narrated in the beginning of this story. Yet he was never seen again near the house of his hoped-for fatherin-law, and rarely encountered him, except at fair or market, and then only by accident. Indeed, 'Zekiel, on such occasions, did not refuse a "trait," for he had made it a matter of principle throughout life to take as much as was offered, and to accept all he could get for nothing. Yet their meeting at the market was the rarer, because 'Zekiel had gone ahead a step, and had pretensions of proceeding to larger outlets. So, he was occasionally heard of as having been seen in Limerick, a good twenty miles off, and once or twice in queer company; but he was shrewd enough to take care of himself.

Whatever caused his absence, it must be said that spring-time came in to every heart, all the more pleasant, all the more sunny, and it seemed even more propitious for that absence. So, certainly, it appeared to Mrs. O'Breen.

One of those pleasant spring evenings, she sat beside the door on the stone bench, or mounting stone," placed there for the service of rural equestrians, who were not much accustomed to vault into saddle after the old knightly manner, or whose vaulting days, like her brave old husband's, were over for ever.

Mrs. O'Breen was knitting a sock, whose white margin contrasted splendidly with the deep blue leg, in which she had expended all her powers to produce copious and symmetrical "rib-au'-furrows," and had succeeded quite to her satisfaction. Content was radiant on her face, under her white motherly cap, carefully Italian-ironed in the frill, and a smile played about the corners of her lips, although she was performing the difficult operation of "turning the heel." But it was a pleasant evening, and she had a right to be in good humour. She had turned no poverty-stricken creature away who did not leave her a blessing. Even "Grumbling Biddy" herself, who, after she had received her portion, went grumbling pist her to the highway-even she, when she had gone out of sight round the turn of the road, appeared suddenly again; not, indeed, to give her thanks or a blessing, but for the satisfaction of wishing a thousand ills to any of her enemies, whether of air, earth, water, or fire. For, poor Biddy was foolish, and had condemnations readier to her tongue than blessings, like many of our philosophers.

The sycamore hummed a varying, mysterious, confidential bum and whisper over Mrs. O'Breen's head and house, and a little red-breast bosom-friend came often down, with more than one comrade, to distract her attention from her knitting, by the rapidity with which they gathered up the crumbs she had considerately scattered, and to rouse the indignation of her favourite old tufted hen, who considered her rights infringed. The brook, a few yards from the door, went in glittering reds and yellows towards the sunset. Where it merged into a pool, rose the surprising gabble of ducks and geese, hidden from sight by a few bushes. The sun was near its setting, far out at sea; a faint glimmer of the waves, and the still fainter sound of their murmur on the shore, be'ng all that she could perceive at that distance. From

the open door beside her came the voices of young girls, and the seldom-interrupted hum of the spinning-wheel. One was the voice of the "daughter of the house," a red-cheeked, black-haired, lively girl; the other was that of their merry, active servant; they were singing alternately the verses of an Irish song, which would run thus in English.

Eileen sings, questioning:

"Oro, O darling fair! and ioro, O Fairness fair! Who's the young maid will married on Easter there, Oro, O darling fair, O lamb, and O love!"

Nora answering, sings :

"Oro, O darling fair! and ioro, O Fairness fair!
Mary Ni Clery, I hear will be married there,
Oro, O darling fair, O lamb! and O love!"
Eileen, enquiringly:

"Oro, O darling fair! and ioro, O Fairness fair!
Who's the young man upon whom fell this happy air?
Oro, O darling fair, O lamb and O love!"

Nora was about answering in the same sort of impromptu verse, easy enough in Irish, which is peculiarly apt in rhyme, and thus they would have proceeded to discuss, according to usage, the youth, his claims, and the trousseau; but she didn't answer the question. A thought struck her, and she slyly let her thread break :

"Sorra to it, for a fickle creatur," said she, in pretended anger; "it's as bad as any rovin spalpeen of a lover." However, she managed to right it soon, and the wheel whirled on again, but at a different rate. "There now," said she, "I can't set it right to that air; do, Miss Eileen, astore, go on wid the other," she added, with a great assumption of thinking of nothing but the spinning.

Eileen blushed faintly, but with a laugh to hide her half-confusion, commenced in the prescribed form ;

"Looreen, O loora, loora, laura,

Go by the river and bring me my lover." Nora,exercising her ingenuity, contrives to tease her young mistress by promising ineligible individuals. She responds:

Looreen, O loora, loora, laura,

"Tis Connor O'Hart I'll bring to you over." Eileen, disdainfully :

"Looreen, O loora, loora, laura,

His face like the winter, his steps lik the plover,
Looreen, O loora, loora, laura,

Go by the river, and bring me my lover."
Nora, mischievously:

"Looreen, O loora, loora, laura, 'Tis 'Zekiel Black I quickly discover." Eileen, half-offended:

"Looreen, O loora, loora, laura,

Black-named, and black-hearted, and black in my favour,

Looreen, O loora, loɔra, laura,

He may be yours, but look for my lover."

Nora, touched a little by the sarcasm, was about to introduce the nane of Donat O'Brien for whom she

guessed her young mistress did entertain certain tender feelings, when the voice of Mrs. O'Breen was heard : "Here comes the master, children; put aside the wheels, and Nora, call 'Leeam from the garden to put up the horse. O, you're there, are you, 'Leeam, listenin' to the singing, I'll be bound; run away out now, he's turning the corner. Nora you'll have to sing lower the next time, and not be drawin' the poor gomeril from his work-"

"Wisha, then, mistress," said Nora, in confusion; "sure an' he was workin' near the door, ma'am."

66

Wisha, yourself, an' don't be vexin' me, but take up that pot of phatees from the fire, an' put down the kittle, 'till he do get his bowl o' punch after his dinner. You needn't be trying thim, I tell you; they're done enough; so is the meat; up with thim-that's right.”

So Mrs. O'Breen settled the kitchen cheerfully, took down the plates from the "dresser," and arranged them on the white well-scoured table. Then she went back to the door, to give her husband the "folta volla”— welcome home-help him to take off his great, wellcaped, ontside riding-coat, and relieve him of one or two parcels he had brought from the town. Then Michael O'Breen felt comfortable and happy; and if he thought she would be the better of himself in the "room" to ar range the parcels, had he not a right to his idea? and if a sound, resembling a hearty smack came from the cupboard when it was opened, was that any cause why Nora should giggle, picking out a dish of the best potatoes? Even if it were not the creak of the cupboard, had he not a right to his idea then, also? But, Nora was "ever an' alway," as poor tormented 'Leeam (or William) said, "full of her tricks and full of her fun."

Michael O'Brien completed his dinner, and turned half round to the blazing fire, his right arm resting on the table, and bearing sway over a gallant bowl of punch.

Open, in the king's name!" cried a hoarse voice outside; and without waiting for an invitation, the party opened the door themselves, and a corporal's guard burst into the kitchen.

Why, what's the maneing of this ?" said the farmer, somewhat startled, rising to his feet.

"Halt!" cried the corporal. "Form in line, face, stand at-ease."

The yeomen attempted to perform such operations, and succeeded-miserably. The corporal stepped forward to the farmer.

"I am commissioned, in the first place," said he, "to drink your health. Here's to you," taking up O'Breen's punch and winking at his privates, who, of course, chuckled.

"Take it," said O'Breen, "an' welcome, an' what's more, there's as much for aich of the craiters there, if you like."

"No" responded the corporal, "I've no time, you're to consider yourself under arrest. Come, get ready to march."

"Me," cried the farmer, "what have I done? I'll not move a step."

VOL. III.

Mrs. O'Breen and her daughter rushed between him and the corporal.

"For heaven's sake," cried she, "for heaven's sake, what has he done? What do they accuse him of? he's done nothing-nothing at all."

"Fix bayonets!" commanded the corporal. "Present."

The woman shrieked in wild despair, but the corporal stood rigid.

Prepare to march, or blood will be shed. You're accused of treason, entering into communication with his Majesty's enemies, and getting young men commissions in the Irish brigade in the service of the king of France. Get ready, prepare to march; now come along, will you?"

"I'm ready," said O'Breen stoutly, "Mary and Eileen, don't cry, darlints; never fear, I'll come back shortly; I've had nothing to do with it at all, at all!" "Shoulder arms!" cried the corporal. "March." Out of the house they went, leaving a stricken pair behind them. Oh, how sorrowful it looked to see the brave old man, the head of the family, whose word was their law, ordered about and out of his own house! How was the sanctuary desecrated, and the beautiful place trampled down! That last sight of the old man pass. ing out into the night, a soldier on each side of him ; how it haunted them! Their hearts were as though their chords had been rudely torn away; and they had no resource or happiness on earth. So they, kneeling, invoked it from heaven; they had too much confined happiness to the earth, and then they found that they had trusted to a breaking reed; but as they prayed, came strength to endure and hope.

They had bolted and locked the door after the old man's departure, and were still comforting each other before retiring to rest, when they heard stealthy footsteps outside, a push at the door, and then a short consultation. Their hearts beat with renewed, but greater because more vague, affright. Then came a knock at the door and a disguised voice asking, "A night's shelter for a poor wanderin' piper and his wife an'child ?" There was no answer. Then a woman's voice demanded the same thing, "For the love of heaven, the poor child was starving with the could." The mother and daughter drew closer to each other. That voice! no, no, it was no woman's; had they never heard it before? Surely, it was wonderfully like their neighbour Black's; but, again, had he not sent over word that morning that he was going to Limerick, and would be there all night ?" These ideas passed with the rapidity of lightning between the two trembling women. But, they occupied time enough to make those outside impa tient.

"Come, come, open the door, or we'll break it in; 'tis Captain Rock. We want fire-arms!" he shouted, in a loud, menacing voice. Still no answer from within. The mother and daughter silently strengthened the door fastenings, then stepped lightly towards the backdoor. To their horror they found it " on the latch" only; it at once occurred to them to slide out by it. It

X

but

was clear that the rude besiegers knew not of any the one at which they were.

Slip up, Eileen, an' waken Nora, aisy, aisy." "Sure she's at the wake, mother dear." "Dash in the door! Come, come, Eileen, you're wanted," shouted the "woman's" voice outside. 66 Сарtain Rock wants you-out with you, we know you're there."

Crash went the first blow on the door; the stout wood shivered.

66 Rock, Rock, hurrah!" shouted voices at back and sides of the house, and a confused tramping of a crowd of feet was heard round about-approaching the front door. A sudden whispering was heard there; evidently the last cries emanated from a distinct party, and they gathered near the front. Accents of fury and fear were heard, especially in the "woman's" voice; then a noise of decamping feet, and of a rapidly-approaching crowd. A sudden yell of pain, and a loud "Rock, Rock, hurrah, hurrah!" burst forth. The next thing the perplexed and terror-struck women could distinguish amid the tramping was that the latch of the back-door was being tried. How despairingly they congratulated themselves on having fastened it. Suddenly they recognised the voice. “Open, maʼam, sure it's me." They warily opened, and pulled in the servant Nora; rapidly bolting it, they cautioned her to be silent for her life.

"Wisha, for why, ma'am ?" said Nora, shockingly loud, and with something like triumph in her voice. A quick suspicion entered Mrs. O'Brien's mind, could Nora have tasted anything at the wake? It nearly made her faint, for then what were they to do? So she repeated her caution, told her the assault, and desired her to listen to the tramping outside yet; every moment a new assault might come on.

66 Orra, but I'll assault," shouted Nora ; "never mind, ma'am; don't be crying, Miss Eileen; it's bad enough about the poor master, but wisha sure its nothing but the cattle that are tramping there, the craiters! Myself and himself—you know I mean 'Leeam-were comin' up from the wake; he was to convoy me home, and whin we got near here, the moon gave a glimpse, an' we saw min at the door."

""That's a quare thing, thinks we, an' we slips along the garden wall, an' listens, an' we heard one say to the other, 'Now you purtind to be a piper,' an' again,' do you purtind to be Captain Rock.' So as there was only three of them there, we thought we might purtind where there was so much purtensions, an' we loosened the poor cattle, au' drove them a-tramping through the dark round the house, an' we burrahing 'Rock, Rock!' an' O wirra, ma'am if I don't think they took us for the rale captain after all, an' I do think that 'Leeam drove a pitch-fork into the make-believe wife and captain, for he gave an awful yell, an' to be sure he will deserve it all, an' twicest more, a wisha, O whirroo!" cried Nora, in a fever of delight and triumph, clasping them alternately and both together in her arms. With 'Leeam present, they felt that they had nothing more to fear, more especially as Bran, their brave dog, made his bark

heard, returning from the chase, to which he had devoted himself for a quarter of a mile, with all the energy of a private speculator.

CHAPTER III.

THREE weeks after the arrest of Michael O'Breen, and the midnight attack upon his house, the county courthouse was thronged by an anxious multitude. The builder of that legal edifice had not expended much anxiety in efforts to provide for the accommodation of the audience; or if he had, they had proved in vain.

Yet, inconvenient as was the position of each individual, when he first introduced himself into the narrow seats, it became, as may be imagined, rather more so, when he had to support considerable pressure on either shoulder, and resignedly, to upbear one or more anxious elbows, upon his back and neck.

"Si-lence!"-the judge has entered; the jury are sworn in.

Crier: "His gracious Majesty the king, George II., versus Michael O'Breen, for that he, contrary to acts in that case made and provided, has wilfully and traitorously essayed to procure, and did procure, a commission in the so-called Irish Brigade, a traitorous corps, then serving the enemy of his gracious Majesty, for his intended son-in-law, Donat O'Brien. Bring forth the prisoners !"

Then the learned lawyer for the king stated the matter of accusation, the heinousness of the offence, and the grave responsibility that weighed upon the very intelligent, very loyal, and very gentleman-like jury, whom he then and there had the honour of addressing. He would first prove to his lordship, and the gentlemen of the jury, by the testimony of an indisputably respectable, of a most distinguishedly loyal subject, who only appeared greatly against his inclination to give evidence, because his conscience would not permit him to be silent any longer he would prove by his testimony, that the prisoner Michael O'Breen had imparted to him his intention. Next he would prove, on a testimony equally indisputable, and equally loyal, that he had actually carried his project into effect, and that the younger prisoner had been invested with the post, rank and title of sub-lieutenant or ensign, in said brigade, with full powers to enlist, seduce, and carry beyond the seas, such subjects of his gracious Majesty, King George the Second, as might be disaffected or unguarded. He would now call the first witness, Ezekiel Black.

Conversing in a low tone with a man, whose constitution seemed to have met with sad usage in life, 'Zekiel Black stood; now looking slightly startled at the sudden mention of his name. He seemed to have been ill, for he had to be helped up to the witness-box.

"My lord and gentlemen of the jury," said the lawyer for the prosecution, "you behold before you the effect of conscience" (Zeky Black's suspicious eye turned on him, uneasily) "you behold here a man who has had a severe struggle with himself to unveil a hideous crime in his neighbour. Ezekiel Black, state what the pr:soner told you touching his treasonable designs."

Ezekiel Black." For why should I do aught or anything to injure my good neighbour? I beg to be let off. It may only have been in jest. But-"

The Judge." Witness, you have been sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Tell it, sir, this instant, or, egad" (the judge was of an old and unpleasant school) "we'll have you laid in his place. No sympathy with treason, sir, ha!"

Ezekiel Black, turning a vindictive, but, as it were, a deprecatory look at old O'Breen: "Well, my lord and gentlemen, I happened to be at this prisoner's one night, in the early part of the year. None were there but our two selves. The prisoner informed me that he was powerful with a colonel of the brigade, and that he was about procuring a commission for Donat O'Brien, his intended son-in law, and that if I desired, he would get me nominated; which I declined timorously, for I was afeard of his hasty temper. Then he threatened me."

Counsel for the defence.-"My lord and gentlemen of the jury, we will prove this man's evidence a vile perjury. It is true there was a conversation; it is untrue that any illegal proposition was made; it is true none were present in the apartment; but the prisoner's wife, here present, heard every word from an adjoining apartment-'

Counsel for the prosecution.-"I protest against this, till my witnesses are heard; besides, we all know what value to attach to a wife's evidence, when her family's endangered."

Counsel for the defence.-"I appeal then to his lordship to make the witness sit down; he has been standing there disrespectfully."

His Lordship. "Sit down, witness, sit down, sir. Eh? What? If you don't sit down without that shambling pretence, I'll order you off the table, sir. Go down, this instant, sir," to Ezekiel who, after several praise-worthy but vain attempts, stood up in despair. "Take him into custody for contempt of court."

Counsel for the prosecution," My lord and gentlemen of the jury, I am informed by last witness that he meant no disrespect, inasmuch as he was unable to perform the court's behest, on account of an accidental fall depriving him the power of a leg-a fall which he received in endeavouring to rescue a dumb favourite from a torrent. My next witness shall complete the chain of evidence, and thoroughly vindicate my last witness's statement. Job Slocum!"

Here the individual with whom Ezekiel had been in conversation, made a sudden rush forward, but quickly stopping, he marched up with preternatural gravity.

"Your name is Slocum?"-The witness had one shoulder considerably higher than the other; so, as the elevated shoulder, was next his interrogator, he "slued himself" round and imparted in a confidential voice, that his name was Job Slocum."

.6

"What's your business?"

Witness" Wall, ah, d'ye see, I've been suthings in my time, an' I don't know why you should ax—” "Are you not a sea-captain ?"

Witness confidently, and apparently much relieved

"Yes, I is."

"And you, walking out one evening, accidentally saw both said prisoners meet in the ruined abbey by the seacoast with several foreigners, and there heard the elder prisoner state his treasonable intentions, which were accepted by the foreigners and Donat O'Breen ?"

Witness rising from the chair, and steadying himself upon his legs-" Yes, I did, sartenly, there to meet on sea-coast, state his 'tentions-Donat O'Brien and his daughter, made a hinsign of both."

Counsel for defence, innocently.-" Do you mean of Donat O'Brien and his daughter?"

Witness, "slueing" round to him, and shutting his eye emphatically" Yis, I" (here he caught a glimpse of Zeky in the court, shaking his head and frowning) I doant-doant ee be doin that, eh? all right, Yis I doant Sir," sitting down with great gravity.

Counsel for the prosecution." My lord, I protest against being interrupted by the counsel for the defence before his time. But now, my lord, I have done with this witness; he may go down."

Counsel for the defence.- "Stay a moment. Now witness, upon your oath, on your solemn oath, Sir, who did you hear talking of giving this title of ensign to Donat O'Brien ?"

Witness arose and steadied himself sternly upon his wavering knees. It was too evident that the air of the court was developing the incipient intoxication with which he had entered it. He attempted to fold his arms, and look at his interrogator, but his arms slid down by his sides. His friend Zeky had managed to sidle over near him, (he had not been removed from court on account of the crowd,) and now stood close by the table. Witness shut one of his eyes, and his face again assumed that drunken look of preternatural wisdom, characteristic of the inebriate; but he seemed to want a guiding string. Suddenly his eyes fell on his patron, and stooping down all at once, he put his arm round his neck, despite his struggles.

""Ere," said he, in a lachrymose and pathetic tone, "'Ere he is, and was, and shall be. 'Twas he, my noble friend, as told me all, why not? he is a very noble friend as should know it better nor a stranger in this 'ere country, as I is, and allers was. I'll stand by him, my lord," said he, turning and speaking confidingly to the judge;" no other shall get the credit on't, and I tell ye as it happened; we met in Limerick, and he called I into a tavern, and told I all 'bout it, and stood hansum'; so I 'greed; I'greed at once to do wot's right."

The crowd burst into a roar and cheer at this disclosure of villany, and the judge, irritated at such a demonstration, bad Job Slocum seized upon at once, and was about to pronounce summary sentence for their committal, when the counsel for the defence called his attention to the fact, that he had witnesses to produce.

Judge. "We've had enough of witnesses; the case has evidently been trumped up; a clumsy case, sir, very." Counsel" My lord, these witnesses are to testify that the man, Ez kiel Black did, on the night on which

O'Breen was taken up, attempt burglary on his house, in order to carry away his daughter. This is the true reason has made him try to impose upon your lordship and the intelligent gentlemen of the jury. Mrs. O'Breen, a truthful witness, will prove that Ezekiel Black's account of the conversation in the kitchen was utterly false. Eileen O'Breen will prove that she recognised the voice of the aforesaid Black, demanding admission, at his midnight attempt at burglary. The servant Nora will swear that the glimpses she has had of the burglar's face outside, were enough to make her believe that 'twas he. But here, my lord, is an unmistakable witness," and he threw down the iron head of a pitch-fork on the table, to the great interest and amusement of the spec

tators.

"That, my lord, or a wound caused by it, was what made him disobey your lordship; and now we will proceed to examine the witnesses," with which we need not trouble our readers. It doubtless was fully reported in the local pipers; and if any of our readers have a file of them, and patience to try back," he may or may not find how Ezekiel Black was transported for the period of his natural life, and Job Slocum for seven years. If, perhaps, he should look studionsly through the column set apart for births, deaths, and marriages, he might also (or might not) find that Eileen O'Breen and Donat O'Brien were united in holy matrimony, and thit the name of O'Breen increased-ah, and decreased also. G. S.

HOW TOURISTS "DO" IRELAND. IT has been remarked of large cities generally, and of London in particular, that their native residents, as a rule, are less acquainted with the "lions" which surround them, than strangers who may have paid a flying visit to the place.

Of the tourists who have "done" Ireland, and favoured us with their impressions, it may be said that they appear to have seen things which we could not see, though for many years past we have travelled the length and breadth of the land, by railway, boat, coach, car, and omnibus, or by that more ancient, but as we hold, equally dignified mode of progression, commonly styled tramping." Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall, Barrow, Myles, Manners, Thackeray, and other writers of name, have left us their "impressions," coupled frequently with what, no doubt, they have pleased to consider as a little good advice to "Paddy and his Wife."

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To any Irishman of feeling, there is something highly offensive in the patronising air which writers of the class referred to, almost invariably assume when treating on subjects of which very frequently they possess not even a superficial knowledge. But this is not the only grievance of which we would complain. It would seem to be required of such writers that their book or paper, as it may be, should be largely enriched with smart imaginary descriptions of people or places. Caricature, not Truth, is required for the English market, and we shall see that the supply is equal to the demand.

Even writers friendly to Ireland cannot get out of the prevailing fashion. The following description of Larry Moore, the Bannow boatman, is from the pen of a well-known Irish authoress, and we give it as a fair specimen of the kind of writing which our neighbours relish when the subject is Irish:-" His lower garments have evidently once been trousers-blue trousers; but, as Larry when in motion is amphibious, they have experienced the decaying effects of salt water, and now only descend to the knee, where they terminate in unequal fringes. Indeed, his frieze jacket is no great things, being much rubbed at the elbows, and no wonder, for Larry, when awake, is ever employed either in pelting the sea gulls (who, to confess the truth, treat him with very little respect), rowing his boat, or watching the circles formed on the surface of the calm waters by the large or small pebbles he throws into it; and, as Larry, of course, rests his elbows on the rocks while performing these exploits, the sleeves must wear, for frieze is not impenetrable stuff. His hat is a natural curiosity, composed of sunburnt straw, banded by a misshapen ribbon, and garnished by red "delisk,"-red and green; his cutty pipe, stuck through a slit in the brim, which bends it directly over his left eye, and keeps it 'quite handy, without any trouble.' His bushy, reddish hair, persists in obstinately pushing its way out of every hole in his extraordinary hat."

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Now, we must say, beyond all fear of contradiction, that this Larry Moore must have been a most extraordinary character. How he could have performed these exploits" of "rowing his boat," "pelting the seagulls," &c., &c., &c., while his elbows rests upon the rocks, is a subject of curious speculation which we respectfully refer to the learned. Here, too, we have the stereotyped hat of the stage Irishman, with its holes, and the inevitable "cutty pipe stuck through a slit in the brim." We would ask any honest person in the least acquainted with the country, whether our men and youths of the labouring class, or indeed of any class, are in the habit of carrying their dhudeens upon the outside of their hats? We know well what the reply would be. Indeed the beloved pipe is kept "quite handy" in a position much nearer the Irishman's heart, yet what caricature of "Paddy" would be complete without the mythical cutty, either, as in the case of Larry, stuck through a slit in the brim, or confined to the hat by a band. It is a matter, we admit, of very little importance, whether the pipe be carried upon the Irishman's hat or in his waistcoat pocket, but it is curious to observe how uniformly our caricaturists insist on the prevalence of the former practice, an arrangement by-thebye, which in all our travels, north, south, east and west, in Ireland, we have never once had the observation to detect. If writers, admittedly friendly to Ireland can thus give a loose rein to their fancy, and describe "the thing which is not," in order to rivet the attention of their readers, we may expect something, if possible, even more strained from the pens of foreign professional "chiels," who come and see, and "do" the country with a view of making as much of their "notes" as the