ONLY AN IRISH BOY

CONTENTS

Chapter
I. ANDY BURKE
II. A SKIRMISH
III. ANDY AND HIS MOTHER
IV. MRS. PRESTON
V. A PROFITABLE JOB
VI. THE TWO OLD MAIDS
VII. ANDY OBTAINS A PLACE
VIII. THE MIDNIGHT ALARM
IX. WHAT FOLLOWED
X. ANDY'S DEBUT AT SCHOOL
XI. A GAME OF BALL
XII. A LITTLE DIFFICULTY
XIII. GODFREY'S REBELLION
XIV. MR. STONE IS CALLED TO ACCOUNT
XV. MRS. PRESTON'S DISCOMFITURE
XVI. THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT
XVII. INTRODUCES AN ADVENTURER
XVIII. RIDING WITH A HIGHWAYMAN
XIX. BAFFLED A ROBBER
XX. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED
XXI. A MODEL WIFE
XXII. COLONEL PRESTON'S RECOVERY
XXIII. MRS. BURKE HAS GOOD FORTUNE
XXIV. ANDY'S JOURNEY
XXV. THE MERCHANT FROM PORTLAND
XXVI. SPINNING THE WEB
XXVII. THE DROP GAME
XXVIII. THE GUEST OF TWO HOTELS
XXIX. A STARTLING EVENT
XXX. COLONEL PRESTON'S WILL
XXXI. MRS. PRESTON'S INTENTIONS
XXXII. MRS. PRESTON'S REVENGE
XXXIII. ANDY LOSES HIS PLACE
XXXIV. THE WILL AT LAST
XXXV. MRS. PRESTON IS UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED
XXXVI. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL





ONLY AN IRISH BOY




CHAPTER I
ANDY BURKE


"John, saddle my horse, and bring him around to the door."

The speaker was a boy of fifteen, handsomely dressed, and, to judge
from his air and tone, a person of considerable consequence, in his
own opinion, at least. The person addressed was employed in the stable
of his father, Colonel Anthony Preston, and so inferior in social
condition that Master Godfrey always addressed him in imperious tones.

John looked up and answered, respectfully:

"Master Godfrey, your horse is sick of the disease, and your father
left orders that he wasn't to go out on no account."

"It's my horse," said Godfrey; "I intend to take him out."

"Maybe it's yours, but your father paid for him."

"None of your impudence, John," answered Godfrey, angrily. "Am I
master, or are you, I should like to know!"

"Neither, I'm thinking," said John, with a twinkle in his eye. "It's
your father that's the master."

"I'm master of the horse, anyway, so saddle him at once."

"The colonel would blame me," objected John.

"If you don't, I'll report you and get you dismissed."

"I'll take the risk, Master Godfrey," said the servant,
good-humoredly. "The colonel won't be so unreasonable as to send me
away for obeying his own orders."

Here John was right, and Godfrey knew it, and this vexed him the more.
He had an inordinate opinion of himself and his own consequence, and
felt humiliated at being disobeyed by a servant, without being able to
punish him for his audacity. This feeling was increased by the
presence of a third party, who was standing just outside the fence.

As this third party is our hero, I must take a separate paragraph to
describe him. He was about the age of Godfrey, possibly a little
shorter and stouter. He had a freckled face, full of good humor, but
at the same time resolute and determined. He appeared to be one who
had a will of his own, but not inclined to interfere with others,
though ready to stand up for his own rights. In dress he compared very
unfavorably with the young aristocrat, who was biting his lips with
vexation. In fact, though he is my hero, his dress was far from
heroic. He had no vest, and his coat was ragged, as well as his pants.
He had on a pair of shoes two or three times too large for him.