I can try to pretend that the following tale is not my life story, but the truth of the matter is, I'm a horrible liar.
As a young lad, I had very little regard for my heart.
I'm not talking about my blood-pumping organ, I mean that I could easily trust, mistrust, promise and un-promise without letting it bother my conscience. When I moved to Dublin to work in the textile mills, I found myself alone and unregulated. Nothing but me and a brand-new-untarnished reputation.
But there was this lass, I can't recall the first time I'd lain my eyes on her, but each and every time they'd rest a spell longer.
But who was I? But a plain man. A plain man with little integrity to be sure.
Every man begins life a fool. It takes some longer than others to grow out of it. My time had not yet come and I went about my own way to gain her attention.
I graced the streets with chin held high and a smile constantly plastered on my face. I greeted each gentleman I met with a hearty "Good morning" and each lady with a doff of my cap. When the lass I'd approach, I'd bow low for her and inquire her name. Each day, she'd turn her nose up and walk on by.
Every man is made a fool of in his life. It takes some longer than others to grow out of it. My time had not yet come and I went about a new way to gain her attention.
I would take a large portion of my pay and spread it among the children and the homeless as I walked toward the mills. I made no mistake about my heartfelt generosity. I gave large amounts to each one, so I did. When the lass was walking by I'd be giving my most commendable performance. But walking on by, she kept on without giving me an opportunity to find out her name.
Every man is tempted to spend their money foolishly. It takes some longer than others to grow out of it. My time had not yet come and I went about another way to gain her attention.
I lurked the streets until a moment revealed to me an opportunity to show my strength. As the lass walked by, I snatched up a smaller man than I by his collar, shouting "See here that you never speak that way about a lady so elegant and graceful again!" and proceeded in giving the man a sharp cuff on the ear. The man, startled and feeling disrespected, produced a knife which I did not see until too late. My eyes rested one last time on the lass, who showed no emotion, as I drifted away.
Every man makes a fool of himself sometime. It takes some longer than others to grow out of it. My time never came and I never did learn her name.
