TWO STORIES
"9
road from Jericho to Jerusalem? And the thatch mouldering on the
roofs around the house of God." A pause for breath. Then: "Your
eldest sister-what name have ye on her?"
"Pidge, Father."
"Is she the one that has the black hair like this?" The priest
made some gesture indicative of unusual coiffure.
"Yes, Father."
"Shoving on into years she is. Isn't she?"
"She is, Father."
"She'll never see thirty again?"
"She won't, Father."
"Is she keeping company with anyone?"
"Not to my knowledge, Father."
"Ne'er a one in her eye?"
"I'd say not, Father."
"H'm! Do you know Denis Sullivan of Parkeen?"
"Denisheen the Dog, is it, Father?"
"Dog! Dog! Dog! Dog! What dog, man?"
"He have a dog, Father: a black and white dog."
"I'm asking if you know him?"
"I do, Father."
"Nine cows, he has?"
"Yes, Father."
"Lovely warm ground. In good heart. Tucks of running water."
"Ay, Father."
"Enough fowl to blacken the air?"
"Yes, Father."
"A tub trap and a roan pony?"
"He has so, Father."
"And a Department bull?"
The farmer became paramount in the young man. "Let me
tell you something, Father. That same bull is gettin' poorly. He's
throwing the world and all of white calves."
The priest bridled up. "And what signifies that? Won't a tuppeny
stamp and a small bit of writing swap her? When he's transferred,
won't some other parish beside ours breed the pale delicate catde?
Answer me out!"
Meekly, conquered, "That's true, Father."
