re like an oracle, as you
are; for upon my sowl, you're nearly as bad. But, Frank."

"Well, Art."

"Isn't little Toal Finnigan a civil little fellow--that is--is--if
he was well made. 'There never stood,' says he, 'sich a couple in the
chapel of--of Aughindrumon, nor there never walked sich a couple up or
down the street of Ballykeerin--that's the chat,' says he: an' whisper,
Frank, ne--neither did there. Whe--where is Margaret's aiquil, I'd--I'd
like to know? an' as for me, I'll measure myself across the shouldhers
aginst e'er a--a man, woman, or child in--in the parish. Co--come here,
now, Frank, till I me--measure the small o' my leg ag--aginst yours;
or if--if that makes you afeard, I'll measure the--the ball of my leg
aginst the ball of yours. There's a wrist, Frank; look at that? jist
look at it."

"I see it; it is a powerful wrist."

"But feel it."

"Tut, Art, sure I see it."

"D--n it, man, jist feel it--feel the breadth of--of that bone.
Augh--that's the--the wrist; so anyhow, here's little Toal Finnigan's
health, an' I don't care what they say, I like little Toal, an' I will
like little Toal; bekaise--aise if--if he was the divil, as--as they say
he is, in disguise--ha, ha, ha! he has a civil tongue in his head."

He then commenced and launched out into the most extravagant praises of
himself, his wife, his children; and from these he passed to the ould
blood of Ireland, and the Fermanagh Maguires.

"Where," he said, "whe--where is there in the country, or anywhere else,
a family that has sich blood as ours in their veins? Very well; an'
aren't we proud of it, as we have a right to be? Where's the Maguire
that would do a mane or shabby act? tha--that's what I'd like to know.
Isn't the word of a Maguire looked upon as aiquil to--to an--another
man's oath; an' where's the man of them that was--as ever known to break
it? Eh Frank? No; stead--ed--steady's the word wid the Maguires, and
honor bright."

Frank was about to remind him that he had in his own person given a
proof that night that a Maguire could break his word, and commit
a disreputable action besides; but as he saw it was useless, he
judiciously declined then making any observation whatsoever upon it.

After a good deal of entreaty, Frank succeeded in prevailing on him to
go to bed; in which, however, he failed, until Art had inflicted on
him three woful songs, each immensely long, and sung in that peculiarly
fascinating drawl, which is alw