AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 41 



a pleasure to serve a gentleman who knew what he 

 wanted. 



Do not expect Irishmen to be in a hurry about 

 trifles. It is only when merriment or profit is in 

 the air that they really bustle themselves. They 

 have infinitely too much faith in to-morrow for 

 over-haste to-day. Their philosophy is portrayed 

 in these song extracts : 



" Sit ye down, my heartie, and gi'e us a crack, 

 Let the wind tak' the care o' the world on his back." 



And: 



" I like to lay down in the sun, 

 And drame, when my faytures is scorchin', 

 Then when I'm too ould for more fun, 

 Why I'll marry a wife with a fortune." 



They worry not, but leave much to Fate ; and 

 the hopes that leave some with their youth stay on 

 with them all through life. Had I the ordering 

 that doctors have, whose speciality is brain and 

 nerve troubles, it is to such an atmosphere as is 

 produced by the scenery and the people of Donegal 

 that I would send them. There, where every stone 

 has its legend, every hill its tale, where Atlantic 

 breezes rustle wild flowers and bring gushes of 

 perfume, they may see what pleasures life still 

 holds for them. 



I cannot remember how many retired colonels I 

 have met on my angling trips ; possibly not nearly 

 so many as I imagine. A colonel may be so much 



