Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1888 — Paddy Murphy’s Breeches. [ARTICLE]

Paddy Murphy’s Breeches.

While traveling in the south of Ireland a tourist was regaled by a cardriver with the tale of how Paddy Murphy had his breeches let out. It was thus told: “Well, sor, Paddy Murphy, who lives in a cabin close by, wanted a pair of breeches. So he goes down to Peter McClogan, the tailor, who Jives in the valley below, and says, says he, ‘Peter, 11 want you to make me a pair; of breeches.’ “ ‘Stand by,’ says Peter, ‘and I will measure you.’ “So the breeches were made, and when sent home they were so small that Paddy could not get into them. Back he took them, and told Peter how vexed he was with them. “ ‘You’ve made my breeches too small,’ he says. ‘You must let them out.’ “ ‘Well,’ says Peter, ‘leave them w’ith me, and I will do that same for you.’ “So Pat left them to be let out. Time went by, and Peter did not send them back. So Paddy went down to the valley to see why he did not got them. As soon as he got to the house he saw the tailor digging up some potatoes, and he shouted out to him, ‘Peter, have you let my breeches out?’ “ ‘Faith and I have,’ says Peter; ‘l’ve let them out for a shilling a week ever since you left them!’ ”