Tom. And what entertainment or good usage did you get there, Pady?
Teag. O my dear shoy, I was kindly used as another gentleman, for I told him I had made something of it, by my travels, as well as himself, but I had got no money, therefore I had to work for my victuals while I staid with him.
Tom. Ho, poor Pady, I suppose you would not stay long there.
Teag. Arra, dear honey, I could have staid there long enough, but when a man is poor his friends think little of him: I told him I was going to see my brother Harry: Harry, said he, is dead: dead said I, and who killed him? Why said he, death: Allelieu, dear honey, and where did he kill him? said I. In his bed, said he; O what for a cowardly action was that, said I, to kill a man in his bed: and what is this fellow death? said I. What is he, He is one that kills more than the head butcher in all Cork does. Arra, dear honey, said I, if he had been upon Newry mountains with his brogues on, and his broad sword by his side, all the deaths in Ireland had not have killed him: O that impudent fellow death, if he had let him alone till he died for want of butter milk and potatoes, I am sure he had lived all the days of his life.
Tom. In all your travels when abroad, did you never see any of your countrymen, to inform you of what happened at home concerning your relations?
Teag. Arra dear shoy, I saw none but Tom Jack one day in the street; but when I came to him, it was not him, but one just like him.
Tom. On what account did you go a travelling?
Teag. Why, a decruiting sergeant listed me to be a captain, and after all advanced me no higher than a soldier itself, but only he called me his dear countryman recruit: for I did not know what the regiment was when I saw them; I thought they were all gentlemen’s sons and collegeoners, when I saw a box like a bible upon their bellies: until I saw K for King George upon it, and R for God bless him: ho, ho, said I, I shan’t be long here.
Tom. O then Pady, you deserted from them?
Teag. Ah that’s what I did, and run to the mountains like a wild buck, and ever since when I see any soldiers I close my eyes, lest they should look and know me.