a habit he has of always
wearing three or four hats at a time, one within the other--a
circumstance which, joined to his extraordinary natural height and great
strength, gives him absolutely a gigantic appearance. This Raymond is
the fool of the parish; but in selecting him for my conductor, I acted
under the advice of those who knew him better than I could. There
is not, in fact, a field or farm-house, or a cottage, within a
circumference of miles, which he does not know, and where he is not
also known. He has ever since his childhood evinced a most extraordinary
fancy for game cocks--an attachment not at all surprising, when it is
known that not only was his father, Morgan Monahan, the most celebrated
breeder and handler of that courageous bird--but his mother, Poll
Doolin--married women here frequently preserve, or are called by, their
maiden names through life--who learned it from her husband, was
equally famous for this very feminine accomplishment. Poor Raymond,
notwithstanding his privation, is, however, exceedingly shrewd in many
things, especially where he can make himself understood. As he speaks,
however, in unconnected sentences, in which there is put forth no more
than one phase of the subject he alludes to, or the idea he entertains,
it is unquestionably not an easy task to understand him without an
interpreter. He is singularly fond of children--very benevolent--and
consequently feels a degree of hatred and horror at anything in the
shape of cruelty or oppression, almost beyond belief, in a person
deprived of reason. This morning he was with me by appointment, about
half-past nine, and after getting his breakfast----but no matter--the
manipulation he exhibited would have been death to a dyspeptic patient,
from sheer envy--we sallied forth to trace this man, M'Clutchy, by
the awful marks of ruin, and tyranny, and persecution; for these words
convey the principles of what he hath left, and is leaving behind him.

"'Now, Raymond,' said I, 'as you know the country well, I shall be
guided by you. I wish to see a place called Drum Dhu. Can you conduct
me there?'

"'Ay!' he replied with surprise; 'Why! Sure there's scarcely anybody
there now. When we go on farther, we may look up, but we'll see no
smoke, as there used to be. 'Twas there young Torly Regan died on that
day--an' her, poor Mary--but they're all gone from her--and Hugh the
eldest is in England or America--but him--the youngest--he'll never
waken--