BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY 



living off the place by close economy. I've made 

 up my mind that the best use I can put this 

 money to is to go back there and fix them up in 

 good shape — and then I'm off to the war." 



*'Good for you, Tom," I said approvingly, *'but 

 then I naturally expected that you would put 

 your money to a sensible use. How is it with 

 Jack?" 



And Tom and I turned our inquiring looks to 

 the Irishman. 



"I know what you think," retorted he quickly. 

 "You think you know what'U get away with 

 Jack's money. In your minds you see my money 

 going for whiskey and me never drawing a sober 

 breath till I'm down to bed-rock. But I'm going 

 to fool you. I've been doing some thinking for 

 myself — and that's a rare thing for Jack, you 

 know — an' I says to myself, says I, *Jacky, boy, 

 this is the time of your life to do some good for 

 your poor kindred in ould Ireland.' I haven't 

 heard from any of them for several years and 

 don't know who of them is living an' who is dead. 

 But I've made up my mind that when we get into 

 Leavenworth not a drop will I touch, and soon as 

 I crook me fingers on that money I'll hit the trail 

 for New York, take passage for the ould dart, and 

 If I can find any of my family living I'll bring 

 them back with me to this glorious land of liberty, 

 where one man's as good as another and a blamed 

 sight better if he behaves himself decently. And 



299 



