220 LIFE IN IRELAND 



only spoken in the interior of Ireland, and a sudden 

 call took the pupil abroad without his ever having an 

 opportunity of trying his powers in conversation with a 

 real Gaelic-speaking Irishman. He was an officer in 

 the army, and in the course of service landed in some 

 port of the NetJierlands. 



In walking through the place, accompanied by a 

 brother officer, he remarked, 'By God ! these Germans 

 all talk Irish.' — ' How do you mean? I can't comprehend 

 you'; 'Why I speak Irish, and to convince you they 

 do the same, I '11 address the first person I meet.' He 

 did so, requesting to know the hour of the day, and 

 received a polite answer ; at the same time the stranger 

 asked if he was not a native of Germany : no, replied 

 the officer, but are not you an Irishman ? He had 

 never heard of such a place. This brought on an 

 eclaircisseinent^ and the officer found that his Dublin 

 tutor had made him a perfect German scholar, and 

 swindled him into the idea that he had been teaching 

 him Irish, for which he was now grateful. 



Megler^ for that 's his real name, speaks very little 

 English. When Earl Talbot entertained our King 

 (long life to him if he dies to-morrow), Megler was sent 

 on a message ; when he returned, he could not make 

 himself understood ; and as his Majesty was anxious to 

 know what he had to say, he inquired if there was no 

 one that could speak German. None of the company 

 could, and an Irish servant was ordered to see if any 

 of the domestics could. Pat very soon returned, and 

 said, ' Plase your Excell-Uency, there is devil a one 

 understands the Gavjuan lingo, but I 've a brother 

 plays on the Garmaii flute^ 2cc\d. perhaps heUl do.' — The 



