AN ECHO PROM MIKE McGUINNESS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1023, 14 January 1879, Page 2

AN ECHO PROM MIKE McGUINNESS.

Misthek Edithor,—Troth, it's meself is a bewildhered man this day, and av its plazin' to yez I'll be afther tellin' yez fche razin. 'Tis goin' on two year since I left the ould counthry through hearin' great talk of JNbav Zayland, and glad I am that the noshun took me, 'for faix it's~a foine counthry intirely for a boy, and for the matter of that for.the girls toe. 'Twas myself that felt on mv fate the day I landed, and was took by a gintleman to his farm on the Waikato, where I had the best of atin' and dhr in kin', with a push of work now and agin, and, though it's meself that says it, I niver was afraid of a day's work. But my masfcher tould me wan day. that I was gefctin' too lazyonly for that I wouldn't lave him. Begorra, if he loiked me half as well as I loiked the place, it would be moio-hty hard to put me out of it. I have a garon iiow, and near forty pounds of money. Sure, that's more thin I could iver say before. There is a good few. of my shipmates about here, ail at sarvice, and faix its them as is lookin' well. Oue Peggy Ounuitt', from tho same townland as meself , 1 winfc to see. She's at a gintleman's place—housemaid. Whin I wint to the kitchen, there were three ladies there. I axed if one Peggy Ounniif lived there, and thiro all bnr_<t out laflin, and says one ;i Margaret, is that your bo :-" With that same, out steps Peggy, and says, "How arc you, Mr MoG-uinness," as grand as you plaize. The -.levil a bit of me knew her, she was looking so fine, witli Ij&gis on her boots long enuft to make hc-lff for mangolds, and gut of Persia sides on thorn. Says she, Mr McGuinness, allow mo to make you none to those yonn<>* ladies. The devil a one, but whin I soo the way they bint to me, so grand, I liadent a Avord, and felt in a lather of swet, all of a sudden like. Troth, 1 was always a bashful boy, whin the girls were to the fore, and Peggy nose that same. 1" wanted to spake to Peggy, on matters consarnin ourselfs, but, the ladies said I should stop for tay, and sure enuff an illigant tay we had (the nxasther and mistress were awa), and,' faix, signs on it, we had lasshins and lavins of the best. Now, sir, I must bo after tellin you that , Peggy and myself were courting strong, in the ould country, and, avo made it up aboord ship, to save all our arnins for a coupel of years, thiu, put Avhat we had together, and talk to the Priest. So, whin we et anuft', she axed meif I'd like to see the gardin, and, faix,' I sod I would, bekase I new she wanted to discoarse mo alone. She began to convarso me, sayin, I must drop callin her Peggy, as it was' not fassionable, and, whin girls come to this country, they must follow the fassions. Troth, its little the fassions troubeled her whin she was footin turf in Shragh Bog. She was a dacint girl thin, Avith a wholesome pair of red legs, fit to take any boys fancy, and whin her foot Avar washed clean, there wasent their aquil in the parrish. Noav, sho has quallity notions, with her hair all of a fuz, like a granoque. Wl\in I used to lay ] lands on her, for a poqiie, in the Auld Country, it Avas always, Mike, you'r tossin my hair, Begorra, if its a boy that tosses it for her now, I'm thinking lie must spind a power of time over it. Sho tould me, she goes to seleot danoes, and, that, I must Tarn the shot tish and the waltz, of my; Annie, agin Christmas, as jigs and reels are vulgar. Eaix, she says, I must list in the cavelry, bekaso I have broad shoulders, Avith a pair of good calfs on my legs, that.l'd become the shoot will, and, that one, Mr Martin, in Hamilton, is a great hand intirely, at taking a boy's measure. The masther cam c home AA r hen she got that far, and, she had to run in. But, faix, I'm goin there agin tomorroAV. She told me hp wanted a handy boy about tlie place, and, sure,'it's myself is that same. Bad cess to the one, but if I get in there, I'll be in olover, only, Miss Cunniflf and myself wont let on there is anything between us. So, if its plazin to you, sir, I will tell you again hoAv I get on.—Your Sarvint, kindly, Mims McGrUINSPESS. . ; ; Jauuaary IS, 1878,