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Show HI' 1 H The ballad of 'Barney Casey. 1 'Twas tho heart of Barney Casey that was In sore 1 dismay, f For ho was head and heels In love with pretty Jen McShay. 'Twas Barney had a prospect, but tho rock was Bj ' hard to break, m. And there was not a sign of ore from which to i earve a stake. -'Twos Barney working1 all alono deep In the tunnel cold Would ask hlmsolf what show there was for cop- per, lead or gold In that formation; still ho i' .led, some instinct j had its way; His food was beans and bacon, and his hope was Jen McShay. 'Twas Barney Casey toiled and toiled as Christmas day drew near, And every day more terrible In his heart there Ht " grew a fear, FoR Jcn McShay had told him to bother her no' H' moro ,j Until he found up in' the hills a healthy bunch of H; . Enough to buy a pig and cow, a cabin and a chair, H' 'A bed and stove and carpet and some spangled t Chinaware,' ' H And had given him till, Christmas to bring to her tho proof ' That if she married him she'd have above her head a roof. And Christmas day was drawing near, how swift tho hours went past, And harder seemed to grow the rock with each H. succeeding blast, And not a sign of ore in all the tunnel.'s stubborn Hj fnco H);1 Not a scam nor indication, Barney couldn't find a Hv trace, ! .'Twas Christmas ovo and Barney wont early to his bed, H', His temples throbbing while his heart was heav- Hi ier than lead. H; He thought that in the morning he would go to Ht; Jen McShay H) iVnd beg a brief extension till the mine began to 'Twas' Barney Casey tossed and tossed, in 'Vain he courted rest, So tired was he, so aching was tho heart within his breast. 'Twas Barney Casey from his cot, now desperate, arose, Ho filled his pipe and lighted it and slowly donned his clothes, Saying, "Sure, I must got weary 'ere I can hope to sleep, Tho days and nights arc all alike out in tho tunnel deep, I'll go and fire another shot, loss hard it is I swear, To hit a four-pound hammer than to rido a d d nightmare." So Barney to tho tunriei took his weary way alonej Ho cursed his luck, ho cursed tho world, ho cursed tho stubborn stone Cursed everything until in thought -the face of Jen' McShay Shone on his fevered fancy like a heavenly Roentgen Roent-gen ray. His hot wrath cooled, he seized his drill, ho poised tho heavy sledgo And waged hjs old-time t warfare on tho irrespon- sivo -ledge, When suddenly it softer1 grow beneath his ringing, blows, And looking at the drillings then his heart exultant ex-ultant rose. For in his candle's flickering glare there plainly could bo seen Tho sparkling of tho metals, tho lustro and tho sheen, And Barney charged with dynamlto that hole and tamped It tight, Lighted the fuse and went away and waited till tho night ' . . Was startled by a muffled --peal, the "deep and sullen sul-len roar Tho hills glvo out when eager men Invade their chambers hoar. And Barney Casey scarce could wait the poison smoke to clear, When once again he sought the depths, half crazed with hope and fear. And when he reached the tunnel's face he stood as in a dazo h ' Boforovth.et "vvond'rous Spectacle that' mot, his startled star-tled gaze. Tho shot had opened up a cave, a hundred feet or moro In length, while all the sides and alltho roof and floor, Si. no like real diamonds In tho light with silver, lead and gold, A treasuro chamber sure enough, ablazo with wealth untold. And Barney said, "Eureka! I will go to Jen McShay Mc-Shay And toll her she Is richer than a queen thi3 Christmas Christ-mas day." Whon Barney sought tho outer world, the dawn had come. Tho day On charrlot of light and gold was riding up tho sky. And Barnoy to his cabin went and mixed a toddy great And said, "This Christmas morning I'll afford to celebrate. He mixed a second toddy, and then some more ho mixed, And muttering, "I'll buy the world, for, Barney, now you're fixed," He staggered to his bunk and foil Insensible and lay Exhausted, , drunk and dreamless through all that Christmas day. "Next morning, with, a bursting head and heart bowed down with shame, Barney stood outside his cabin, when up tho trail thoro camo A stranger, who inquired if there were any mines with oro For sale In that vicinity, and Barney answered, "Sure," And led him through the tunnel and showed him what he had, And tho stranger, when ho saw tho cave, was wonder-struck and glad And bought tho ore of Barney, and to guarantee tho trade, A check for a cool thousand to tho joyous Barnoy paid. i Then Barney hied him to tho town, and bought a suit of clothes, A bath and barber patronized, and bought a lovely rose, i A "Bdutonnidr'e, and Then exulting;, quickly mado his way Out to the little house where lived his Idol, Jen McShay. Ho rang1, and to the smiling maid who answered to the boll, "Good morning, Miss, good morning1, and will yees kindly tell Miss Jen McShay that Barney, Barney Casey, Miss, Is hero And has some news which he believes Miss Jen will gladly hear." Then the maiden courtesled and blushed, and with a smile rplied: "Why, she who was Miss Jen McShay is Mrs. Jack McBridc. Wo had a wedding hero at noon; Jen had refused to wed, But she this morning sent for Jack; and half in tears she said: I do not love you very much, but, Jack, go get the priest; I'll bo an honest woman and a faithful wife at least'. The reason for her change of mind, she none of us would tell; Was It not a queer proceeding?" and Barney answered, an-swered, "H 1!" And turned away, then turning back, and breathing breath-ing hard, ho spoke, "Don't ever mention that I've called, and here," his strong voice broke, "Aro five big twenties, take them, please, and have a Christmas treat; A dress and hat and jacket buy, and sandals for your feet." Back to his cabin Barney went, his heart was very sore; Ho entered and the bottle seized and hurled It throuch the door. And said: ."It was the evil one that whisky brought to men; I'll never touch another drop never a drop again," Barney was rich; he sold his mine for a great store of gold, But first in whispers, then aloud, from mouth to mouth 'twas told That Barney Casey's health had failed, and later It was clear Barney was in the shadows, that his ondwas drawing near. When Christmas evo camo 'round again, a friend dropped in to say, "Come, cheer up, Barnfty; I've some nows; she who was Jen McShay Had her boy christened In tho church, and with a mother's pride, Tho name she gavo him listen now was Barney C. McBride." Tho Christmas dawned all sweot and fair, but "Barney In tho night Had sunk Into his last long sleep; if to him camo i.tho light It was as when a year before, ho from tho tunnel camo To find the night had vanished, that tho east was all aflame. They found a will all signed and sealed and witnessed, wit-nessed, and it said: "Glvq mo an humble burial, and whoji tho debt Is paid Givo all tho money that, is loft to Jon McShay-Mc-Bride, J 1 And to her baby Barney, half and half tho sum divide." There's a moral to this ballad, to the boys 'tis don't get tight; To tho girls, don't judge too quickly till you're sure you know you're right. |