General John Regan

by George A. Birmingham

“Speak up, Thady Gallagher,” he said, “and tell the gentleman about the statue.”

“With reference to the statue——” said Gallagher.

“Yes,” said Mr. Billing encouragingly, “the statue to General John Regan.”

“With reference to the statue of the deceased general,” said Gallagher.

“What he’s wanting to say,” said Doyle, “is that at the present time there’s no statue to the General, not in Ballymoy, anyway.”

“You surprise me some,” said Mr. Billing.

“It’s what there ought to be,” said Doyle, “and that’s a fact.”

“Is Ballymoy such a nursery of heroes,” said Mr. Billing, “that you can afford to neglect the memory of the great General, the patriot statesman, the deliverer of Bolivia?”

“Speak up, Thady,” said Doyle, “and tell the gentleman why there’s no statue to the General in Ballymoy.”

Gallagher cleared his throat and began to speak. At first his words came to him slowly; but as he warmed to his subject he became fluent and even eloquent.