508 On Priests in general, and (^Nov. 



the pratees j^ji'owing outside for the head of ye : I suppose you think 

 you're a mighty fine spy-glass.) — In regard to tlie mortal sin, I'm tould 

 you all went to hear the heretics preaching ujj at the INIethodist chapel 

 t'other morning. Now, whether you did or not, sorrow an absolution 

 will you get from me until you do penance, every one of ye that's got a 

 red cow, or a barn-door. Sure if you didn't go, it's no reason but you 

 might go — and that's all the same. — (Tim Byrne, I hear that you bought 

 a yellow waistcoat and a pair of bran new brogues, last Tuesday, at 

 Bally-brougheen pathern ; where did you get the money, Tim ? Sure it 

 was never known that you had ever a hide on your dirty feet before, 

 except your skin, and why wouldn't that contint you still .'' Were you 

 afeard of spattering your iligant knee-breeches ? If you come by such a 

 sight of money honestly, Tim, you ought to come to me and ax me 

 what you ought to do wid it. But it's true for me that you had a hand 

 in the convarsions. If your soul isn't as white as a jug of ci'eam, mind 

 Avhat I tell you, there'll be a ruction afore long, and the jubilee's coming 

 on. You'll be trying to palaver me out of an indulgence by-and-by, 

 when the money's all spent, and you'll be so poor, that if ould Nick was 

 to dance a jig in your pocket, there Mouldn't be as much as a halfpemiy 

 for him to break his shin-bone over. But you're playing blind-man's- 

 buff wid your salvation, and you'U knock your nose against a stone wall. 

 It wasn't for nothing that I took that pint of liquor with you t'other 

 night at Dan Cumraing's ; when the drop of drink's upon you, you're as 

 tinder as a rotten turnip ; I've only to squeeze you between my finger 

 and thumb, and out comes the juice.) — I was talking of the IMethodist 

 chapel, when this spalpeen interrupted me. — (Jemmy Riley, just put 

 your hand to that boord a bit, and shove it over the tub). — The IMetho- 

 dists are all made of iron and broad-cloth, boys ; they're not like us, 

 good flesh and blood ; and that's the reason they want to bring you over 

 to them. Did you ever see a Methodist like Peggy IMartin ? To be sure 

 you didn't, I needn't ax you. Hould up your head, Peggy, and don't 

 keep spoiling your praskeen. I'm tould the childer are in the typhus ; 

 well, it's one comfort that it '11 prevent the procthor and the preacher 

 from coming near you. Belheshin ! — not one of them comes as we do, 

 rain or shine, well or ill. I hope you'll all have the true typhus — it's 

 gi-ace I mean — to keep the heretics away from you. They don't care a 

 traneen for ye, if you'll only let them read the Bible to j^e. And sure 

 the Bible's good reading, may be, but it's not fit for the likes of ye. If 

 you want Bibles come to me, I'm Bible enough for you. — (It's late you'i'c 

 after coming to my discoiu'se, Masther Mike Garret. Never a heed you 

 heed me until you can't help yourself. May be you think half a loaf 

 is bether than no bread at all ; but if you were to say that to the angel 

 at the door of heaven, he'd pop in your head, and ,jam your legs out ; 

 then how would you look, Jlike .'' Did you ever come to the jugon till 

 you finished your noggin of punch ? To be sure you didn't, but that's 

 no reason why you'd be letting other people drink your liquor for you. 

 — Is that the sun that's splitting the ould sod roof of tlie place ? What 

 else would it be .'' And isn't that a lesson to you, to shew that the 

 Roman church is the true church — don't you see how it's burning the 

 heads of ye .'' Did you ever know the equal of it in the heretics' house .? 

 How could you, because they daren't look the sun in the face, and put 

 ugly slates on the top to privint him from looking in to see what they're 

 doing. ]\Iy drame's out — I knew we'd have a sign to shoAv them before 



