lory to ourselves, and
confusion to the Scanlon boys, any way."

"And maybe," observed Connell, "'tis we that didn't lick them well in
the last fair--they're not able to meet the Findramore birds even on
their own walk."

"Well, boys," said Delany, "about the masther? Our childre will grow
up like bullockeens (* little bullocks) widout knowing a ha'porth; and
larning, you see, is a burdyen that's asy carried."

"Ay," observed O'Neil, "as Solvester Maguire, the poet, used to say--

'Labor for larnin, before you grow ould,
For larnin' is better nor riches nor gould;
Riches an' gould they may vanquish away,
But larnin' alone it will never decay.'"

"Success, Owen! Why, you might put down the pot and warm an air to it,"
said Murphy.

"Well, boys, are we all safe?" asked Traynor.

"Safe?" said old Dolan. "Arrah, what are you talkin' about? Sure 'tisn't
of that same spalpeen of a gauger that we'd be afraid!"

During this observation, young Dolan pressed Traynor's foot under the
table, and they both went out for about five minutes.

"Father," said the son, when he and Traynor re-entered the room, "you're
a wanting home."

"Who wants me, Larry, avick?" says the father.

The son immediately whispered to him for a moment, when the old man
instantly rose, got his hat, and after drinking another bumper of the
poteen, departed.

"Twas hardly worth while," said Delany; "the ould fellow is mettle to
the back-bone, an' would never show the garran-bane at any rate, even if
he knew all about it."

"Bad end to the syllable I'd let the same ould cock hear," said the
son; "the divil thrust any man that didn't switch the primer (* take and
oath) for it, though he is my father; but now, boys, that the coast's
clear, and all safe--where will we get a schoolmaster? Mat Kavanagh
won't budge from the Scanlon boys, even if we war to put our hands
undher his feet; and small blame to him--sure, you would not expect him
to go against his own friends?"

"Faith, the gorsoons is in a bad state," said Murphy; "but, boys where
will we get a man that's up? Why I know 'tis betther to have anybody nor
be without one; but we might kill two birds wid one stone--if we could
get a masther that would carry 'Articles,'* an' swear in the boys, from
time to time--an' between ourselves, if there's any danger of the hemp,
we may as well lay it upon strange shoulders."

* A copy of the Whiteboy oath and regulations.

"Ay,