14 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



Irish railway officials are civil is quite inadequate ; 

 they have always appeared to me as sympathetically 

 obliging as if they had a personal interest in your 

 journey being a pleasant one. 



We were soon provided with what was needed 

 for our comfort, and ceased to regret that we had 

 been disappointed of our Dublin beds ; indeed, we 

 were soon asleep, and slept so soundly that the 

 stopping and re-starting affected us not. Our dreams 

 continued until near morning, when there came a 

 noise on the ear that it was impossible to assimilate, 

 and, on looking up, I was confronted by a young 

 Irishman, who, I thought, wore quite a ne'er-do-well 

 look. With a smile all over his face he was saying, 

 " Is it on the flure you would be having me tak a 

 sate ? " I had to rub my eyes and give my son a 

 shake for some corroboration of the actuality of the 

 situation. Pat's courtesy equalled the occasion, for 

 he gave me time to settle the point while he sang : 



" With the fairest of daughters old Erin is blessed, 

 And brave are the sons of this nation disthressed." 



I suppose I was not looking so pleased as I 

 ought, for the apparition said, " Are ye crass?" I 

 replied that I was not quite sure, and that I should 

 like to be fully awake before I decided. " Is that 

 so?" said he ; "then I'll do meself the pleasure of 

 inquiring again." Then on he went with his song : 



"They've a wakeness, 'tis thrue, for John Jameson's best, 

 Well, that's Irish, you know, that's* Irish." 



