The Purcell Papers, vol 1 | Page 9

of?him in the counthry round for nate labourin'?an' baan diggin'; and he was mighty handy?entirely for carpenther's work, and men?din' ould spudethrees, an' the likes i' that.?An' so he tuk up with bone-settin', as?was most nathural, for none of them could?come up to him in mendin' the leg iv a stool?or a table; an' sure, there never was a bonesetter?got so much custom-man an' child,?young an' ould--there never was such?breakin' and mendin' of bones known in?the memory of man. Well, Terry Neil--?for that was my father's name--began to?feel his heart growin' light, and his purse?heavy; an' he took a bit iv a farm in Squire?Phelim's ground, just undher the ould castle,?an' a pleasant little spot it was; an' day an'?mornin' poor crathurs not able to put a foot?to the ground, with broken arms and broken?legs, id be comin' ramblin' in from all quarters?to have their bones spliced up. Well,?yer honour, all this was as well as well could?be; but it was customary when Sir Phelim?id go anywhere out iv the country, for some?iv the tinants to sit up to watch in the ould?castle, just for a kind of compliment to the?ould family--an' a mighty unplisant compliment?it was for the tinants, for there?wasn't a man of them but knew there was?something quare about the ould castle. The?neighbours had it, that the squire's ould?grandfather, as good a gintlenlan--God be?with him--as I heer'd, as ever stood in?shoe-leather, used to keep walkin' about in?the middle iv the night, ever sinst he?bursted a blood vessel pullin' out a cork?out iv a bottle, as you or I might be doin',?and will too, plase God--but that doesn't?signify. So, as I was sayin', the ould?squire used to come down out of the?frame, where his picthur was hung up, and?to break the bottles and glasses--God be?marciful to us all--an' dthrink all he could?come at--an' small blame to him for that?same; and then if any of the family id be?comin' in, he id be up again in his place,?looking as quite an' as innocent as if he?didn't know anything about it--the?mischievous ould chap
'Well, your honour, as I was sayin', one?time the family up at the castle was stayin'?in Dublin for a week or two; and so, as?usual, some of the tinants had to sit up in?the castle, and the third night it kem to?my father's turn. "Oh, tare an' ouns!"?says he unto himself, "an' must I sit up?all night, and that ould vagabone of a?sperit, glory be to God," says he,?"serenadin' through the house, an' doin' all?sorts iv mischief?" However, there was?no gettin' aff, and so he put a bould face?on it, an' he went up at nightfall with a?bottle of pottieen, and another of holy?wather.
'It was rainin' smart enough, an' the?evenin' was darksome and gloomy, when?my father got in; and what with the rain?he got, and the holy wather he sprinkled?on himself, it wasn't long till he had to?swally a cup iv the pottieen, to keep the?cowld out iv his heart. It was the ould?steward, Lawrence Connor, that opened?the door--and he an' my father wor?always very great. So when he seen who?it was, an' my father tould him how it?was his turn to watch in the castle, he?offered to sit up along with him; and you?may be sure my father wasn't sorry for?that same. So says Larry:
' "We'll have a bit iv fire in the?parlour," says he.
' "An' why not in the hall?" says my?father, for he knew that the squire's?picthur was hung in the parlour.
' "No fire can be lit in the hall," says?Lawrence, "for there's an ould jackdaw's?nest in the chimney."
' "Oh thin," says my father, "let us?stop in the kitchen, for it's very unproper?for the likes iv me to be sittin' in the?parlour," says he.
' "Oh, Terry, that can't be," says?Lawrence; "if we keep up the ould?custom at all, we may as well keep it up?properly," says he.
' "Divil sweep the ould custom!" says?my father--to himself, do ye mind, for he?didn't like to let Lawrence see that he was?more afeard himself.
' "Oh, very well," says he. "I'm?agreeable, Lawrence," says he; and so?down they both wint to the kitchen, until?the fire id be lit in the parlour--an' that?same wasn't long doin'.
'Well, your honour, they soon wint up?again, an' sat down mighty comfortable by?the parlour fire, and they beginned to talk,?an' to smoke, an' to dhrink a small taste iv?the pottieen; and, moreover, they had a?good rousin' fire o' bogwood and turf, to?warm their shins over.
'Well, sir, as I was sayin' they kep'?convarsin' and smokin' together most?agreeable, until Lawrence beginn'd to get?sleepy, as was but nathural for him, for he?was an ould sarvint man, and was used to?a great dale iv sleep.
' "Sure it's impossible," says my father,?"it's gettin' sleepy you are?"
' "Oh, divil a taste," says Larry; "I'm?only shuttin' my eyes," says he, "to keep?out the parfume