nature. Indeed there are in comparison far fewer instances of frailty among the Irish than the English. After this preliminary' invocation to the gods of misrule the sons are sent from the apartment on various errands; their answers on their return are sure to be something utterly foreign to the object of their mission and from the natural quickness of the Irish, constantly of the.. most witty and laughable nature. During their absence it becomes the duty of the venerable father Dodd," to enumerate the several good qualities of his sons. Among the first of the cardinal virtues is sure to be the prospect they held forth of making good husbands and it not unfrequently happens that matches are made up in this way. It is laughable at times to hear the sly inuendoes that the " Sire" of the Pageant in the privilege of his office is allowed to utter, many a blushing girl's face playing the tell-tale to her heart. It mostly happens that the representative of the family honors is some young man who either by his birth or particular notoriety for pleasantry and conviviality is selected from among the rest to fill the envied office of "Patron of the Revels." He has the privilege in a good natural manner to read a short admonitory lecture to those who have been guilty of any flagrant act of scandal. On the entry of the sons who take care to come in singly, the first is interrogated by their task master. If the son, fearing the consequence brings back a proper answer, all goes well; if on the contrary he attempts to play on the credulity or temper of his sire, he is sure to expect a vigorous application of a rope, soft enough to prevent bruising and yet of sufficient solidity to be capable of inflicting a pretty summary punishment. To escape this he flies round the room and if there be any individual to whom he bears dislike or whom he would wish to be a participator in his sufferings he has only to lay hands on the individual and by retaining a firm grasp the struggling victim comes in often for a more than equal share of the judgment. If, on the contrary, the first two or three of his "children" should return, and all unite in bringing proper solutions to his queries, he is sure whether the next be right or wrong to find some fault, so as to have a legal excuse for putting his temporary jurisdiction into force. It not unfrequently happens that the refractory son lays hands upon some individual in the company that is greatly disliked. When such is the case, so rough is the application of the wand of office that the unfortunate individual turns rebellious-this is the critical period of the night's amusement. In a moment, aided by five of his sons Father Dodd has the indignant subject of corporeal chastisement hoisted on the back of one of his sons, and following the ancient discipline of the birch inflicts with the rope of judgment a sound and satisfactory flagellation

to the delight of the younger men and the merriment of the softer sex. After several enforcements of his judicial powers, during which so great was the confusion that existed, that more than once the frail bed that bore the remains of the already forgotten dead, was nearly being overturned, the sport ceased. In a parting harangue the "leader of the revels," took especial notice of the sulky victims of his avenging arm, cautioning them in future to refrain from the excesses that had obliged him much against his own inclinations to put the whole rigour of the law into effect. These admonitions never failed to have a most laughable effect on the whole of his audience with the exception in some cases of the individuals in question, though I was much pleased with the genuine good humour exhibited by one fine young man, who from his wicked raillery had raised the laugh several times during the evening against "the witty Father Dodd" himself; he unlike the rest instead of bearing his punishment in sulky silence, roared like a bull to the great amusement of all the younger people. One strange thing that particularly struck me was the quiet way in which the older men of the meeting looked on the sport, smoking their "Dudheens" or short well worn pipes, they sat like a synod of elders-discussing the affairs of the Parish. They doubtless looked on the revelry as a sport, for which their time was long gone by. It now became the privilege of the actors of the game to take advantage of their right, to choose in succession the young woman they would have for their partner. This explained the desire of the manly aspirants to become the temporary offspring of the Juvenile Nestor. Claiming the privilege no girl could refuse, they now for the remainder of the evening had the pleasure of sitting by the side of their choice and pouring into her ear the somewhat rough effusions of their rustic gallantry. They were addressed by the less fortunate individuals as man and wife, and, as it often happens a young man chooses a partner that he has a pique against, it proves a scene of amusement. He lectures his half angry platonic mistress of the evening and in some cases does not scrupel to threaten the liberal use of a switch. But this part of the ceremony is often attended with much evil, the brother of the young woman, as it sometimes turns out, becomes irritated at the liberties the fortunate Benedict gives to his tongue. Not unfrequently bad feeling has previously existed between the young men, and there does not exist a more tenacious or jealous affinity than is felt by a brother to a sister. However on this evening nothing occurred to spoil the harmony of the scene. The game of "Hunt the Brogue," known by the modern appellation of " Hunt the Slipper," was now proposed;

a knotted handkerchief was converted into the Talisman of locomotion and forming a circle after the ungraceful fashion of Indian men and women the company became as much interested in the flight of their wingless Apollo, as ever yet the veriest politician was in the game which plays away the freedom of nations. The women were exempt from playing the part of the finders, and many were the sly pinches given by the enamour'd swains, and the half pouting, half laughing remonstrances of the fair Damsels, was sure to be answered in return by a kiss, often "not lothly giv'n or ta'en." There were several rueful lamentations for caps and ribbons spoiled and rumpled and many tender assurances of an ample remuneration at the next fair. Still the oracle of the group, the deposed father Dodd, was the most mischievous and noisy of the party and I could not help at once admiring and being surprized at so noble a looking specimen of a man entering into all the fooleries and yet harmless amusements of the night. His fine laughing blue eyes and light hair, and his open and intelligent countenance beaming with artless and careless gaiety, formed a very pleasing picture. Indeed from the first he had engaged my attention but had I known the melancholy history of the unfortunate deceased, he would have proved from his noble generosity and self denial an object of even more interest. His partner a fine blooming girl however did not seem, to gain from him that undivided attention which though less sought for was more universally paid by the other gay Lotharios. It could not have been from repugnance; the dark eyes, raven locks, and blooming color of the spirited girl were in themselves sufficient to claim attention, but mid all that reckless display of gaiety, true to the character of his country there lurked a feeling of a deeper and more sombre nature.

From having been the most active in detecting and punishing all appearance of insubordination to his sovereign sway it was but natural now, that his temporary authority had expired, that the victims of his rough but well meant pleasantry should look forth with eagerness for an opportunity of repaying in like kind the treatment they had experienced. It some how happened that the flying gage rested with him and from a want of sufficient alertness it was rescued from him by the mal-treated victim that had suffered so much martyrdom in his perilous endeavours to gain the boon of freedom. Once placed in the centre of the circle it was long ere he regained the knotted gage, the proof that his part had been duly played. Indeed he was longer under the chastening rod than any prior victim for all seemed to take more than usual pleasure in administering to him a more than ordinary share of the tickling and pinching. With

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him this sport ended and resuming their seats, one of the juvenile party commenced a song, in the Chorus of which he was assisted by almost the whole of the company. Song succeeded song as the night insensibly wore away, and during the interval that took place between each, the old grey headed man that had addressed me on my arrival and been most attentive to me during the evening entertained the party with stories of Fairies that haunted springs and holy bushes and the marvellous Feat of Fin Mac Coul" the Irish Giant who had hurled a huge stone upwards of three ton weight from the top of Corn-ClanNew, to the woods of Kilshresoly where in a hollow by the road side this relict of the strength and power of the men of the days of old, still exists. The simple and almost childish amusements that seemed to afford such delight to those open hearted people would lead one to reflect on the strange ordinations of fate. Scenes such as these that would be looked on by the denizen of fashion as barbarous and at the same time beneath the notice of grown-up people, afford such a recreation that it clearly evinces our happiness is much more complete and unalloyed in the days of less refinement, than amid the painted gew gaws and modern contrivances of these times, when amusement is in most cases only to be bought at the price of health. At this moment a low sob caused me to turn my eyes in the direction of the corpse and I was almost startled at beholding the figure of a young woman leaning over the remains of the ghastly deceased. Her soft blue eye was humid with a half suppressed tear, the lip was drawn up and quivering with the pulsation of sorrow, the pale cheek and the light auburn hair escaped from beneath the small lace cap and in a few loose and neglected ringlets shaded a part of her snowy brow. There was a touching air of sorrow that breathed itself over her sad but interesting countenance. Ah! where does sorrow seem more tender or beautiful than in the fair figure of beauty weeping in silence over the tomb of departed love.

Enveloped in a long dark blue mantle, she was still gazing on the features of the dead and was apparently unconscious of her having become the object of universal commiseration and respect; she heeded it not, for every feeling was concentrated on the miserable wreck of ungovernable passions that lay before her. At the foot of the bed stood a tall elderly woman who though not wearing the same aspect of sorrow gazed with silent and respectful attention on the dead, her high commanding figure attired in black, her keen grey eyes and dark arched brows, the stern cast of features and the proud lip seemed to speak of better days. Even in the fair countenance of the younger mourner was shadowed forth that indescribable light

that betrays gentle breeding. Yet wherefore came they here mid the rough peasantry and why should eyes that seemed fit to flash at the voice of wit mid the gay and feestooned saloons of fashion be bent in tearless sorrow over the remains of an humble and obscure peasant. Gentle reader, little hast thou read and pondered over the course of love if thou hast not ere this discovered that station, riches, rank, or nobility prove but an ineffectual bar where the fervent feeling of passion has gained its influence over a young and enthusiastic breast. Such were my reflections when happening to turn round I beheld the eyes of the late master of the revels bent on the unconscious features of the weeping maiden. It was not the glance that the passing admiration of beauty, and beauty in tears might elicit, but the calm mournful and unshrinking gaze of deep commiseration and hopeless love. There be many who believe not in the creed of passion, many who would treat the idea of such an anomaly as a broken heart, as unworthy of belief, there may be such, as there are many whose unsocial and unimpassioned souls are callous to every generous emotion. After the pause of a few minutes during which period she appeared to be taking a last farewell of the dead, she raised herself from her bending position and as noiselessly as she had entered, accompanied by the elder female, glided from the apartment. I perceived the eyes of the young man follow her as she retired and the moment her figure was lost to the eye, starting from the reverie in which during her short sojourn he had remained he hastily left the apartment.

From having expected nothing but the rough exhibitions of low life mirth, this unexpected scene made me acknowledge that all the Irish are not so totally free from the deep grief or sober sorrow that should reign over the house of death. I was in a melancholy and musing mood, fancy picturing a story of mournful and disappointed passion, when once more the already half intoxicated Keeners commenced their dirge-like cry. The scene that had just passed little fitted me to enjoy any of the rude games that were again renewed immediately after the departure of the only sincere mourners in the room. I could not but be in some manner interested concerning the parties and the slightest wish expressed to learn something concerning their his tory elicited a long and prolix account, the substance of which was nearly as follows!

Belonging to the wealthier kind of Irish farmers, Kylie O'Harra had from the natural generosity of his disposition gained the affections of all the lower orders of the peasantry. From his knowledge of cattle breeding and stock farming he had managed to realize some hundred pounds, with which