My Tii'o Days' Salmon Fishinrj. 43 



Yonder," one gentleman remarked, *• I'll go bail it's in the 

 cupboard." *' Hould yer tongue, you fool,'"' said his friends 

 " it will be buried under the stairs." A horrible vision 

 crossed my mind — had the speaker ever had practical 

 experience with the body of an agent ? However, when 

 the AVicked Baron is led to the fatal corner, and the 

 \-irtuous character runs his sword through him, the dehght 

 of the audience was enormous, and there were loud cries of 

 " Kill him again ! Kill him again ! " But the Corpse and 

 Ghost and the Baron and the virtuous character contented 

 themselves with bowing to the audience. 



Then followed something of a pantomime ; but a screw 

 was loose evidently, and there was a cry of '• AVhere's the 

 merriman ? Where's the Jack Pudding ? •' whereon the 

 manager, who evidently was well known to his audience, 

 came forward and said in a kind of stage whisper, " Ladies 

 and gintlemen, I never like to disappoint my friends, and 

 I'll tell ye the truth — he's been to his aunt's funeral, and is 

 a little overcome with excitement." Which apolog}- was 

 received with acclamation. Only fancy an Irish clown in 

 liquor ! 



The old woman prophesied rightly about the trout, for as 

 I strolled home in the evening, when the sun was sinking 

 the fish were mad with glory, and I brought home enough 

 for my supper and the peoj^le at my inn too. And over 

 my evening's pipe and a tumbler of punch my thoughts 

 went back to the blacksmith's daughter, and I drank to her 

 happiness. 



I don't think I shall ever re-visit my old haunts. There 

 is hardly a spot in the faiiy land which I have so often 

 trod that has not been the scene of misery, and outrage, 

 and murder since I saw it last, and I prefer to keep in my 

 mind the pleasant visions of the past, and my recollection of 

 the people as they were when I was so happy amongst 



