aker, "there never was such air composed as the Boyne
Water; and my only request is, that I may die whistling it. Damn it,
Jollyblock, unless a man is a good Protestant he's bad for everything
else."

"But how the devil Deaker, can you call yourself a good Protestant, when
you believe in nothing?"

"Why," said Deaker, "I believe that a certain set of political opinions
are necessary for our safety and welfare in this world; and, I
believe, that these are to be found in the Church, and that it is good
Protestantism to abide by them, yes, and by the Church too, so long as
she teaches nothing but politics, as she does, and acts up to them."

"And does your faith stop there?"

"How could it go farther with the lives of such men as your father and
Lucre staring me in the face? Precept, Dick, is of little value when
example is against it. For instance, where's the use of men's preaching
up piety and religion, when their own conduct is a libel upon their
doctrine? Suppose, now, there are two roads--and 'tis said there are:
No. 1, leading to an imaginary region, placed above; No. 2, to another
imaginary region, placed below--very good; the parson says to jon and to
me, do so and so, and take the No. 1 road; but, in the meantime, he does
himself the very reverse of this so and so, and takes the No. 2 road.
Now, which are we to respect most, his advice or his example?"

"Let us go on," said Spavin, "perhaps there are others whose claims are
as modest and disinterested; we shan't say anything about being as well
founded. You secretary fellow, read away."

"Before you go any farther," said a droll-looking person named M'Small,
"you must pass me a bridge over Lumlay's Leap. Our party voted you about
thirty miles of roads to repair thoroughly, and you know that although
you only veneered them, we said nothing."

"But," replied Val, "who ever heard of a bridge without water; and I
know there's not a stream within three miles of you."

"Never mind that," replied M'Small, "let me have the bridge first, and
we'll see what can be done about the water afterwards. If God in his
mercy would send a wet winter next season, who knows but we might
present for a new river at the January assizes."

"You must have it," said Deaker, "give M'Small the bridge, and, as he
says, we'll see afterwards what can be done for a river for it."

"M'Small," said Hartley, "what if you'd get a presentment for a couple
of mountain water spouts; who knows