Page:Comical sayings of Pady from Cork, with his coat button'd behind (1).pdf/17

 PADY FROM CORK. 17

Tom, Well Pady, you form to be a very clever little man, to be all in one body, what height are you.

Teag. Arra, dear ſhoy, I'm five foot nothing at all but one inch.

Tom. And where in England was it you liſted.

Teag. Arra, dear ſhoy, I was going through that little country village, the famous city of Cheſter, the ſtreets was very ſore by reaſon of the hardneſs of my feet, and lamenesſ of my brogs, but I went but very ſlowly acroſs the ſtreets, from port to port is a pretty long way, but I being weary thought nothing of it; then the people came all crowding to me as if I had been a world's wonder, or the wandering Jew; for the rain blew in my face and the wind wetted all my belly, which cauſed me to turn the back-ſide of my coat before and my buttons behind, which was a good ſafe guard to my belly, and the ſtarvation of my naked back; as I had not a good ſhirt on my back,

Tom. I am ſure then, Pady they would take you for a fool.

Teag. No, no, ſir, they admired the for my wiſdom, for I alway, turned my buttons before when the wind blew on behind, but I wonder greatly how the people knew my name, and where I came from; for every one told another that was Pady from Cork, I ſuppoſe they knew my face by ſeeing my name in the news papers.

Tom. Well, Pady, what buſineſs did you follow in Cheſter.

Teag. To be ſure I was not idle working at nothing at all, until a recruiting ſergeant came to town with two or three fellows along with him, one beating on a fiddle, and another playing on a drum toſſing their airs through the street as if they were going to be married; and I ſaw them courting nothing but young men; ſo to bring myſelf to no preferment at all I liſted for a ſoldier, becauſe I was too high for a grenadier.

Tom. And what lifting money did you get Pady.

Teag. Arra, dear honey, I got five thirtteens and a pair of Engliſh brogs, the guineas and the reſt of the gold was ſent away to London, to the king my maſter, to buy me new ſhirts, a cockade, and common teaſing for my hat,