LIFE IN IRELAND 105 



and alive, as we are not at this present writing ; your 

 sister Nell that married the exciseman's brother's 

 nephew, having gone dead last week by swallowing a 

 potatoe stalk for a French-bean, which stuck in her 

 throat and choaked her wizen up ; so we are all dead 

 wid grief on her account. Your mother has not been 

 drunk these three months, and your father thinks she 

 is refor77iated to a new thing. Sail Still sends her love 

 and duty, and begs you will not forget the silver ring 

 with a blue glass stone in it, you promised to send her 

 when you got to the big City, and as she is farish gone 

 wid young, you would do well to send her a trifle for 

 the dowfi lying', she is true and constant, as she con- 

 fesses her sins to me every night regularly, and I often 

 admonish her. Judy Macanulty, you may whisper in 

 Master Brian's ear, takes it much to heart, that he has 

 not sent to her as he swore he would : we have heard 

 of his being wid the King, and if he has a King's 

 picture or two to spare, he may send it to get a few 

 togs for Judy, as she is nearly like the pigs, who lay 



with their bare ; and she frits very much for his 



absteiice. Many thanks for the tenpenny you sent inside 

 of your letter to pay the postage, which came to four- 

 teen pence ; so don't forget next time to enclose one 

 and sixpence in halfpence, which will settle both, as 

 money and potatoes are very scarce wid us, the crops 

 have been so bad, all owing to the death of Bonni- 

 patrick and this long peace. 



I am your loving Father in God, 



TiMMOTHY SLIDKEiVr O'SlACK O'WhACK, 



Parish Priest and School-master 

 to Grubble Town Ard. 



