Королі та капуста
The Shamrock and the Palm
’Twastheprojectofaprivatecorporation,butitbusted,andthenthegovernmenttookitup.DeVegyisabigpolitician,andwantstobeprisident.Thepeoplewanttherailroadcompleted,asthey’retaxedmightyonaccountofit.TheDeVegymanispushin’italongasacampaignmove.’
""Tisnotmyway,’saysI,‘tomakethreatsagainstanyman,butthere’sanaccounttobesettledbetweentherailroadmanandJamesO’DowdClancy.’
""TwasthatwayIthought,mesilf,atfirst,’Halloransays,withabigsigh,‘untilIgottobealettuce-eater.Thefault’swidthesetropics.Theyrejuicesaman’ssystem.’Tisaland,asthepoetsays,"Whereitalwaysseemstobeafterdinner."Idoesmeworkandsmokesmepipeandsleeps.There’slittleelseinlife,anyway.Ye’llgetthatwayyersilf,mightysoon.Don’tbeharbourin’anysintimentsatall,Clancy.’
"‘Ican’thelpit,’saysI;‘I’mfullof’em.Ienlistedintherevolutionaryarmyofthisdarkcountryingoodfaithtofightforitsliberty,honoursandsilvercandlesticks;insteadofwhichIamsettoamputatin’itssceneryandgrubbin’itsroots.’Tisthegeneralmanwillhavetopayforit.’
"TwomonthsIworkedonthatrailroadbeforeIfoundachancetogetaway.OnedayagangofuswassentbacktotheendofthecompletedlinetofetchsomepicksthathadbeensentdowntoPortBarriostobesharpened.Theywerebroughtonahand-car,andInoticed,whenIstartedaway,thatthecarwasleftthereonthetrack.
