Page:Comical sayings of Paddy from Cork, with his coat buttoned behind (1).pdf/15

15 Teag. And what should I make of them, do you imagine that I should give them into the hands of the butchers, as they hail been a parcel of your hogs: by shaint Patrick I had more unnaturality in me, than to put them in an hospital as others dn. Tom. No, I suppose you would leave them with you friends? Teag. Ay, ay, a poor man's friends is sometimes worse Pian a profest enemy, the best friend I ever had in the world was my own pocket while my money lasted; but left two babes between the priest's door and the parish church, because I thought it was a place of mercy, and then set out for England in quest of another fortune. Tom. I fancy, Paddy, you came off with what they call a moon-shine flitting, Teag. Yon lie like a thief now, for I did not see sun, moon, nor stars, all the night then : for I set out from Cork at the dawn of night, and I had travelled twenty wiles all but twelve, before gleaning in the morning. Tom. And where did you go to take shipping ? Teag. Arra, dear honey, I came to a country village called Dublin, as big a city as any market-town in all England, where I got myself aboard of a little young boat, with a parcel of fellows, and a long leather bag, I supposed then to be tinklers, until I asked what they carried in that leather sack ; they told me it was the English mail they were going over with ; then said I, is the milns so scant in England; that they must send over their corn to Ireland to grind it; the comical cunning fellows persuaded me it was so: then I went down to a little house below the water, hard by the rigg-back of the boat, and laid me down on their leather sack, where I slept myself almost to death with hunger. And dear Ton to tell you plainly when I waked I did not know where I was, but thought I was dead and buried, for I found nothing all round me but wooden walls and timber above. Tom. And how did ye carne to yourself to know where you was at last.