292 THE FALLS OF BALLYSHANNON. 



anything like supper for us. We shall have 

 a jolly day's fishing to-morrow — I never saw 

 the weather so promising." 



" It always is on Sunday," said the 

 Scholar ; " that is our luck." 



" Bother your head for a grumbler," said 

 the Captain ; " whenever you cannot catch 

 you lay the blame on the weather." 



" So does every fisherman that I ever saw 

 or heard of." 



" True for you, my boy," said the Cap- 

 tain. " By the way, Squire, talking of 

 weather, what luck had you with that new 

 fly of yours? This has been such an agi- 

 tating day, that no one has thought of any- 

 thing but battle, murder, and sudden death. 

 You know what we did at Lough Derg in 



abuses that had prevailed, and been tolerated by his 

 predecessors. By this inquisition he quadrupled the 

 king's revenue in a few years ; he stimulated com- 

 merce ; he promoted agriculture ; he disciplined, paid, 

 and recruited the army, suppressed its disorders, and 

 elevated its character. The government of Strafford 

 was arbitrary, and even tyrannical ; but it stayed and 

 absorbed that minor and universal license of oppres- 

 sion that had so long worried Ireland. The people of 

 that unintelligible country grew wealthier in the midst 

 of exactions, and happier by oppression." 



