United States or Turks and Caicos Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
A letter from Father M'Grath, who diplomatizes When priest meets priest, then comes the tug of war Father O'Toole not to be made a tool of.
"'Good morning to ye, Mrs O'Rourke, says I. "'An' the top of the morning to you, Father M'Grath, says she, with a smile; 'what brings you here? Is it a journey that you're taking to buy the true wood of the cross? or is it a purty girl that you wish to confess, Father M'Grath? or is it only that you're come for a drop of poteen, and a little bit of chat with Mrs O'Rourke?
"'And who's to save your soul, and send you to heaven, if I don't, you wicked wretch? but I'll see you d d first so take that now, Terence O'Brien. "'Then I'll turn Protestant, and damn the Pope take that now, Father M'Grath. "At this last broadside of mine, my father and all my brothers and sisters raised a cry of horror, and my mother burst into tears.
When O'Brien had remained with us about a week, he told me that he had about one hundred and sixty pounds in his pocket, and that he intended to go and see his friends, as he was sure that he would be welcome even to Father M'Grath. "I mean to stay with them about a fortnight, and shall then return and apply for employment. Now, Peter, will you like to be again under my protection?"
The poor girl believed him, and thinking that O'Brien was lost to her for ever, with the advice of Father M'Grath, had entered as a nun in one of the religious houses in Ireland, that, as she said, she might pray for him night and day. Many years afterwards, we heard of her she was well, and not unhappy; but O'Brien never forgot his behaviour to this poor girl.
"'Now there you're all wrong again, Father M'Grath, says she. 'Devil a soul has he brought from the other country, but has hired them all here.
"But since I came home, we have been busy. Father M'Grath went down to Ballycleuch, as bold as a lion in his new clothing, swearing that he'd lead Father O'Toole by the nose for slamming the door in his face, and so he would have done, if he could have found him; but as he wasn't to be found, Father M'Grath came back again just as wise, and quite as brave, as he went out.
Only this I know: Father M'Grath, who gives me absolution, tould me the other day that I ought to pay him, and not run in debt, and then run away like Terence O'Brien, who went to say without paying for his shirts, and his shoes, and his stockings, nor anything else, and who would live to be hanged as sure as St Patrick swam over the Liffey with his head under his arm. 'Bad luck to that Father McGrath, cried I; 'devil burn me, but I'll be revenged upon him!
Sure you're the woman that knows everything, and a mighty pretty woman into the bargain. "'Let me alone now, Father M'Grath, and don't be pinching me that way, anyhow. "'It was only a big flea that I perceived hopping on your gown, my darling, devil anything else.
Ever since the family have been grown up, my father and mother have been lamenting and sorrowing that none of them would go off; and now that they're all gone off one way or another, they cry all day because they are left all alone with no one to keep company with them, except Father M'Grath and the pigs.
Word Of The Day