A sportsman's dinner. 245 



should bring the men on Sunday, and I thought this 

 a good opportunity to ask the question. I opened his 

 bedroom-door softly. ' Sir Mark/ says I, * where 

 shall I march the men ? ' ' What kind of a day is it ? * 

 says he. * Rather wet/ was my answer. * It's like 

 the night that preceded it/ says he. ' Upon my con- 

 cience, my lad/ he continued, * my head's not clear 

 enough at present to recollect the exact position of 

 church and chapel ; but take them to the nearest.* That 

 is what I call," and the Colonel shook his head gravely, 

 " real Christian feeling." 



" Real Christian feeling," said the Priest, with a groan 

 ** is nearly banished from the world. When I went 

 first to Castlebar, to learn Latin from Dan Donovan, 

 my uncle Martin, God be merciful to him ! was parish 

 priest, and Jack Benton was the minister. They agreed 

 Uke sworn brothers, and no one dared say a word against 

 either in the presence of his friend. Where the priest 

 dined, the curate was sure to be also. They lived in 

 true brotherhood ; and when one happened to be the 

 worse of liquor, why the other would not leave him for 

 a bishopric. The town was the most peaceable place 

 in Connaught ; and how could it be otherwise with such 

 an example ? Many a night I went before them with 

 a lantern, when they carried Carney, the lame fiddler, 

 round the streets, to serenade the ladies. There they 

 would walk like humble Christians, with the cripple 

 in the middle, and neither caring a traneein whether 

 popery or protestantism was at the head of the barrow. 

 Those were blessed days. Colonel. — I'll thank you 

 for the canister, — ^that tobacco is excellent, and I'll try 

 another pipeful." 



" Och hone ! " exclaimed the otter-killer, " isn't it 



