The Tithe-Proctor: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoCarleton, William
General
The Tithe-Proctor: The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
love the truth, the sentence of the coort is,' says he, sheddin' tears,
'that you're to be transported only for seven years, an' you lave
the coort an' the counthry,' says he, 'widout at stain upon your
character--it's only the law that's against you--so, God be wid you,'
the judge went on, wipin' his eyes, 'and grant you a safe and pleasant
voyage acrass,' says he, an' he cried for some minutes like a child.
That an' the unjust hangin' of my poor, simple ould grandfather for
horse-stearin'--that is, for suspicion of horse-stealin'--is the only
two misfortunes, thank God, that has been in our family of late days.”
So much for the character of worthy Mogue, whom we must now permit to
resume the delivery of his message.
The last words were uttered with so peculiar and significant a gravity,
not without a good deal of dry sarcastic humor, that the men could not
avoid laughing heartily.
“But,” he proceeded, “I have better news still for yez. Sure Masther
John desired me to let you all know that his father won't ax a penny o'
tithe from one o' yez: all you have to do is to call at the office there
in a few minutes, and you'll get aich o' you a receipt in full; (*
By this he means a horse-whipping.) that is, if you don't keep civil
tongues in your heads.”
One of Mogue's qualities was the power of gravely narrating a fact with
such peculiar significance, that the very reverse of it was conveyed to
the hearer; for the fellow was a perfect master of irony.
“Ah! well done Mogue; many a day o' reckoning _he_ has had wid _us_, but
maybe _our_ day o' reckonin' wid _him_ will come sooner than he expects,
or wishes.”
“Don't be thinkin' ill,” said Mogue, “but keep yourselves always free
from evil. What does Scripthur say? 'One good turn desarves another,'
says Scripthur. Boys, always keep Scripthur before you, and you'll do
right. 'One good turn deserves another,' says Scripthur! and you know
yourselves, I hope, that many a good turn you received at his hands.
That I may be happy, but it's good advice I'm givin' you!”
“Divil a betther, Mogue,” replied Hourigan, with a significant scowl,
and “it's we ourselves that'll be sure to take it some fine night.”
“Night or day,” replied Mogue, “it's always right to be doin' good,
whether we sarve our country or religion. God prosper yez, at all
events, and grant you success in your endeavors, an' that's the worst I
wish you! There now, Masther John's in the office, ready an' willin' to
give sich o' yez a resate in full as will--desarve it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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