The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 27 September 1906, Page 3

The Storyteller

THADY OBRIEN'S FORTUNE

Dr. O'Rourke had just returned from a professional call one biting December morning: On alighting from his carriage he caught the eyes of his daughter, as she stood at the front . window, riveted on some object at his 'horse's head," with- an expression of countenance in which " pity and mirth seemed to be struggling for the ascendency. Turning round to see .what thus- attracted her attention, the doctor perceived ..a little ragged and bare-footed boy hanging at the bit of his horse} with~ an air of as resolute a determination to hold on as if he had seized Bucephalus by the head-stall. ' Hallo ! you little omadhaun,' he cried, ' who pays you' to hold a horse that wouldn't run if you whipped him? ' - . ~? 'Is it me ye mane, sir? It's the -less' trouble" ! to hlold^him, then, if .he won't run,' said the<boy ; 'an'- it^our honor_ should forget to- -gimme. the sixpence, I'm no poorer than I was- before ! ' 'Ho ! ho ! '- said the doctor; • it's - a. wit, we have ! Here, Tom,' to the groom, who had come upon the" scene, ' turn the horse into the stable and this little Arab into the kitchen, and administer some hot coffee with rolls, and half a pound of chops.' • ■ - 'Sure, that will not be bad to -take,' said the urchin, following the groom. ' Your honor has the name of the best doctor in the country. 1 Dr. O'Rourke, at his comfortable breakfast with his | family, soon forgot that such a being as Thady O^Brien existed ; but his daughter Lucy, who had youth and charity on her side, descended to the kitchen -to seeu for herself how the shivering little boy looked after a warm breakfast. On her return she said : ' Well, father, your little patient says he is ready to go now.' ' - v v.f ! 'Patient? Oh, the little rogue I. sent into" the kitchen for his breakfast! Well, why doesn't ~~ J he - go\ then ?' _-„... ' Because, he says, you would never forgive hinr if he left without paying his respects. Biddy says he has kept the kitchen in an uproar-of laughter.' 'Ho ! ho ! Well, we might as well have a laugh, too. Have him passed up, Lucy.' ' Now, then,' said the doctor, affecting a very stern look as Thady awkwardly bowed into the room; ' now, then, young man, what do you wish to see me for ?' * ' I'm entirely too much like yourself "to forget that, your honor. Sure, you don't give up a case till you're regularly discharged.' 'Indeed!' said the doctor, laugffing' heartily. 'Pray what -have you been doing' all your little life ?' " Oh, sometimes wan thing, an' sometimes anothier, sir. ' ' But what- were you doing last ?' ' Ateing me breakfast at your, honor's expense.' Lucy now laughed, but' her mother, who had been looking with pity at the lad's unprotected feet, brought forward a pair of one of the • children's shoes and bade Thady put them on.- - ' On, millia muther ! ' shouted Thady, throwing^ up his hands with well-feigned horror." 'Is it me mother's son would do the likes o1o 1 that ? ' ' What is it you would not do, pray ? ' the docj tor sternly asked. ' There's many things I wouldn't do, your honor,' looking roguishly -round the little' circle,' 'an' wan o'them -is to disgrace- the shoes, of a son o' your honor's by puttin' me naked feet into them. -Sure, they never saw. the like.' > "-" • ' What is your name, and where do you live ? Have you a father, mother, sisters, brothers ? " Have you a place, or do you want one ? ' asked the dbc"tor, rattling one question after the -other, in order, ■ if possible, to . confuse the young hopeful. • Thaddeus O'Brien, Blind Alley,' answered Thady, * putting his hands behind htm and standing erect. ' No, sir. Yes, your honor. Five o1o 1 them. No, sir. I wish I had: If your honor would only try me'. 1 s ' Are you really in distress or only shamming ? ' the doctor inquired after a~half a dozen of 'Ho! ho's ! ' at the lad's ready wit. " \ ' Maybe I shammed hunger, your honor,' said .Thady. 'Ask Biddy if I ate any, breakfast ; then go "an' ask me mother an T five sisters when it was that they took mate enough off the table to feed six—after they had done.' ' Another hint, Mrs. Ojßourke,' said the doctor, smiling. Just fill a basket for this original.' . *

* Thady was soon fitted - out "with shoes, warm f/Sbcks, and a basket of broken food. "' ' Now,' said the. doctor, ' will you be sure and come back to-morrow morning ? ' ' Will a duck swim, ydlur honor 1 Will a fly came back to the treacle ? ' •Be sure, then, and bring home the basket,' said Mrs. O'Rourke. ' I'll do that, me lady, an' I'll do another thing too,' said Thady, making his best bow as he backed out of the room,- wishing them all ' the top o' the morning. ' Thady O'Brien, on the whole, left a good impression on the doctor's family. The doctor was captivated by his ready wit ; the wife and daughter pitied his evident though uncomplaining destitution. The key to the little living enigma, in a word, beyond which no city reader will need any explanation —Thady was, or rather Had been, a " newsboy ' ; as such he had acquired development for the natural aptitude of his tongue — as he had learned the readiness of reply and keenness of repartee which astonished the doctor's household. Thady 's father had died but a short time previously, after a long illness, which had eaten up the small earnings of the little family and sent their moveables, one by one, to the pawnbroker's. Contemptible as these poor chattels seemed, every sixpence is a treasure to the suffering poor, and the widow O'Brien was looking in vain for some article convertible into cash, though ever so trifling, when Thady arrived with his basket of provisions. v "Oh, Thady, dear,' said his mother, as she spread out the food on the table before the famished children, "ye must have begged hard to get all this.' ' Sorry a bit, then, did I get beggin',' answered the boy. ' I told them me mother an' five sisters were starving with cold an' famishin' with hunger, an' begged for a penny or two to buy them bread; but the people either pushed me aside an' looked "You lie!" or told me so, an' done with it. At last,' and here the little fellow stood up proudly, 'I tried another way for it.' 1 You didn't stale, Thady ? ' cried his mother, looking frightened. ' An' ye have shoes an 1 stockings to your feet, too ! That it should ever come to this ! ' 1 Is it me own mother that asks me that ? ' said Thady, his eyes glistening with tears of pride and sorrow. ' No, I didn't stale, mother. I shamed l a rich an' good-natured man out o' what he^TP never miss— an' look how it helps the childer ! Take a-hoult yourself, mother. I've had me breakfast— an', by the same token, the same man is good for to-morrow.' A rude knock at the door interrupted Thady. 1 Come, Mrs. O'Brien,' said an equally rude man, entering the little room abruptly ; 'if you can't pay your rent, it is high time that you made way for those who can. Three weeks behind time, terms weekly in advance. It is a hard loss to us, but we shall have to put up with it, I suppose, and let you go scot-free.' ' Let us go ! Where are we to go to ? ' 1 Well, that's your own lookout, you know. We can't harbor you rent free any longer, at any rate. What, Thady, comfortable shoes and stockings, eh ? You've improved on yesterday. You must be' fitted out, I suppose, whether your mother's debts are paid or not.' 1 Troth, sir,' said Thady, a little angrily, ' they worn't bought ; they're a free gift, an' made by a man who don't grudge you your shoes, nor the heart o' the man who stands in 'em. 1 1 Hoity-toity, little Thady bantam ! I meant no harm, I'm sure,' said the man, provoked, but ashamed to betray it. ' You might as well have begged money to, keep a house over your head aS" shoes for your feet, while your hand was in.' •Beggars can't be choosers,' said Thady, with provoking calmness. •If they could, we shouldn't be your tenants.' ' I'll choose for ye,' said the man, - now thoroughly enraged. ' Don't let me find you here to-morrow. If 1 do, the whole troop of you shall be bundled oft to the, poorhouse— except you, sir, and you shall be sent to a reformatory.' 1 Maybe ye think ye carry the keys of all them places in your pocket,' said Thady as he shut the door after him. A gentleman of some" five-and-twenty years, handsome and cheerful, entered a few moments later. 1 Hey-day, good people ! All in the dumps. Who's sick ? • he said. ti 'No wan, sir,' said Thady. - 'No? But you all will be if . you don't keep warmer. Come, Mrs. O'Brien, tell us all about it.' Thady told him. 'One, two, three, four shillings, is' it ? ' said the newcomer. • Well, I can't afford to give you that.

.But . I'll tell you what, my little man, I'll lend you five— four for the rent and one for capital- to "start you afresh on.' , Thady and his mother overwhelmed him with thanks, whioh he ~ did not stop to hear, but was off before the widow could reach him, she %'ould " certainly have thrown ' herself at His feei and- clasped his knees. 'Come, father,' said Lucy O>'Rourke the next morning, 'do lay down that prosy pamphlet and come to breakfast. You are too old a man to be so completely swallowed up by the shop. You care more for a gallipot than for your breakfast, and would rather read a tedious old medical periodical than see your family. It is too bad ; confess now, isn't it ?' The good doctor smiled with arch meaning" as he laid aside his magazine and took his seat at the table. 'You are right, Lucy,' he said. "Physicians are such nuisances that I can never think of admitting another into the family; and as to that 'number of the ''Medical Review," it is a stupid" affair, sure enough. It is nearly half filled with a "paper contributed by some young quack named Cromie, or Crosbie, or some such name.' Lucy blushed and laughed, and laughed and blushed again. Her weapons were now fairly turned against herself. ' Well, my dear, did you miss any spoons yesterday ? ' Dr. O'Rourke inquired of his wife a moment later, and being answered in the negative, the old gentleman continued : ' Then, unless little Tbady considers your basket worth more than anything he could get here to-day, he will come back this morning.' ' To be sure he will come,' said Mrs. O'Rourke. ' To be sure he will, father,' said Lucy. 1 Well— perhaps,' said the doctor, pretending to have his doubts. Biddy here announced that the young gentleman was already below stairs. ' CHve him some breakfast, Biddy,' said the doctor ' and then send him up. Now you see,' he added turning to his daughter, ' that little Thady is deep! He throws a sprat to catch a hake. He will keep on till he gets far enough into your confidence to steal something worth while.' ' For shame, father ! ' said Lucy. ' How can you be so uncharitable ? He knows that honesty is the best policy.' ' Very good ! Very good ! ' said the doctor. 'And 111 tell you what, my pretty prophetess— l know you believe what you predict, and I'll make you a promise on the credit of your own faith. You shall marry this young Dr. Cromie, or Crosbie, or whatever his name is, whenever Thady has a house to let you.' Before she could reply Biddy announced a caller. It was one of the doctor's tenants, and he directed that he should be shown up. He was a lessee of several large houses in a poor part of the city, which the doctor hardly saw once in a year, an<d could not point out without a guide. His lease was about expiring, and he called to obtain a renewal, but wished it on diminished terms, as be said' there was a prospect that certain contemplated improve- - ments in the city would ruin the property. 'Ho ! ho ! ' said the doctor ; ' a hard improvement that. They pay me little more than' the taxes now, and if they are improved at this rate I shall be made a beggar with them. I must look into this a little, sir/ At this moment Thady made his appearance at the door. Lucy went to him and entered into conversation with him. He looked like another boy this morning. Hope and pleasure shone in his face, and his whole appearance was tidy and cheerful. < The doctor's lessee soon took his leave, having first conversed ki : an undertone a moment or - two, with a frequent look toward Thady. The doctors countenance showed that the lad had gained little in this interview. ' Now,' said the doctor, as Lucy led the lad toward him, ' your name is Thaddeus, I believe ?'" Thady bowed. 1 I am very sorry to learn,' the doctor went on, that you are a yery bad and a . very impudent boy —though I might have guessed the last." 1 Lucy and 1 Mrs. O'Rourke looked astonished, andpoor Thady, gathering a hope' of sympathy from their faces, said, as he hung his head and buKstf' into tears, • Sure, sir, \ that will be news to me mother, wherever you heard it.' . "-„ 1 Come, come, ' sir,' said the doctor, ' no" more play., with us— we've had enough. I don't want to condemn ~ you unheard, and if you are deserving I would . do you good. Now answer me straight, what have you ever done to maintain yourself ? '- ' I sold the papers, sir.'

' I see. Yes— that explains something. Why don't you sell them now ? ' - - 'My father, sir, took sick, an' was very bad, F/an' wan day with another, sir, .1 spent . me little money ; an' other boys got me customers, sir, an' me heart was gone,- an' me mother an' sisters were starvin', an' the rent "wasn't paid, sir— an' the Lord save you and yours from tastin' the bitter cup ! ' ' But how could a 'boy suffering all this be so full of fun and nonsense as^you were yesterday, and as you would have been to-day if everything had gone as you expected ? ' the doctor asked, in a kinder tone. ' Oh, sir, there's many ways in the world, -^.an' them as travels wan don't know the stones in another ! Two or three days, sir, I shivered barefooted in the cowld, and told the people what I've told you just now, sir, an' I couldn't get a sixpence ; so I thought o' trying another tack, an.your kind face, sir, made me try it on ye— an' that's the whole ""truth, sir. I'm no blackguard, if- I look wan. ' ' Very well put in— very "well told, Thady. Buib I've something more to say yet. The house you'live in is mine, and your landlord is my tenant ' ' T , he n I hope,' said Thady, ' he's a better tenant than landlord. ' ' Well, he tells me .that yesterday you lied to him" that you hadn't a shilling- in the world. ' Lied to him ! Sure, it was the blessed truth sir ! ' - ' • But he says he threatened you with the poorhouse and the reformatory, and that this morning your mother found money to pay the rent in full Now, you must have bad this money at the time or you must have stolen it since, for -he says you are very poor.' '. Ah, look at him, your honor ! Think o' the backbiter ! He knows I am poor, < : he says, an' he threatens me with the reformatory for not payin' me mother's rent. An' maybe he didn't tell ye, sir, that he told me that I might have begged money as well as shoes, an' abused me for the very kindness which your lady had for me. An' then he says I stolethe money, an' still he puts it in his pocket 'idout a tear. ' Thady, you have made the case bad for your accuser, but you haven't helped yourself yet. Tell me honestly, where did this money come from ?' 'It was loaned to me, sir. Maybe, sir, ' ye think the impudent little blackguard has no friends ; but there's a God above who remembers the widow an' the fatherless, an' He sent a friend to us when we was all in the sorrow. An' it isn't the first good thing he^s done, sir. He's come out of his bed in the bitter night, time an' again, to relieve the pain o the poor who couldn't give him fee or reward anj he puts his hand in his pocket over an' often to pay for the medicine for the dyin' man when he knew he could not live so much as to thank him— the blessings o' heaven fall on him for it ! An 1 now me poor father is in heaven, an' Dr. Crosbie may wan day meet him there— may it be a long day'off ! Good mornin', ladies, an' you, too sir*; an' when next ye would play with the poor, don't put the farce before the tragedy, sir, if ye plase, sir • for that's not the way at Blind Alley.' Lucy was in tears,' and her mother in silent amazement at the little fellow's eloquence. ' Here, Thady— stop !' shouted the doctor as the boy moved away. ' Your name is O'Brien and the doctor's is Cros-bie, eh ?' ' Yes, sir.' ' Well, here,' continued the doctor, ' is the " Medical Review,' in wnich your father's case is prominently set forth.' ' I can read, sir,' said Thady proudly. ' Don't play with the bones o' the dead, if ye plase, sir ' 'No, no, Thady,' said the doctor, kindly. 'I know Dr. Crosbie, and there are those in this house who know him better than I.' Tnady shrewdly looked toward Lucy, and she blushed crimson. 'We will' inquire about you, Thady. What rent do you pay ?' ' A shilling a week, sir.' - = ' Fifty-two shillings a year. And how many rooms have you V 'Wan, sir.' 1 And how many tenants are there in the whole ' house ?' - 'Ten, besides the grocery on the 'ground- floor, sir.' • ' 'Hum! hum!' said the doctor. 'So the fellow" gets more for that one house than he pays me for five— and he wants me to reduce his rent at that. Miserably must the poor be crushed by such harpies ! ' True for ye, sir,' said Thady. «If your honor wouia only take the house into your own hands.'

«mJ I ° an7t d° th at, boy,' said the doctor, musing. Thady said he, after a pause, 'how old are you?*' ' Sixteen come Twelff Day sir ' " • - ' Hum ! hum ! -Well, I'll ask f)i: Crosbie ' about you,_ and if he gives you half .as -good a- character as you have given him I'll .give yoiiH charge F of the house you -live in. You shall - have it- at' the . same " price _he pays— on , condition - that you donH charge" the others more than enough to get your own part-rent free and a fair price for the in collecting. And 1 11 not renew his . lease for any of thenr/^Hfief. If you show yourself honest and' capable, here's. an opening for a living for you ' '- . > - - vi Pf* 7 ? *"*£.* u was to ° full for words now. He blushed, . hung his head, stood still" and then "wept- his thanks. ' , „ , ■ 'Call here to-morrow,', said the "doctor, willing to relieve has grateful embarrassment. ". -?. ' Thady,' said Lucy, calling him back, «I want : 'a word with you." Have you a couple of pleasant rooms in your house' to let me ?' 1 What, miss— me lady'?' said " the 'boy, astonished 1 What V said Dr.' O'Rourke. ' *- •- - . 'Why, father,' said Lucy,' 'you certainly have not forgotten your promise- you made- this " morning that when Thady has a house to let I may be married ' ' '., Ho + ! 50,!5 O , ! sa ? d the doctor. ' Well, when one has a J" 11 *?, take> th ' c so<>ner is off -Ms mind the' better. Marry as soon as your mother can get you ready, for I see you are both of a , mitfd.. But don't you go and tell Dr. Crosbie what depends on- his endorsement of Thady here.' 'Sure, sir, Dr. Crosbie would not tell a lie to— to— to free Ireland,' said Thady, earnestly. ' Get out of the house, you little- rogue !' said the doctor. \ ou've done in two hours what my wife and daughter have been trying in vain to do for two years.'—' Mount Angol Magazine.'