1831.] The Ghost of Kilskeelan. G45 



he never wore, barrin* it was on the king's birth-day, or the like. To be 

 sure poor Biddy, who knew that the major was buried many a long day 

 ago, an' knowin' too right well that she got drunk with grief at his 

 wake, was spifflicated, an' in fact, Sir, completely nonplushed with admir- 

 ation, when she saw him standin' before her in his best clothes. She had- 

 n't time to say ' God save you kindly ' to him, when he said to her, 



" ' So, Biddy, a man can't walk down his own stairs, that was, without 

 your abusin' like a pickpocket, an' callin' him names. I little thought 

 I'd ever hear your mother's daughter call poor ould Major Blennerhassett, 

 that was a friend to you an' yours, a vagabone. It's 'asy knowin' it's 

 in my grave I am, an' not here, or you'd cut the tongue out o' your ugly 

 head, before you'd dare to say such a word to me, you drunken black- 

 guard.' 



" ' Oh ! then, major/ says Biddy, f sure enough, if I knew that it was 

 you, that was in it, I'd be the biggest o' vagabones to call you names ; 

 but how in the world was I to think, that you'd be walkin' like a white- 

 boy at this unseasonable hour c' the night ?' 



" ' Oh ! then, Biddy, if you knew how glad I am to get a walk, you 

 wouldn't wonder at my walkin' whenever I'd be let may be you'd be 

 glad to stretch your limbs yourself, if they were afther being cramped 

 twenty-five years in a cold grave. But how is Paddy ?' 

 He is mighty well, thank 'ee major.' 

 How many childer have you, betwixt you ?' 

 Only ten, major.' 

 What's become of them ?' 



Why then, its mighty good o' you to ask after them, major. Then 

 to tell you the truth, my four girls are married, and have three childer 

 each two o' my boys were hanged in the ruin' in '98 three more were 

 transported because their brothers were hung for that same, an* my 

 youngest son is in hospital from an accident he met with at the last fair 

 o' Golden, when one o' the Kinnealies broke his leg, with a blow or a 

 stone, because he was fightin' as well as his shillelagh would let him, for 

 the Hogans, who you know yourself are our cousin-germans or his own. 

 But, major, I'm sorry to see you look so delicate. Is there any thing the 

 matter with you ?' 



" ' Any thing the matter with me ! why then, Biddy, you're enough to 

 drive a man mad. It's no wonder Paddy often gives you a molloo-roguing 

 (beating) ; any thing the matter with me ? Blur-an-ounty-fish, am n't I 

 dead and buried ? What worse could be the matter with a man nor that ? 

 Besides I'm cruel dry my mouth is filled with the saw-dust that was 

 put in my coffin, an' I did not taste a drop o' wine, malt, or spirits this 

 mony a long day.' 



" ' Why then, major,' says she, ( may be, you'd take a cup o' tay with 

 me I've some green in the house.' 



" ( Oh ! hould your tongue, Biddy, or you'll drive me ragin* mad 

 entirely, an' then I might disremember what brought me here. You 

 couldn't take much tay yourself, ma'am, if you met with such an acci- 

 dent as that in your gullet. Look at me,' says the major, taking off his 

 leather stock, ' am n't I just like an ould turkey cock on a Friday, that 

 you were goin' to dress for my dinner on a Sunday. Wouldn't this be 

 a purty throat to go to a tay-party with ?' And as he said this, the 

 major loosed his stock, an' then sure enough, upon the sight of that, 



