The Wise Thought

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 674, 7 October 1876, Page 6 (Supplement)

The Wise Thought

She was ■sitting under the shadow of a fragrant lime tree limt overhung a very ancient well ; and, a1?a 1 ? the water fell into her pitcher, sht> wa-? mingling with its music ttie tones of her 'Jews harp,' the only instrument upon which Norah Olary had learned to play. She was a merry maiden of 'sweet seventeen, a fustic belle, as well as a rustic beauty, and a terrible coquette ; and as she had what in Scotland they call a 'totiher,' in England a ' dowry,' and in Ireland a ' pretty penny 0 monpy.' it is scarcely necessary to state in addition, that she had — a bachelor. Whether the tune— which was certainly given in alto — was or was not designed as a summons to her lover, I cannot t iko upon myself to say ; but her lips and fingers had not been long occupied, before her lover was at her side. 'We may as well give it up, Morris Donovan,' she said somewhat abruptly ; 1 look, 'twould be easy to twist the top off the great hill of Howth, as make father and mother agree about any one thing. They've been playing the rule of contrary these twenty years, and it's not likely thft'U take a turn now.' It's mighty hard, so it is,' replied handsome Morris, ' that marri d people can't draw together. c Norah, darlint ! that woulden'fc be the way with us. It's one we'd be in heart and sowl and an example of lore and ■■■■ ' , .* Folly,' interupted the maiden, laughing ' Morris, Morris, we've quarelled a score o' times already ; and a bit of a breeze makes life all the pleasantor. Shall I talk about the merry jig I danced with Phil Kennedy, or repeat what Mark Doolen said of me to Mary Grey ? — eh, Morris ?' ' Leaving joking now, Norry ; God only knows how I love you,' he said, in a voice broken by emotion : ' I'm yer equal as far as money goes; and no young farmer in the country can tell a better stock to his share than mine ; yet I don't pretend to dcse p ye you for all that ; only I can't help saying that, when we love each other (now, don't go to contradict me, Norry, because ye've as good as owned it over again), and yer father agreeable, and all, to think that yer mo her, just out of divilment, should Dp putting betwixt us for no reason upon earth, only to ' spite ' her lawful husband, is what sets me mad entirely, and shows her to be a good-for — ' Stop, Mister Morris,' exclaimed Norah, laving her hand upon his mouth, so as effectually to prevent a sound escaping it's aiY mother ye're talking of, and it would be ill-blood, as well as ill-bred, to hear a word said against an own parent. Is that the pattern of yer manners, sir, or did ye ever hear me turn my tongue aginst one belonging to you? • I ask yer pardon, my own Norah,' he replied meekly, as in duty bound ; ' for the sake of the lamb, we spare the sheep, Why not p and I'm not going to gainsay, but yer mother ' ' The least raid's the soonest mended I, again interrupted the impatient girl' ' Good even, Morris, and God bless you \ the} 'll be after missing me within, and it's little mother thinks where I am.' ' Norah, above all the girls at wake or pattern, I've been true to you. We have grown together, and since ye were the height of a rose-bush, ye have been dearer to me thpn anything pise on oarth. Do. Norah, for the sake of our young hearts' love, do think if there's no way lo win yer mother over. If ye'd take me without her leave, sure it's nothing I'd care for the loss of thousands, let alone what ye've got. Dearest Norah, think ; since you'll do nothing without her consent, do think — for once be serious, and. don't laugh.' ' I'm not going to laugh, Morns,' replied the little maid at last, after a very long pause ; ' I've got a wise thought in my head for once. His reverence, your uncle, you say, spoke to father — to speak to mother about it ? I wonder (and he a priest) that he had'nt more sense! Sure, mother was the m:in ; but I've got a wise thought. Good night, dear Morns ; good night.' The lass sprang lightly over the fenc, into her own garden, leaving her lover perdu at the other side, without possessing an idea of what her ' wise thought' might be. When she entered the kitchen matters were going on as usual — nor mother bustling in style, and as cross ' as a bag of weaels.' The mother began : 'Jack Clary,' said she, addressing herself to her husband, who sat quietly in the chimney-corner smoking his doodcen, ' it's well ye'vo got a wife who knows what's what ! God help me ! I've little good of a husband, barring the name ! Are ye sure Black Nell's iti the stable?' The sposo nodded. ' The cow and the calf, had they fresh straw P' Another nod. ' Bad cess to ye, can't ye use yer tongue, and answer a civil question? continued the lady. 'My dear,' ho replied, ' sure one like you has enough talk for ten.' This very just observation was, like most truths, so disagreeable, that a severe storm would have followed, had not Norah stepped up to her father and whispered in his ear, ' I don't think the stable door is fastened.' Mrs Clary caught the sound, and in no gentle terms ordered her husband to attend to the comforts of Black Nell. • I'll go with, father myself and see,' said Norak. 'That's like my own child, always careful,' observed the mother, as the father and daughterclosed the door. ' Dear father,' began Norah, ' it isn't altogether about the stable I wanted ye, but — but— the priest said something to you to-day about — Morris Donovan. • Yes, darling, and about yerself, my nwcot Norry.' ' Did ye speak to mother about it P' • No, darling, she's been so cross all day, Sure I go through a dalo for peaco and quietness. If I was liko other men, and got drunk and wasted, it might be in rason; but—. As to Morris, she was very fond of the boy till she found that I liked him ; and then, my jewel, she turned like sour milk all in a minute. I'm afraid even the priest '11 get no good of her,' ' Father, dear father,' said Norah, ' suppose ye were to say nothing about it, good or bad, and just pretend to take a sudden dislike to Morns, aud let the priest j speak to her himself, she'd come round.' \ ' Out ot opposition to me, eh P' 1 Yes.' ' And lot her gain the day then ? — that would bo cowardly,' replied th« farmer, drawing himself up. No, I wont.' 'Father, dear, you don't understand, ' said the canning lass ; ' sure ye're for Morris j snd when we are — that is, if— l

moan— suppose— father, yon know what! mean,' she continued, "and luckily thetwilight concealed her blushes — ' if that took place, it's you that would have ye* own way.' ' True for tp, Norry. my girl, true for ye ; I ncrer thought of that before !' and, pleased with the idea of trickinc'his wife, the old man fairly capered for JO7. ' But stay a while — stay ; aisy, aisy !' he recommenced ; 'how am Ito manage ? Sure the priest himself will bo here to-morrow morning early ; and he's out upon a station now, so there's no speaking with him ; ho'fl no way quick either; we'll bo bothered entirely if he comes in on a suddent.' • Leave it to mo, dc&f firtber— leave it all to me !' exclaimed the animated girl ; only pluck up a spirit, ant! whenever Morris's name is mentioned, abase him — but not with all yer heart, father--oaly from the teeth out.' When they re-entered, the fresh-boiled" patatoes set a warm curling stenm to the very rafters of the lofty kitchen; they were poured out into a large wicker kish, and on the top of the pile rested a plate of coarse white salt ; noggins of butter milk were filled on the dresser ; and on a small ■ roilnd table a cloth was spread, and some ; delf plates awaited the more delicate : repast which the farmer's wife was herself 1 preparing. ' What's for supper, mother ?' inquired 1 Nnrah, as she drew her wh eel toward s her T and employed her fairy foot in whirling is round. ' Plaguy snipeens,' she replied : ' bits c> bog chickens, that you're always such a fancy for ; Barney Leary kilt them him- • self.' 'So I did,' said Barney, grinning ; ' and that stick wid a hook, of Morris Donovan's, 1 is the finest thing in the world for knock1 ing 'tin down. 1 ' 'If Morris Donovan's stick touched 1 them, they shan't come here,' said the 1 farmer, striking the poor little table such a blow with his clenched hand, as made 1 not only it, but Mrs Clary jump. 1 ' And why so, pray ?' asked the dame. ' Because nothing belonging to Morris, • let alone Morris himself, shall come into '■ this house,' replied Clary ; ' he's not to my 1 liking anyhow, and there's no good in iiis < bothering here after what he wont get,' ' 'Excellent!' thought Norah. ' Lord save us !' ejaculated Mrs Clary, as she placed the grilled snipes on the table, ' what's come to the man ?' Without heeding his resolution, she was ; proceeding to distribute the savoury ' birdeens,' when, to her astonishment, her usually tame husband threw the dish and its contents into the flames ; the good 1 woman absolutely stood for a moment aghast. The calm, however, was not of long duration. She soon rallied, and commenced hostilities : ' How dare you, ye spalpeen, throw away any of God's • mate after that fashion, and Ito the fore ? What do you mane, I say ?' ' I mane, that nothing touched by Morris Donovan shall come under this roof; and if I catch that girl of mine looking at the same side 0' the road he walks on, I'll tear the eyes out of her head, and send her to a nunnery !' • You will,! And dare you to say that to my face, to a child o' mine ! You will, will ye ?— we'll see, my boy! I'll tell ye what, it'l like, Morris Donovan shall come into this house ; and what's more, be master of this house; and that's what you never had the heart to be yet, ye poor ould snail !' So saying, Mrs Clary endeavoured to rescue from the fire the hissing remains of the burning snipes. Norah attempted to assist her mother ; bat Clary, lifting her up, somewhat after the fashion of an eagle raising a golden wren with its claw fairly put her out of the kitchen. This was the signal for fresn hostilities. Mrs Clary stormed and stamped ; and Mr Clary persisted in abusing not only Morris, but Morris's uncle, Father Donovan, until at last the farmer's helpmato swore, ay, and roundly too, by cross and saint, that before the next sunset, Norah Clary should bo Norali Donovan. I wish you could have seen Worry's eye, dancing with joy and exultation, as it peeped through the latchhole ; it sparkled more brightly than the richest diamond in our monarch's crown, for it was filled with hope and love. The next morning, before the sun was fully up, he was throwing his early beams over tho glowing cheek of Norah Clary ; for her ' wise thought' had prospered, and she was hastening to the trysting tree, where, 'by chance,' either morning or erening.she generally me tMorrin Donovan, I don't know how it is, but the moment the course of true lore 'runs smooth,' it becomes very uninteresting, except to the parties concerned. So it is now left for me only to say, that the maiden, after a due and proper time consumed in teazing and tantalising her intended, told him her saucy plan, and its result. And the lover hastened, upon the wings of love (which I beg my readers clearly understand are swifter and stronger in Ireland than in any other country), to apprise the priest of the arrangement, well knowing that his reverence loved his nephew, and niece that was to be (to say nothing of the wedding supper, and tho profits arising therefrom); too well, not to aid their merry jest. What bustle, what preparation, what feasting, what dancing, gave the country folk enough to talk about during the happy Christmas holidays, I cannot now describe. Tho bride of course looked lovely, and ' sheepish ;' and tho bridegroom — but bridegrooms are always uninteresting. One fact, however, is worth recording. When father Donovan concluded tho ceremony, before the bridal kiss had passed, Farmer Clary, without any reason that his wife "could discover, most indecorously sprang up, seized a shilelah of stout oak, and, whirling it rapidly over his head, shoutpd, ' Car«"y me out ! by the p»w«rs she's beat ! we've won the day !— ould Ireland for ever ! Suocesi, boys !—! — she's boat, shVs beat !' The priest, too, seemed vastly to enjoy this extemporaneous effusion, and even the bride laughed outright. Whether the good wife discovered the plot or not, I never heard ; but of this I am certain, that the joyous Norah never had reason to repent her ' wise thought.'

Tho genuine pig whistle appears at the Great Exposition. It is a whistlo built out of one of the ertorraitics of pork : in short, a whistle from a pork's tail, and is awarded a prominent place in the pavilion. ' Nothfqg,' says Emerson, 'is impossible to one that wills.'