LIFE IN IRELAND 47 



descended to face him again. The harness of a jingle 

 is easily put out of order, and as quickly repaired ; 

 leather and buckles being very scarce materials in its 

 composition. Some pieces of old rope knotted to- 

 gether, and often twisted haybands served to support 

 the shafts by day, and be a supper for the animal at 

 night ; the reins are sometimes of leather, when chance 

 has thrown an old boot in Jehu's way, which cut into 

 slips and stitched by the help of a fork and twine, end 

 for end, makes a grand set out. 



Slaney in refitting found himself short of fastenings ; 

 the knee-bands of his breeches, which were of no use, 

 as he never tied them, having no stockings to encumber 

 his legs, he converted into a back-band, but still in 

 want of a string to splice his reins, he made a leg to 

 Grammachree, and after scratching his head, muttered, 

 ' Maybe your honour would give us the loan of your 

 wooden-leg garter, as it can't be of any use hanging 

 to your body.' In this Grammachree acquiesced, and 

 unbuckling his stump handed the straps to Slaney, who 

 soon set off again in grand style, amidst the laughter 

 of an assembled crowd, who had witnessed the upset 

 with infinite satisfaction. 



These things are so common, that they astonish no 

 one ; a broken limb or a collection of bruises are looked 

 for as essentials to complete a holiday party, and cause 

 them to separate in good humour. Grammachree 

 ordered Slaney to hasten on through Bagot Street ; he 

 detested it because it was full of lawyers, by whom he 

 was cheated out of the fortune that his father forgot to 

 leave him. 



Determined to end the night as they had begun the 



