DEDICATORY EPISTLE. XI 



them. My Squire, my Parson, my Captain, 

 may be anybody, or everybody, or nobody ; 

 but, under whatever appellation I had in- 

 troduced our entertainers, I should but have 

 imitated the prudent reserve of him who 

 scrupulously abstained from naming his 

 friend on account of his rank, " because he 

 was at this present time Lord Chancellor of 

 England." I must be content, therefore, to 

 say in my own character, that, among my 

 reminiscences of the Erne, by no means the 

 least pleasing are those connected with the 

 Miss Shiels, and with the evenings passed 

 at their house. 



And now, farewell ! Pleasant is the Erne, 

 and pleasant were its breezy days, and plea- 

 sant was the cozy evening's fire at Mother 

 Johnstone's. 



Could those days but come again, 

 With their clouds and showers, 



I would give the hopes of years 

 For those bygone hours. 



