uesday, in Peter Murtagh's of the Crooked Commons_. Are you there,
Peter?"

"Here, yer Reverence."

"Indeed, Peter, I might know you are here; and I wish that a great many
of my flock would take example by you: if they did, I wouldn't be so
far behind in getting in my _dues_. Well, Peter, I suppose you know that
this is Michaelmas?"*

* Michaelmas is here jocularly alluded to as that period
of the year when geese are fattest.

"So fat, yer Reverence, that they're not able to wag; but, any way,
Katty has them marked for you--two fine young crathurs, only this year's
fowl, and the ducks isn't a taste behind them--she crammin' them this
month past."

"I believe you, Peter, and I would take your word for more than the
condition of the geese. Remember me to Katty, Peter."

"_On Wednesday, in Parrah More Slevin's of Mullaghfadh_. Are you there,
Parrah More?"--No answer. "Parrah More Sle-vin?"--Silence. "Parrah More
Slevin, of Mullaghfadh?"--No reply. "Dan Fagan?"

"Present, sir."

"Do you know what keeps that reprobate from mass?"

"I bleeve he's takin' advantage, sir, of the frost, to get in his
praties to-day, in respect of the bad footin', sir, for the horses in
the bog when there's not a frost. Any how, betune that and a bit of a
sore head that he got, yer Reverence, on Thursday last in takin' part
wid the O'Scallaghans agin the Bradys, I bleeve he had to stay away
to-day."

"On the Sabbath day, too, without my leave! Well, tell him from me, that
I'll make an example of him to the whole parish, if he doesn't attend
mass better. Will the Bradys and the O'Scallaghans never be done with
their quarrelling? I protest, if they don't live like Christians, I'll
read them out from the altar. Will you tell Parrah More that I'll hold a
station in his house on next Wednesday?"

"I will, sir; I will, yer Reverence."

"_On Thursday, in Phaddhy Sheemus Phaddhy's of the Esker_. Are you
there, Phaddhy?"'

"Wid the help of God, I'm here, sir."

"Well, Phaddhy, how is yer son Briney, that's at the Latin? I hope he's
coming on well at it."

"Why, sir, he's not more nor a year and a half at it yet, and he's got
more books amost nor he can carry; he'll break me buying books for him."

"Well, that's a good sign, Phaddhy; but why don't you bring him to me
till I examine him?"

"Why, never a one of me can get him to come, sir, he's so much afeard of
yer Reverence."

"Well, Phaddhy, we were once modest and bashfu