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It came at last, and Nigger Martha was taken to the hospital. As Mame told it, so it was recorded on the police blotter, with the addition that she was anywhere from forty to fifty years old. That was the strange part of it. It is not often that any one lasts out a generation in the Bowery. Nigger Martha did. Her beginning was way back in the palmy days of Billy McGlory and Owney Geoghegan.
As soon as Owney saw him, he helped him into the forge, looking very mournful, although, if the truth must be told, it was to revenge himself for former good deeds of his cousin that he set him about this foolish business. 'Come here, Owney, eroo, said his cousin, after he had fastened the forge door and heated two irons in the fire.
I am the cat that sits upon the hob of Owney and Owney-na-peak, and I saw a bottle of the water of Barrygowen hanging up over the chimbley this morning in their house. In an instant all the cats began screaming, and mewing, and flying, as if they were mad, about the yard, searching every corner, and peeping under every tombstone.
It was all in vain for poor Owney to throw himself on his knees, and ask mercy, and beg and implore forgiveness; he was weak, and Owney-na-peak was strong; he held him fast, and burned out both his eyes.
Evening was drawing on at last, and he was thinking of going home, when a strange man tapped him on the shoulder, and said: 'My good youth, I have been marking you through the fair the whole day, going about with that cup in your hand, speaking to nobody, and looking as if you would be wanting something or another. 'I'm for selling it, said Owney.
Then taking him, while he was yet fainting from the pain, upon his back, he carried him off to the bleak hill of Knockpatrick, a great distance, and there laid him under a tombstone, and went his ways. In a little time after, Owney came to himself. 'O sweet light of day! what is to become of me now? thought the poor lad, as he lay on his back under the tomb.
Erra, let us see 'em, maybe you would? He took the cash from Owney's hand, and after opening his eyes in great astonishment at the sight of so much money, he put them into his pocket. 'Well, Owney, I'll keep them safe for you, in my pocket within. But tell us, maybe you would, how come you to get such a mort o' money for an old cup o' painted chaney, that wasn't worth, maybe, a fi'penny bit?
'Whist, you natural! says the cat that was making the speech, 'what do you think we care for your Owney, or Owney-na-peak? 'Murther, murther! thinks Owney to himself, 'did anybody ever hear the aiqual of this? 'Well, gentlemen, says the cat again, 'what I have to say is this. The king was last week struck with blindness, and you all know well, how and by what means any blindness may be cured.
And the same thing happened to all; for just as either of the children who ran beside had caught the rolling apple, somehow it slipt into a hole or ran into a ditch, and looking up they saw the lady drop another from the window, and so the chase was taken up and continued till they got, hardly knowing how far they had gone, to the old cross-road that leads to Owney.
This put him in great spirits, and after making a round upon his bare knees about the bottle, he took a little of the water, and rubbed it into the king's eyes. In a minute he jumped up from his throne and looked about him as well as ever. He ordered Owney to be dressed out like a king's son, and sent word to his daughter that she should receive him that instant for her husband.
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