, sir; his own hand and mark," said I, laughing.

"That's an ugly cut, and mighty near the eye! But sure, after all, you
're his child."

"Very true, sir; it's only paternal correction; but I have something
else!"

"What's that, Con my boy?" said he; for we were now grown very familiar.

"It is this, sir," said I; "this roll of papers that I found hid in the
thatch,--a safe place my father used to make his strong-box."

"Let us see!" said Morissy, sitting down and opening the package. Many
were old summonses discharged, notices to quit withdrawn, and so on;
but at last he came to two papers pinned together, at sight of which he
almost jumped from his chair. "Con," says he, "describe the place you
found them in."

I went over all the discovery again.

"Did ye yourself see your father put in papers there?"

"I did, sir."

"On more than one occasion?"

"At least a dozen times, sir."

"Did ye ever remark any one else putting papers there?"

"Never, sir! none of the neighbors ever come through the garden."

"And it was always at night, and in secret, he used to repair there?"

"Always at night"

"That'll do, Con; that 'll do, my son. You'll soon turn the tables on
the old boy. You may go down to the kitchen and get your breakfast;
be sure, however, that you don't leave the house to-day. Your father
mustn't know where ye are till we're ready for him."

"Is it a strong case, sir?" said I.

"A very strong case--never a flaw in it."

"Is it more than a larceny, sir?" said I.

"It is better than that."

"I'd rather it didn't go too far," said I, for I was beginning to feel
afraid of what I had done.

"Leave that to me, Con," said Mr. Morissy, "and go down to yer
breakfast."

I did as I was bid, and never stirred out of the house the whole day,
nor for eight days after; when one morning Morissy bid me clean myself,
and brush my hair, to come with him to the Court-house.

I guessed at once what was going to happen; and now, as my head was
healed, and all my bruises cured, I'd very gladly have forgiven all the
affair, and gone home again with my father; but it was too late. As Mr.
Morissy said, with a grin, "The law is an elegant contrivance; a child's
finger can set it in motion, but a steam engine could not hold it back
afterwards!"

The Court was very full that morning; there were five magistrates on
the bench, and Mr. Ball in the middle of them. There were a great many
farmers, too, for it was mar