His principal
blemish, in addition to the usual marks left by his complaint, consisted
in a drooping of his left eyelid, which gave to his whole face a cast
highly ludicrous.
When Phelim felt thoroughly recovered, he claimed a pair of "leather
crackers," * a hare-skin cap, and a coat, with a pertinacity which kept
the worthy couple in a state of inquietude, until they complied with
his importunity. Henceforth he began to have everything his own way. His
parents, sufficiently thankful that he was spared to them, resolved to
thwart him no more.
* Breeches made of sheep's skin, so called from the
noise they make in walking or running.
"It's well we have him at all," said his mother; "sure if we hadn't him,
we'd be breakin' our hearts, and sayin' if it 'ud plase God to send him
back to us, that we'd be happy even wid givin' him his own way."
"They say it breaks their strinth, too," replied his father, "to be
crubbin' them in too much, an' snappin' at thim for every hand's turn,
an' I'm sure it does too."
"Doesn't he become the pock-marks well, the crathur?" said the mdther.
"Become!" said the father; "but doesn't the droop in his eye set him off
all to pieces!"
"Ay," observed the mother, "an' how the crathur went round among all the
neighbors to show them the 'leather crackers!' To see his little pride
out o' the hare-skin cap, too, wid the hare's ears stickin' out of his
temples.
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