The Ned M'Keown Stories: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume ThreeCarleton, William
General
The Ned M'Keown Stories: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume Three
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“Never, indeed, was a miller before or since so well dusted; and, I dare
say, Neal would have rode him long enough, but for an O'Hallaghan, who
had gone into one of the houses to procure a weapon. This man was nearly
as original in his choice of one as the tailor in the position which he
selected for beating the miller. On entering the kitchen, he found
that he had been anticipated: there was neither tongs, poker, nor
churn-staff, nor, in fact, anything wherewith he could assault his
enemies; all had been carried off by others. There was, however, a
goose, in the action of being roasted on a spit at the fire: this
was enough; Honest O'Hallaghan saw nothing but the spit, which he
accordingly seized, goose and all, making the best of his way, so armed,
to the scene of battle. He just came out of an entry as the miller was
once more roaring for assistance, and, to a dead certainty, would have
spitted the tailor like a cook-sparrow against the miller's carcase, had
not his activity once more saved him. Unluckily, the unfortunate miller
got the thrust behind which was intended for Neal, and roared like a
bull. He was beginning to shout 'Foul play!' again, when, on turning
round, he perceived that the thrust had not been intended for him, but
for the tailor.
“'Give me that spit,' said he; 'by all the mills that ever were turned,
I'll spit the tailor this blessed minute beside the goose, and we'll
roast them both together.'
“The other refused to part with the spit, but the miller seizing the
goose, flung it with all his force after the tailor, who stooped,
however, and avoided the blow.
“'No man has a better right to the goose than the tailor,' said Neal, as
he took it up, and, disappearing, neither he nor the goose could be seen
for the remainder of the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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