Scoil: Lisín (B.), An Sciobairín (uimhir rolla 15563)

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1. (gan teideal) (ar lean)

   “Batty Hegarty's Bit of Moonshine" was published recently (a second time) in the issue of "The Southern Star" - Realt an Deiscirt", 24-12-'38.”

   

   Roinn Roinn Postáil

   (ar lean ón leathanach roimhe)

   mantled, ivy grown,
   Round which circles a quaint stone wall,
   workmanship of crafty hand,
   And the background of a story passing current in the land.
   II
   Have you never heard the tale, then?
   Will, 'tis true, beyond a doubt,
   That this stone wall, on occasion tricked the bailiffs out-and-out.
   'Twas the park wall of Squire Beecher,
   and a man well known was he,
   In the fox hunt and the steeplechase and old-time chivalry;
   And he lorded in his hey-day o'er that smiling countryside,
   Sloping down the hills and pastures to the Roaringwater tide.
   III
   Mongst his goodly host of tenants Batty Hegarty was one
   Whom it would be hard to rival for pur Irish with and fun;
   But the pity was that hard times came to peep in at his door.
   And his cares and disappointments seemed to deepen more and more.
   As the gale day drew nigh quickly, in the stealthy flight of time,
   And he lacked the landlord's money - then, as now, a heinous crime.
   He was upright and hardworking, his intentions were all bent
   To be fair and square in dealing; but intentions are not rent.
   Let that fail to be forthcoming on the next accounting day.
   And adieu to merry Batty; he must bundle and away.
   IV
   Now was ever man's resourcefulness so sorely tried as that?
   Straight way must he shoot the landlord?
   must he rob a bank? - or what?
   Yerra no; behold that twinkle brightening up his roguish eye;
   And how cleverly he'll manage it you'll learn by and by.
   For a rid used go his landlord every morning just at nine
   With that circumstance and moment Batty's plot must fall in line,
   Out-doors, betimes he sallied, and he silly took his stand
   By the landlord's flanking stone wall, with a crossbar in his hand.
   There he waits in expectation, whether will he win or fail?
   Meeting with opposing forces, Batty ne'er was known to quail.
   Hark! at last it is the landlord! Hear his horse's hoofs to ring.
   Up jumps Batty, grips his crowbar, wields it with a mighty swing,
   Brings it clanging on the stone wall, raising sparks that madly flashed,
   Just as round the bend the great man on his prancing hunter dashed.
   V
   "Ho! there rascal! What the deuce, then, are you doing to my wall?"
   Feigning wonderment the schemer quickly lets his crowbar fall.
   "Top o' the mornin' to year honour, sir, and faith yer lookin fine.
   There's no gentleman in Cork, sir, that could cut so grand a shine.
   And," said Batty, "by yer lave, sire, all about it I will tell
   "How I went to Skibbereen yesterday a thing or two to sell;
   For the rent is due today, sir, and I know I'm duty bound
   "To square matters with yer honour for that little bit o' ground.
   "And last night when steppin' home 'ard faith! a thought came to my mind
   "That if Peggy touched my guineas they would scatter with the winde.
   "And I stopped here thinkin' of it, and for fear such would befall
   "I found out a secret crevice, and I hid 'em in this wall
   "And the moon was shining brightly, and the shadow of a tree
   "Fell across that bit o' roadway that lies twixt you and me
   "But the moon makes people quare, sir, and though I were to be shot,
   "I couldn't say this minute whether this or that's the spot.
   "But to-night, sir, when the moon shines, I will come again and see,
   "And I'll surely come anear it by the shadow of the tree;
   "And I'll search and dig and delve, sir, and my gold I'll surely find,
   "If I have to fell the wall, sir - a few perches you won't mind."
   V
   "Tut! you ruffian!" cried the landlord,
   "not for those few coins of gold,
   "Not for all the farm produce you ever bought or sold,
   "Would I let you break my stonewall, that I look upon with pride!
   "So away with you immediately, and from this place keep you wide."
   "Uille murdher!" whimpered Batty, "what am I to do at all,
   must I starve and be evicted while my money's in this wall,"
   This went on the wordy warfare, thrust and parry fairly dealt,
   Till the soft voice of relenting in the landlord's voice was felt
   And he said in kindly accents, as if thus befell on you,
   "I'll remit the who installment of the rent that's falling due.
   "But I stringently enjoin you on a clear command from me
   "That you daren't touch my wall again, or punished you will be."
   VII
   O course, Batty thanked "his honour," and straight homeward then he went.
   Chuckling how the ancient stone wall paid the missing half-year's rent.
   That's the story as they tell it; as it is then let it be -
   Always Batty's bit of moonshine in the shadow of the tree.
   J. O'R.

   

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