222 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 



Cattle have often far to travel and must be sold 

 early. The public -houses are thick with damp, 

 muddy men, and the small hotels reap a harvest. 

 A friend of mine who had some business the day 

 of a fair, told me he watched a very superior 

 returned American stand treat to a stout little 

 cattle dealer there. 



Whisky was not good enough. It was only 

 eleven a.m., so wine was called for, as more ex- 

 pensive and genteel. 



" A bottle of clar't, the best in the house, 

 miss." 



A bottle of dark sour liquid was produced and 

 a brimming glassful poured out for the dealer. 



" There's wine now for ye, Thady. What d'ye 

 think of that ? " 



The dealer sipped gratefully but dubiously. 



"It is like ink," he said cautiously. " But it 

 wouldn't be so bad if ye ran a glass of whisky 

 through it," he added brightening up. 



I have unfortunately lost a truly wonderful bill 

 sent in for the costs of an election of olden times. 



I remember the items ran : 



" To takin' Tom Magee an' Dan O'Brien an' 

 makin' them as drunk as I was able. Four 

 pounds. 



To cups of tay in the mornin' for the min. Three 

 pound — (bacon and eggs included). 



To satisfy the baker's man after I bate him till 

 he promised he'd vote for yourself. Five pounds." 



