"_Gallus Gallinaceus_, a dunghill cock----"

----"Says he. 'And how is that?' says I.

"_Gallus Gallinaceus_----"

-----"Says he, 'Hut tut, Branagan,' says I--'you're drunk.' 'That's
the thing, sir' says Branagan, 'and I want to explain it all to your
Reverence.' 'Well,' said I, 'go on---"

"_Gallus Gallinaceus_, a dunghill cock----"

----"Says he,----Let your Gallus Gallinaceus go to roost for this night,
Con," said Father Philemy, who did not relish the interruption of his
story; "I say, Phaddhy, send the boy to bed, and bring him down in your
hand to my house on Saturday morning, and we will both examine him,
but this is no time for it, and me engaged in conversation with
Captain Wilson.--So, Captain ____'Well, sir,' says Branagan, and he
staggering,--'I took an oath against liquor, and I want your Reverence
to break it,' says he. 'What do you mean?' I inquired. 'Why, please your
Reverence,' said he, 'I took an oath against liquor, as I told you,
not to drink more nor a pint of whiskey in one day, and I want your
Reverence to break it for me, and make it only half a pint; for I find
that a pint is too much for me; by the same token, that when I get that
far, your Reverence, I disremember the oath entirely."

The influence of the bottle now began to be felt, and the conversation
absolutely blew a gale, wherein hearty laughter, good strong singing,
loud argument, and general good humor blended into one uproarious peal
of hilarity, accompanied by some smart flashes of wit and humor which
would not disgrace a prouder banquet. Phaddhy, in particular, melted
into a spirit of the most unbounded benevolence--a spirit that would (if
by any possible means he could effect it) embrace the whole human race;
that is to say, he would raise them, man, woman, and child, to the same
elevated state of happiness which he enjoyed himself. That, indeed, was
happiness in perfection, as pure and unadulterated as the poteen which
created it. How could he be otherwise than happy?--he had succeeded to a
good property, and a stocking of hard guineas, without the hard labor of
acquiring them; he had the "clargy" under his roof at last, partaking
of a hospitality which he felt himself well able to afford them; he had
settled with his Reverence for five years' arrears of sin, all of which
had been wiped out of his conscience by the blessed absolving hand of
the priest; he was training up Briney for the Mission, and though last,
not least,