The ragged edge: A tale of ward life & politicsMcIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
General
The ragged edge: A tale of ward life & politics
McIntyre, John T. (John Thomas)
Political fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
This involved a question of ethics with which neither Larry nor
McGonagle felt themselves capable of grappling.
“But say,” demanded Murphy, “do youse t’ink us people’s goin’ to make
good to McQuirk because he got youse out o’ hock? If ye want’s to
square yerself, don’t make us stand for that. Ye’ve copped a sneak on
us, Levitsky, ye know ye have.”
They argued the question until the ordered breakfast appeared. Levitsky
attacked it, apparently unmoved in his determination to remain faithful
to the boss; the others got up angry and despairing.
“Just now,” said Larry, “it looks as if youse had us skinned to death;
but, say, there’s a block for every punch, and if Daily and youse try
to double bank us, we’ll git even in the convention if we have to pull
the shack!”
And they left the place.
Chapter XX
“_Come all ye sons of Erin an’ listen to my lay,
An’ I’ll tell the story av the wise man av Galway,
A credit to his country--a credit to his name,
Three provinces a-ringin’ wid the echoes av his fame._”
AN OLD COME-ALL-YE.
THERE were but few at the six o’clock service, and these were so
scattered about the church as to create the impression of vacancy.
The priest, glittering in gold-embroidered vestments intoned the mass
at the high altar; the acolytes drowsily made the responses; the
worshippers followed the sacrifice with devout attention; a restless
child now and then broke the silence that pervaded.
A light stole through a long, stained window, throwing shafts of
crimson and purple radiance across the side altar, where stood a carven
image of the Holy Virgin. A girl knelt at the altar rail, her head
bowed, her hands clasped. Even the black-robed sisters, who taught in
the parochial school, now and then raised their eyes to look at her,
for she was so white, her attitude was so supplicating.
Larry Murphy who was very regular at church since Mary died, often
glanced up from his book to look at the pleading figure; but he did not
recognize her, he was too far off, or the light was too dim. It was
Rosie O’Hara.
With all her pure young heart Rosie was pleading for her love. Right or
wrong she had been taught to carry her griefs to her who had been born
into the world to crush the serpent’s head; and with an intensity for
which her mind could find no words, she prayed mutely.
The gleaming, richly-wrought vessels had been taken from the tabernacle
and stood upon the pure white altar cloth; the good father bent his
knee, and every head sank in adoration. Rosie, awed to the very soul at
the proximity of the unveiled host, found words--the words of the angel:
“Hail Mary, full of grace,” she breathed, “blessed art thou among
women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
At intervals the bell continued to ring softly, the people beat their
breasts; all bent before the uplifted host, save the child, who looked
on, open-eyed, wondering.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account