Page:Comical sayings of Paddy from Cork (5).pdf/15

 15 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 Tom, to tell you plainly, when I awaked 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 up. on 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 Engliſh meal from the Irish milns. Tom. O then Pady, I was 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 bang'd than to live all my days, and die directly with hunger at laſt. Tom. What, had you no meat nor money along with you? Teag. Arra dear ſhoy, I gave all my money to the captain of the houſe, or goodman of the ſhip, to carry me into the ſea, or over to England, and when I was like to eat my old brogues for want of victuals, I drew my hanger and cut the lock of their leather ſack, think- ning to get a lick of their meal: but allelieu, dear ſhoy, I found nothing, meal nor feeds, but a parcel of papers hand letters, a poor morſel indeed for a hungry man. Tom. O then Pady you laid down your honeſty for nothing Teag. Ay, ay, I was a great thief, but got nothing Tom. And how did you come to get victuale 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. to ſteal.