Only an Irish Boy

Only an Irish Boy

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Only An Irish Boy, by Horatio Alger,
Jr. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Only An Irish Boy Andy Burke's Fortunes
Author: Horatio Alger, Jr.
Release Date: February 16, 2004 [EBook #11111]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ONLY AN
IRISH BOY ***

Produced by George Smith

ONLY AN IRISH BOY Or, Andy Burke's Fortunes by Horatio Alger,
Jr.
Author of "Paul the Peddler," "Phil the Fiddler," "Strive and Succeed,"
"Slow and Sure," "Try and Trust," etc.

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. They had not been made to order, but had
been given him by a gentleman of nearly double his size, and fitted him
too much. He wore a straw hat, for it was summer, but the brim was
semi-detached, and a part of his brown hair found its way through it.
Now Godfrey was just in the mood for picking a quarrel with
somebody, and as there was no excuse for quarreling any further with
John, he was rather glad to pitch into the young stranger.
"Who are you?" he demanded, in his usual imperious tone,