EMBARRASSING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2209, 22 August 1910, Page 7

EMBARRASSING.

Father Mathew, the famous temperance reformer, had arrived in the dusk of one evening at the house of a parish priest in a remote part of Galway. His host conducted him to a room on the ground floor, in which was a large bay window without blind or curtain.

No sooner was Father Mathew in bed than he turned his face to the wall and fell into a deep slumber. Awaking, as usual, at an early hour in the morning, he opened his eyes, repeated a prayer, and turned toward the window. What was his dismay to see a crowd of people of both sexes and all ages standing tiptoe in front of the big bay window, some even flattening their noses the glass, all eager to get a peep at his reverence.

A more modest man than he did not exist, and great was his embarrassment. He looked round furtively for a bell-rope, but such a luxury was not to be thought of in a priest's house in Galway ! He dare not even put a leg out to stamp on the floor : he was fairly in prison between the blankets.

The crowd was growing larger and the talk louder. He could hear bits, such as :

"Do ye see him, Mary, asthore ?" "Denny, agra, lave me take a look, an' God bless ye, child !"

"Oh, wisha, there's the blessed priest abed !" "Mammy, there he lies, a-snoozin' ! I can see his poll !" Three mortal hours did the prisoner wish for deliverance. Then his host came tapping, afraid to disturb his guest too early, saw the boys at gaze, and sent Pat to clear them off the house front. —Prom "Heroes of Modern Crusades,"