IO2 Salmon Fishing. 



to warble in a melancholy strain, " The last 

 links are broken that bound me to thee." 



Dan was a very decent fellow, though a bit 

 softer, than the Irish peasants in general. He 

 either had been just married, or was on the eve 

 of being so ; which I could not make out, as he 

 was very shy on the subject. Nothing, however, 

 I could say had the smallest influence in changing 

 his opinion, as far as prudential motives went in 

 matters matrimonial. And yet though a smarter 

 young fellow you would scarcely fall in with in 

 a long day's walk, what, after so early a mar- 

 riage (he was but a mere youth) was he likely 

 to become in the course of a very few years ? 

 It was the old, old story in Ireland ! a boy 

 and girl marriage ; a cabin to exist in, often 

 without a chimney even for the escape of the 

 smoke from the turf fire ; a bit of ground 

 scarcely big enough to grow potatoes in, in a 

 favourable season; and no farmer at hand to 

 give him employment ! In this case, it is true, 

 as Dan was a favourite, the guests at the hotel 



