Page 276 - The snake's pass

264 the snake's pass. —
" Shure they do tell me so
; that the girruls, whether
fairies or weernen, is more fond iv lukin' out fur
leprachauns, or min if that's their kind, than the clargy
is iv killin' the divil—an' they've bin at him fur thousands
iv years, an' him not turned a hair."
"Well! Andy, isn't it only natural, too? If we look
at the girls and make love to them, why shouldn't they
have a turn too, poor things, and make love to us ?
Now you would like to have a wife, I know ; only that
you're too much afraid of any woman."
" Thrue for ye
! But shure an' how could I go dhrivin'
about the counthry av I had a wife iv me own in wan
place ? It's meself that's welkim everywhere, jist because
any wan iv the weemen might fear I'd turn the laugh
on her whin I got her home; but a car-dhriver can no
more shpake soft to only wan girrul nor he can dhrive
his car in his own shanty."
"Well! but Andy, what would you do if you were to
"
get married ?
" Faix, surr, an' the woman must settle that whin she
comes. But, begor! it's not for a poor man like me
nor for the likes iv me—that the fairies does be keepin'
their eyes out. I tell yer 'an'r that poor min isn't
iv much account anyhow ! Shure poverty is the worst iv
crimes ; an' there's no hidin' it like th' others. Patches
is saw a mighty far way off ; and shure enough they're
"
more frightfuller nor even the polis !
"By G-eorge ! Andy," said I, "I'm afraid you're a
cynic."