Custom Sunday
In a small Tipperary village it was customary for the local farmers' daughters
to sit on a wall outside the church after Sunday Mass so that the local matchmaker
could walk prospective clients to see the girls on display a kind of a 'Sitting
on the Bridge below the town' situation. One Sunday the matchmaker, a prospective
husband and the young man's. father passed by and one girl who had been earmarked
was examined by the youth and his father and both were suitably impressed. Details
of the girl's dowry were haggled about and eventually a deal was made. Suddenly
the young man stopped the proceedings and announced that he wanted to see the
girl 'striding out.' Taken aback, the matchmaker tried to dissuade the young man
saying that he shouldn't be all that interested in her walking prowess but the
client was adamant. The matchmaker went to the girl and told her to walk past
the lad and his father and the young man's wisdom was proven for the girl had
a rather bad limp. The young man protested, the father and the matchmaker tried
to get him to ignore the girl's limp. In desperation, the matchmaker finally shouted
at the lad:'What the blazes are you worried about? A young lad like you shouldn't
be interested in a steeplechaser. You'll be only wanting her for the flat.'
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