62 SPECIMENS OF IRISH FAITH. 



attention was attracted by a nice piece of bacon, which hung in the 

 chimney-corner. Terry looked at it again and again, and wished the 

 childer " had it at home wid the praties." 



" Murther alive !" says he, " will I take it ? Sure the priest can 

 spare it, an' it wou'd be a rare thrate to Judy an' the gorsoons at 

 home, to say nothin iv meself, who hasn't tasted the likes this many's 

 the day." Terry looked at it again, and then turned away, saying 

 " I won't take it why wou'd I, an' it not mine, but the priest's ? an' 

 I'd have the sin iv it, sure ! I won't take it," repeated he, " an' its 

 nothin' but the Ould Boy himself that's timptin' me ! But sure it's no 

 harm to feel it, any way/' said he, taking it into his hand, and looking 

 earnestly at it. " Och ! it's a beauty ; and why wouldn't I carry it 

 home to Judy and the childer ? an' sure it won't be a sin afther I 

 confesses it !" 



Well, into his great coat pocket he thrust it ; and he had scarcely 

 done so, when the maid came in and told him that it was his turn for 

 confession. 



" Murther alive ! I'm kil't an' ruin'd, horse an' foot, now, joy, Terry; 

 what'll I do in this quandary at all, at all ? By gaunies ! I must thry 

 an, make the best of it, any how/' sis he to himself, and in he went. 



He knelt to the priest, told his sins, and was about to receive 

 absolution, when all at once he seemed to recollect himself, and 

 cried out 



" Och ! stop stop, Father O'Higgins, dear ! for goodness sake, 

 stop ! I have one great big sin to tell yit ; only, sir, I'm frightened 

 to tell id, in the regard of never having done the like's afore, sur, 

 niver !" 



" Come," said Father O'Higgins, " you must tell it to me." 



" Why, then, your Riverince, I will tell id j but, sir, I'm ashamed 

 like V 



" Oh, never mind ! tell it," said the priest. 



" Why, then, your Riverince, I wint one day to a gintleman's 

 house, upon a little bit of business, an' he bein' ingaged, I was shewed 

 into the kitchin to wait. Well, sur, there I saw a beautiful bit iv 

 bacon hangiii' in the chimbly-corner. I looked at id, your Riverince, 

 an' my teeth begin to wather. I don't know how id was, sur, but I 

 suppose the Divil timpted me, for I put it into my pocket ; but, 

 if you plaze, sur, I'll give it to you," and he put his hand into his 

 pocket. 



" Give it to me !" said Father O'Higgins ; ee no, certainly not ; give 

 it back to the owner of it." 



" Why then, your Riverince, sur, I offered id to him, and he 

 wouldn't take id." 



" Oh ! he wouldn't, wouldn't he ?" said the priest ; " then take 

 it home, and eat it yourself, with your family." 



" Thank your Riverince kindly !" says Terence, " an' I'll do that 

 same immediately, plaize God ; but first an' foremost, I'll have the 

 absolution, if you plaize, sur." 



Terence received absolution, and went home, rejoicing that he 

 had been able to save his soul and his bacon at the same time. 



