156 LIFE IN IRELAND 



I'll make it a dear hanging to them.' This was no 

 laughing matter, but certis the whole court could not 

 refrain from displaying a risibility of features at such 

 a remark. 



The poor wretch was removed, execrating sheep- 

 stealing, and drunken counsellors as worse pests than 

 excisemen and constables. 



Poor Bob, now thou art under the sod, let me scatter 

 a wreath over thy grave ; thou wert a friend to the 

 excise, and a fool to thyself. Methinks I see thee 

 steadying thy body at the punch-house door, and 

 aiming thy one eye at the door of the four courts, 

 then precipitate thyself across the pavement, and make 

 a dart into the hall. Methinks I hear thy reasoning ; 

 even in a state of intoxication, it was always eloquent 

 and sound; thou hadst the power to plead in mitiga- 

 tion of every one's faults except thy own, and we 

 could have much better spared a better man. And 

 though thy earthly wanderings were many and sinful, 

 let us hope that thou art not struck off the roll in 

 heaven^ for faults which thou could not extenuate nor 

 avoid. 



Scarcely had this strange and eventful scene con- 

 cluded, before a new one came upon the carpet ; it 

 was a seducing one for an Irishman to give ear to, and 

 as it went on, Brian could not help heaving a few 

 profound sighs, to the almost forgotten Lady Macanatty. 

 It had often given him pain when he reflected upon 

 the connection he had formed with this young Limerick 

 sparrow, and he latterly began to wish her at the devil, 

 or any more comfortable fireside, at a distance from 

 this world. For it is a truth, that lady had many more 



