said Daddy, rather
testily.

"Why, the Prime Ear of his Majesty, and no less. Is that satisfaction
for you, eh?"

"Well, and who is the Prime Ear?"

"Why, the Prime Ear of his Majesty, I towld you before. You see, he is
the one that hears of everything that is to be done for the whole
impire in particular; and bekase he hears of everything, that's the
rayson he is called the Prime Ear--and a good rayson it is."

"Well, but what has that to do with the tithes? I ask you again," said
Daddy with his usual pertinacity.

Here he was about to be answered by the former speaker, whose
definition of "The Premier," had won him golden opinions amongst the
by-standers,--when he was prevented by a fourth orator, who rushed into
the debate with this very elegant opening--

"Arrah! tare-an-ouns, yiz are settin' me mad, so yiz are. Why, I
wondher any one 'id be sitch a fool as to go arguefy with that crooked
owld disciple there."

"Meanin' me?" said Daddy.

"I'd be sorry to conthcradict you, sir," said the other with an
admirable mockery of politeness.

"Thank you, sir," said Daddy, with a dignity more comical than the
other's buffoonery.

"You're kindly welkim, Daddy," returned the aggressor. "Sure, you
never blieved anything yit; and I wondher any one would throw away
their time sthrivin' to rightify you."

"Come, boys," said O'Hara, interrupting the discourse, with a view to
prevent further bickering, "there's no use talking about the thing now,
for whatever way it is, sure we are met to bury the Tithe, and it's
proud I am to see you all here to make merry upon the stringth of it,
and I think I heerd Honor say this minit that everything is ready in
the barn without, so you'll have no difference of opinion about
tackling to the breakfast, or I'm mistaken. Come, my hearties, the
mate and the praties is crying, 'Who'll ate me?'--away wid you, that's
your sort;"--and he enforced his summons to the feast by pushing his
guests before him towards the scene of action.

This was an ample barn, where tables of all sorts and sizes were
spread, loaded with viands of the most substantial character: wooden
forms, three-legged stools, broken-backed chairs, etc. etc. were in
requisition for the accommodation of the female portion of the company,
and the men attended first to their wants with a politeness which,
though deficient in the external graces of polished life, did credit to
their natures. The eating part of the busi