the fire rattling the poker in the grate and pushing the baby away
from the fire. She says, Tis his own bloody fault for not goin into hos-
pital, so tis.
Mr. Clohessy gasps, Id be all right if I could live in a dry place.
Angela, is America a dry place?
Tis, Dennis.
The doctor told me go to Arizona. A funny man that doctor. Ari-
zona how are you. I dont have the money to go around the corner for
a pint.
Mam says,Youll be all right, Dennis. Ill light a candle for you.
Save your money,Angela. My dancin days are done.
I have to go now, Dennis. My son has to go to school.
Before you go,Angela, will you do one thing for me?
I will, Dennis, if tis in my power.
Would you ever give us a verse of that song you sang the night
before you went to America?
Thats a hard song, Dennis. I wouldnt have the wind for it.
Ah, come on, Angela. I never hear a song anymore. There isnt a
song in this house.The wife there doesnt have a note in her head an
no step in her foot.
Mam says,All right. Ill try.
Oh, the nights of the Kerry dancing, Oh, the ring of the pipers tune,
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness, gone, alas, like our youth too soon.
When the boys began to gather in the glen of a Summer night,
And the Kerry pipers tuning made us long with wild delight.
She stops and presses her hand to her chest, Oh, God, my wind is
gone. Help me, Frank, with the song, and I sing along,
Oh, to think of it, Oh, to dream of it, fills my heart with tears.
Oh, the nights of the Kerry dancing, Oh, the ring of the pipers tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness, gone, alas, like our youth too soon.
Mr. Clohessy tries to sing with us, gone, alas, like our youth too
soon, but it brings on the cough. He shakes his head and cries, I
wouldnt doubt you,Angela. It takes me back. God bless you.
God bless you, too, Dennis, and thanks, Mrs. Clohessy, for having
Frankie here off the streets.
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