216 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



rent-day on July 10, when the Bill was still in doubt. 

 About two-thirds of the half-year's rent was paid, 

 where commonly nearly the whole would have been 

 paid. A number of the largest and best-off tenants 

 did not appear ; even some thoroughly wealthy shop- 

 keepers, who held town fields. It was easy to guess 

 who were readers of newspapers. The next day two 

 of the best tenants came, in the main worthy indus- 

 trious fellows ; the half-year's rent of whom was 

 49 and 67 : 10s. They said they had no money. 

 I answered I could not afford that they should not 

 pay some rent. They might pay half in the next 

 ten days, and the rest at Michaelmas. I got a short 

 reply. They had no money and could not pay, but 

 might pay something after harvest. I then said, as 

 they took that tone, I would accept nothing less than 

 a half-year's rent in full; and if this was not paid before 

 Michaelmas, I would eject as soon as I could. I never 

 again asked for the rent. About September 1st, the 

 49 tenant came suddenly with the rent in full in 5 

 notes ; the large notes being a sure sign it had been 

 lying ready for some time. Two days after the 

 67 : 10s. tenant came in such haste that he would 

 not wait to change some Cork butter-buyer's cheques 

 for his butter of this season, dated before July 12, 

 the day when he told me he had no money. The 

 cheques were for more than I had asked him to pay 

 in July. If the Bill had passed, both would have 

 gone into arrears, and probably have ruined them- 



