Page:Comical sayings of Paddy from Cork (1).pdf/15

 the comical cunning fellows persuaded me it was so then I went down to a little house below the water, hard by the rig-back of the boat, and laid me down on their leather sack, where I slept myself almost to death with hunger. Dear Tom, to tell you plainly, when I wake I did not know where I was, but thought I was dead and buried, for I found nothing all around me but wooden walls and timber above.

Tom. And how did you come to yourself to know where you was at last?

Teag. By the law, dear shoy, I scratched my head in a hundred parts, and then set me down to think upon it, so I minded it was my wife that was dead and not me, and that I was alive in the young post-boat, with the fellows that carries over the England meal from the Irish milns.

Tom. O then Paddy, I am sure you was glad when you found yourself alive?

Teag Arra, dear shoy, I was very sure I was alive, but I did not think to live long, so I thought it was better for me to steal and be hanged, than to live all my days & die directly with hunger at last.

Tom. Had you no meat or money with you?

Teag. Arra, dear shoy, I gave all the money'to the captain of the house, or goodman of the ship to take me into the sea, or over to England, & when I was like to eat my brogues for want of victuals, I drew my hanger and cut the lock off the leather sack to get a lick of their meal ; but allelieu, dear shoy, I found neither meal nor seed, but a parcel of papers and letters--a poor morsel for a hungry man.

Tom. O then Paddy; you laid down your honesty for nothing?

Teag. Ay, ay, I great thief, but got nothing to steal.

Tom. And how did you get victuals at last?

Teag. Allelieu, dear honey, the thoughts of meat and drink, death and life, and every thing else was out of mind, I had not a thought but one.