AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 125 



" It's not forgetting the question we can be. It will 

 be a great day for many of us when the powerful 

 spakers permit us to do that same. May we be 

 presarved from getting all we ask." 



In response to this the old lady with uplifted 

 finger said, " The same is true for them." 



Much else was said by the old folks, but no 

 words came that plainly approved or condemned ; 

 but the following may be taken as giving the 

 impression I brought away with me : 



" And we still might get on without doctors, 



If they'd let the ould island alone; 

 And if purple-men, priests and tithe-proctors 



Were crammed down the great gun of Athlone." 



Over and above and beyond any impression of 

 mine was the pleasure of witnessing the anxiety and 

 hope of the one that the words falling from the lips 

 of the other should be to the purpose, and the nod 

 and smile of encouragement which they gave each 

 other in turn, and the pleased flush it called up, 

 showed that such approval was to them what the 

 applause of a multitude is to a public speaker. 

 During the long conversation I had opportunities of 

 taking note of my surroundings. The light of the 

 blazing turf fire was given back in ruddy reflections 

 from the bright plates that were ranged upon the 

 well-scoured dresser in gradual order from the 

 smallest plate to the largest dish. The table was 

 as white as scouring could make it, and everything 

 was equally clean and in ,its place. In the far 



