“Well, to make my story short, I worked late and early to pay the five shillings a week, and I did do it for three weeks regular: then I brought four and fourpence—then it came down to one and tenpence halfpenny-then ninepence—and, at last, I had nothing at all to bring.
“‘Mickey Free,’ says the priest, ‘ye must stir yourself—your father is mighty displeased at the way you’ve been doing of late: and av ye kept your word, he’d he near out by this time.’
“‘Troth, says I, ‘it’s a very expensive place.’
“‘By coorse it is,’ says he: ‘sure all the quality of the land’s there. But, Mickey, my man, with a little exertion your father’s business is done, What ate you jingling in your pocket there?’
“‘It’s ten shillings, your Reverence, I have to buy seed potatoes.’
“‘Hand it here; my son: Isn’t it better your then be enjoying himself in Paradise, than ye were to have all the potatoes in Ireland?’
“‘And: how do ye know,’ says I, ‘he is so near out?’
“‘How do I know—how do I know—is it?—didn’t I see him?”
“‘See him! tear-an-ages, was you down there again?”
“‘I was,’ says he, ‘I was down there for three-quarters of an hour yesterday evening, getting out Luke Kennedy’s mother—decent people the Kennedys—never spared expense.’
“‘And ye seen my father?’ says I.
“‘I did,’ says he; ‘he has an ould flannel waistcoat on, and a pipe sticking out of the pocket av it.’
“‘That’s him, said I; Shad he a hairy cap?’
“‘I didn’t mind the cap,’ says he, ‘but av coorse he wouldn’t have it on his head in that place,’
“‘There’s for you,’ says I, ‘did he speak to you?’
“‘He did,’ says Father Roach; ‘he spoke very hard about the way he was treated down there, that they was always jibin’ and jeerin’ him about drink, and fightin’, and the course he led up here, and that it was a queer thing, for the matter of ten shillings, he was to be kept there so long.’
“‘Woll,’ says I, taking out the ten shillings and counting it with one hand, ‘we must do our best, anyhow—and ye think this ’ill get him out surely?’
“‘I know it will,’ says he; ‘for when Luke’s mother was leaving the place, yer father saw the door open, he made a rush at it, and, begorra, before it was shut he got his head and one shoulder outside av it, so that, ye see, a trifle more ’ill do it.’
“‘Faix, and yer Reverence,’ says I, ‘you’ve lightened my heart this morning,’ and I put the money back again in my pocket.
“‘Why, what do you mean?’ says he, growing very red, for he was angry.
“‘Just this,’ says I, ‘that I’ve saved my money; for av it was my father you seen, and that he got his head and one shoulder outside the door, oh, then, by the powers,’ says I, ‘the devil a gaol or gaoler from hell to Connaught id hould him; so, Father Roach, I wish you the top of the morning,’ and I went away laughing; and from that day to this I never heard more of purgathory; and ye see, Master Charles, I think I was right.”
