to hold the stakes?" "Oh. let the bar-keep hold 'em," said Xate, carelessly. "What kind of shoes have you on!" ■>aid the father. And the knowing ones in the crowd winked wisely at each other, while the stalwart Xate turned up the heavy, hob-nailed, steel-lipped soles of his feet. "Has any one a pair of brogans, X'o. 7, steel toed, high in the instep, to leud | me!"

"Here they are. old man," said a respondent, a.-) he sat down on the to take them oil his feet. "All right," and the father his feet into the hard shoes. Then, stripping off hi- coat, ve-st, and outer shirt, he said: "I want now to borrow a stout, twilled blouse-jacket, or jumper, as I lielieve you call it—if eujncofie will I kindly oblige me." "'Will buckskin do, fatherV "\es, indeed. Any stout jacket which will give Illy friend a fair hold on my collar—something that will not tear out." "\er ye are," said a steamster, stripping off his buckxkin roundabout, and presenting it to the father. ' Vie i-.in't tear this more'n he'll freeze over."' , When father Ryan had donnied and ; buttoned the leather garment, he said: -Xow. I'm ready. Show mc the ground."' I Being marched with the pell-mell • crowd into the backyard, he rubbed the ironbound sole of his borrowed shoes orer the natural rock floor, and, smiling like a cherub in a leather jacket, said: 'it i* a cruel, hard place to fall—hard t* the in ni of pagan Kome." | The preliminaries lieing all nettled, the impromptu athletes stepped to the I centre, 'hook hands, and then sianding I front to front, took each other by the collar with one hand, and, and by the | elllow of each with each other kind, and the muscular liout began. * The collar-and-elliow wrestle fietween •killed contestants is really, so 10 speak, a fist fight with the feet. One would think in receiving the kicks of nailed feet that -hills would lie brokeir like pijie-teins. but it is not often; one wrestler is permitted to get a squaretoed kick upon the shins of the oilier, where there is science on both, sides. Hut really to describe the tripping, kicking, fending, foiling, ami muscular writing of the contestants on. this -New Year's Day in the stone ;imj>itheatre behind the log-saloon is not 5n the power of this or any other pen. But the result was that, after pr.jing „„ the lirink of alternate amf defeat. Vail- Smith went down, solid, on the lat .i|" his liack. taking care, Imwcver. O -liir.n his neck against a mounding ■ap of his conscious caliesa on the eter- 3 ill hard floor. •■Score „ne for the church!" shouted, Lin.iiin.' fellow in the crowd. "Iliirr.ih for the padre—he% a little | ' mil uitli lay on his hdrnfi!" ! "Ihiinfp-lint! ft-r-ev. too!" '•liintb-iion.' 1 -aid Father "Ryan. I'UtT ( it »'"i pan'inp violently, and half '- ni't the words, "will yees—oh- " :•* i"e—l>e standin? buck— to iri»e u« 0 Wt more «Ir—lt'* aear mothered I j 4

"Stand back! Everybody stand buck!" shouted the men at the front, <'har«iu« rearward upon the rear, " r "Vis; do stand bark. Lei us ] 1;1VB good ordlier throughout. Its Hairious business, and X hope there'll be no levity oil th' part o' thu spectators," slid the BOldier of the cross, whose biter ultoranees were les.s broken by reason of his getting what the popular voice called his • second wind.*'

Once again the stragglers came to the centre, and now again tin- conic,-t w,i> waged with all the vigor of the huni:<-i animal supplemented by that essence of immortality known as Uie im.... tc . kM second Iwut was even more warily worked through than the first—each man Itav'ng already tested the skill of the •itlicr -but it ended in a drawu battle, Initli men coming dowu with a terrific fall upon the hard floor. This time there were serious inquiries to know if either man was hurt.

_ "Hurt, is it? iw, unlade i am; but I'm not injured." "I'm not injured either, but I've got as much of the thing us I want at pre sent," said Xate, and then added, "we'll postpone the other fall 'til next Xew Vear's."

"Xo, we wont!" shouted the crowd, "that's a dead give away." "All right, boyri. I'atlier I'yan, are you ready!" said Xate. "Ready, please Cod," and he stepped to his place. "I'm here among the tigers, like an early martvr in the am phitheatre." Xate extended his hand, which lbmartyr grasjied good-naturedlv. but instead of taking hold of his collar. Xate. holding the prion! still by the liaml. turned to the crowd and said:

"Itoys. here's a man that lias thioweil me onee, and 'tied' me once. I've done my level best to save niy own monev and to win his, but it can't be done. The best I can do is to fall with him. I throw up the sponge. The goes in the hat." At this speech (here was cheering and grumbling, but the cheers predominated.

"Centlemcn," said the father, resuming instantly the educated tone, "my opponent has acted throughout t!]]'•; js „fc like a Christian k..! and a'chivalrous spirit, and 1 wish to s«y that, if there is any dissatisfaction with his conclusions, I will waive any claim that 1 may have upon the sum of money as issue in this wager; and, further, if he is willing, wo will, turn and turn about, wrestle with any dissatisfied person or persons—one at a time, of course—until there is no shadow of complaint of unfairness. But 1 want it understood that all we both »arn goes into the hat."

"I'm willin'," said Nate, "and I'm agreeable to that last prop., but my twenty goes into the hat all the same and no more jaw-bone al)out it." There being no takers of the last proposition. the wrestlers resumed their ordinary garments. The egg-nog drinking began while the priest, after stowing the collected money away in his various pockets, placed hix hat upon his head, took another light glass of wine in compliment to the season, then shook hand all round, and said: "(ientlemen, let your mirth be seasoned with moderation, all your contests with kindness, and so strive, in season and out, that all your days shall produce good citizenship. lam deeply obliged to you for the hearty fairness and squareness of my reception to-day. (ioodbye."

It is needless to say that the 'bit of a chapel" was entirely finished, and that Nate Smith, with "the boys," drops in now and then on Sunday—"not," as he says, "that I care a damn for the allelujah in I-atin, but just to give the padre a send-off."