Confidence of lower Irish in Strangers' Honor. 263 



sued between the pair, and the woman came for- 

 ward with a request for our assistance. The still 

 hunters were at hand, and they should be 

 ruined. They had a sack of malt belonging to 

 a neighbour, which could not be removed 

 without our assistance to lift it on her husband's 

 back, which she was incapable of doing as 

 well she might, for the sack most probably 

 contained six bushels. Strong incitement be- 

 stows a power of eloquence to feeling, that 

 speaks irresistibly to the heart. The alarm 

 and dismay of this hapless couple banished 

 every other consideration, and though we 

 might hazard a visit to Sligo gaol, we could 

 not refuse our help. The sack was placed on 

 the poor fellow's shoulders, he bore its 

 enormous weight with alacrity down an adjoin- 

 ing burn ; was soon out of sight, and the good 

 woman relieved from the threatened danger. 



The confidence with which our assistance 

 was asked is characteristic of that honorable 

 principle which is eminently distinguishable 

 among the lower Irish ; an informer is rarely to 

 be met with, from the detestation in which the 

 character is held. So much confidence reposed 

 in such utter strangers had something in it very 

 grateful to our feelings ; yet when the oc- 

 currence was afterwards subjected to reflection, 



