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V “- Sure the kay of the door served your father’s turn,
com. 75
eyes; he was a very tall, powerful man, but gentle and good-tempered, as
powerful 1nen‘usually are. During the summer he had abundant occupation
“I driving “tlze Batlzers,” (he lived in a sea-side village) to the sea. No
matter how many crowded into his car; “the more the merrier” was Mogue’s
Constant observation, (“ three of a side and two in the well,”) and he aided not
a little to make them merry, for he was tl1e very soul of sly and quiet humour.
In those days the “Flirting Cushions,” that well-stuffed and most lounging
appendage to a. modern outside car, was not known; and we have seen three or
four children laughing in “the well,” while mammas, grown-up sisters, and
nurses crowded the sides. Twice a-week Mogue repaired, “ wind and weather
P‘31'm1ttlY1g,” to the county town, and certainly no one envied his occupation:
every thing that the inventive faculties of a whole parishsin which were ten
01‘ :1 dozen rustic beauties-every thing from a pennyworth of mixed hair-pins
“P t0 a bonnet, from a “quarten of tea” to a side of pork, was Mogue
expected to convey for next to nothings-or pure love. “Ah thin, Mogue
h0“03'; (l011’t f01‘gct the crooked comb; what’ll I do if you do, and the dance to
be to-morrow evening?--here's the money.” “And for the carriage, Nelly?”
“ Oll, Pll owe ye for that.” “Ah, thin, Misther Mogue, don’t forget the bit of
f1 slate for the boy, this time, anyhow. Sure he’s losing the figures for want of
‘l 1nti1‘cly.” “ Mr. Mogue, sir,” whispers a tall gawky lad, looking fitter to go
to school than think of “ such things”-“ hcrc’s the size of lzer finger, ye see ;
try it on yer own little one, will ye, for fear ye’d lose the measure?” “Ah thin,
<l0n’t bother us with such nonsense, ye grate bosthoon,” was Mogue’s reply.
and it may yours’s.”
‘5 The dickens a kay to the door at all, at all,” answered the youth; “ but the
lnlcst ls grown particular about a ring, and ye need’t dread the money, for
l1C1‘e’s file half of it ; and don’t be hinderin’ us, Mogue, like a darlin’ man, and
‘t. 30 Tllgll Lent. I’ll pay ye honest, and if ye don’t take my word, the little
girl hersclf’s outside-and will go bail--and you never misdouhted the word of
one belonging to her.”
’ Christmas, however, was Mogue’s time of importance;
all the ladies then, and not a few of the rich farmers’ wives-in the choice of
pudding plums, jar raisins, sweet and bitter almonds, beef suet, Christmas
Candles, kitchen candles, citrons, with a host of et ceteras. He had to convey
Presents of turkeys andeggs from the dwellers in the country to those in the
l"“"1; and presents of town cheer from those in the town to friends in the
country. ,
The fifth Christmas after Morgue bee
round. It was a fine clear evening when he repaired to t
he had to please
ame a man of substance had come
he dwelling of his