“But what object do you wish to effectuate by this?”
“You see, Masther, I dhrink one day wid another from a score to two dozen tumblers, an' I want to swear to no more nor twelve in the twenty-four hours.”
“Why, there's intelligibility in that!—Wid great pleasure, Mr. Connell, I'll indite it. Katty, tare me a lafe out o' Brian Murphy's copy there.”
“You see, Masther, it's for Ellish's sake I'm doin' this. State that in the oath.”
“I know it; an' well she desarved that specimen of abstinence from you, Misther Connell. Thank you!—Your health agin! an' God grant you grace an' fortitude to go through wid the same oath!—An' so he will, or I'm greviously mistaken in you.”
“OATH AGAINST LIQUOR,
made by me, Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath, on behalf
of Mr. Peter Connell, of the cross-roads, Merchant, on
one part—and of the soul of Mrs. Ellish Connell, now
in purgatory, Merchantess, on the other.
“I solemnly and meritoriously, and soberly swear, that
a single tumbler of whiskey punch shall not cross my
lips during the twenty-four hours of the day, barring
twelve, the locality of which is as followeth:
“Imprimis—Two tumblers at home, 2
Secundo—Two more ditto at my son Dan's, 2
Tertio—Two more ditto behind my own garden, 2
Quarto—One ditto at the Reverend Father Mulcahy's, 1
Quinto—Two more ditto at Frank M'Carroll s, of Kilclay, 2
Sexto—One ditto wid ould Bartle Gorman, of Cargah, 1
Septimo—Two more ditto wid honest Roger M'Gaugy, of Nurchasey, 2
====
12
N.B.—Except in case any Docthor of Physic might
think it right and medical to ordher me more for my
health; or in case I could get Father Mulcahy to take
the oath off of me for a start, at a wedding, or a
christening, or at any other meeting of friends where
there's drink.
his
Peter X Connell.
mark.
Witness present,
Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath.
June the 4th, 18—
I certify that I have made and calculated this oath for
Misther Pettier Connell, Merchant, and that it is
strictly and arithmetically proper and correct.
“Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath.
“Dated this Mh day of June, 18—.”
“I think, Misther O'Flaherty, it's a dacent oath as it stands. Plase God, I'll swear to it some time to-morrow evenin'.”
“Dacent! Why I don't wish to become eulogistically addicted; but I'd back tha same oath, for both grammar and arithmetic, aginst any that ever was drawn up by a lawyer—ay, by the great Counsellor himself!—but faith, I'd not face him at a Vow, for all that; he's the greatest man at a Vow in the three kingdoms.”
“I'll tell you what I'm thinkin', Masther—as my hand's in, mightn't I as well take another wid an ould friend of mine, Owen Smith, of Lisbuy? He's a dacent ould residenther, an' likes it. It'll make the baker's or the long dozen.”
“Why, it's not a bad thought; but won't thirteen get into your head?”