IMPROVERS AND IMPROVEMENT. 23 



Some weeks after this, as Sir Henry was passing the door, on his 

 return from a shooting excursion, he determined to call and rest him- 

 self, and inquire how his tenant was going on. 



He opened the door, and, on accepting the invitation to "walk 

 in," he found Biddy and a neighbour with her, both seated before a 

 large fire made upon the floor. Sir Henry inquired, with amaze- 

 ment, " What was become of the grate ?" 



The old woman rose, which at first she appeared half-afraid to do, 

 and, pointing to her seat, replied, " 'Tis there it is, Sir, I got my 

 grandson Jack to take it down yesterday, for 'twas tired of my life 1 

 was ; the best saved turf in five parishes wouldn't burn in it, bad luck 

 to it ! not a pratie could I boil ; and where in the wide world, 

 your Honour, would I make the fire but on the hearth, to get any 

 good from it ? 'tis an iligant sate the grate makes, it holds two 

 and a gossoon ! " 



The dismay and indignation of Sir Henry may be easily conceived, 

 and, as soon as his choking anger would permit him, he exclaimed, 

 " How dare you, you old hag ! pull down any of the fixtures in 

 the house, without first obtaining my permission to do so ?" 



" 'Tis true for you I might have done that same, but Jack stepped 

 in so convanient last night, and advised me to it, for, says he, ' His 

 Honour has the heart of a gintleman, and surely by no manner of 

 means would wish you to be kilt for want of the hate.' ' Why,' says 

 I, ' if he should plase to take the house over my head next week, 'tis 

 happier I 'd be walking the world than live under the roof with that 

 thing of a grate ; the feet have been could with me ever since I came 

 near it, and I've got the rheumatism in 'em, and all from having the 

 fire so high entirely above, in place of its being on the hearth, where 

 we can put the feet agin it.' Better than three nights ago, I couldn't 

 get up all day long, and was quite dead barring the breath, and 

 all from taking a big could." 



** I give you notice," said Sir Henry, (as soon as he could find an 

 opportunity of speaking,) " to look out for another berth for yourself, 

 for I perceive, if I keep you here, the house will soon be in as bad 

 a state as its predecessor the cabin. You '11 pull down the stairs to 

 make seats, the next thing." 



" And if it wasn't that it would be bould to say it to your 

 Honour's honour, that same would not be a bad work ; sorrow much 

 1 trouble the steps, for when I do, they do be almost breaking the 

 legs of me, and taking the breath." 



*' Well, well," muttered Sir Henry, " I see I 've been throwing 

 pearls before swine." 



" Is it the pig, Sir, you asks for ? Why then 'tis not well he has 

 been at all since he came to this place : the poor baste is so lonesome 

 out in that little coop by himself, and 'tis very natural that he should 

 be grieved to the heart, and not thrive at all, but the other way, 

 when he thinks how he used to be rubbing his nose against me 

 iwinty times a-day and more, and go in and out like one of the 

 family, as sure he was, and just the pattern of a purty pig 1 and 

 MOW, ullagone ! 'tis shut up he must be, the cratur!" 

 301. No. 7. D 



