THE BALLYHILLY BEAGLES 



HE little village of 

 Ballyhilly was gay with 

 bunting and a huge bon- 

 fire blazed on Bell Hill, 

 for young Squire Egan 

 had returned to the 

 home of his fathers that 

 day, after completing his 

 education on the Con- 

 tinent. A brisk trade 

 was being done at the 

 ''Ballyhilly Arms," 

 where the members of the local pack of trencher-fed 

 beagles had met to arrange the opening meet of the 

 season, which was to take place the following Saturday. 

 " An' is it true what ye tell us, Denis, that the young 

 Squire has put his hand in his pocket and given five 

 goulden sovereigns to the dogs ? " 



" An' why shouldn't it be thrue ? " answered Denis 

 O'Grady, a veteran hare-hunter of some sixty -five winters, 

 who probably knew more about the habits and haunts 

 of Mistress Lepus than any other man for twenty miles 

 round. " An' why shouldn't it be thrue, Micky ? Sure 

 an' you're dhrinking his honour's health out of that same 

 five pounds this very minute ; an' isn't it the illigant 



green coat wid the gilt buttons I've just been afther 



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