ch and my
religion to their worst enemies, and that for the sake of filthy lucre
and blackguard upstart pride? I now come to tell you what we all think
of you in this country, and what I believe some of us has tould you
already--that you may go to hell for your tithe, and make the divil your
paymaster, what he'll be yet. We will pay you none, and we set you and
your upstart ould rogue of a father, with the law, the polis, and the
army, all at defiance. I don't choose to say more, but I could if I
liked."

Purcell's hunting-whip accidentally lay on the table at which he sat,
but he did not take it up immediately after Hourigan had concluded. He
quickly rose, however, and having closed the door and locked it, he let
down the windows, and deliberately drew the blinds.

"Now, you scoundrel," he replied, taking up the whip, and commencing to
flog Hourigan with all his strength, which was very great, "I will give
you, by way of foretaste, a specimen of what a ruffian like you deserves
when he is insolent."

With such singular energy, good will, and admirable effect did he lace
Mr. Hourigan, that the latter worthy, after cutting some very antic
capers, and exhibiting in a good many other respects several proofs of
his agility that could scarcely be expected from his heavy and ungainly
figure, was at last fairly obliged to sing out,--"Oh, Misther John,
Misther John! you will--Misther John, darlin', what do you mane, you
murdh--oh, oh, d--n your soul--dear, what do you mane, Mr. John, dear?
I say, what are you at? What do you baste me this way for--oh, may the
divil--the Lord bless you, an' don't--here I am--here, Misther John,
I ax your pardon--hell pursue--Misther John, darlin', I go down on my
knees to you, an' axes your pardon--here now you see, I'm down.--Och
murdher, am I to have the very sowl welted out o' me this way?"

Mr. John, having now satisfied himself, and left very visible marks of
his attachment and good will to Hourigan, upon that individual's face
and person, desired him to get up.

"Now, my good fellow," he exclaimed, "I trust I have taught you a lesson
that you won't forget."

"No, Misther John," he replied, rising and rubbing himself in different
parts of the body, as if to mitigate the pain which he felt; "no, I
won't forget it--I won't by it's a lesson I'll remember, and so will
you."

"What do you mean, you cowardly villain?" asked Purcel, once more
raising his whip. "You are threatening, are yo