AX IRISH FAIR 



419 



dealing in select, not necessarily aristocratic, circles in 

 Ireland, were of one family, all having a voice, and a loud 

 one, in the matter. Each of them shouted instructions of 

 most opposite description to the well-primed seller ; and 

 his eftort to fall in with their views was by no means the 

 least amusing part of the show. *' Dhrive him along, the 





Three ashplants descended 



old villain ! " shouted one. " Wait now, take him at a nice 

 trot ! " yelled the second. " Hould, will ye, while I get on 

 the baste myself ! " commanded the third. And he got on, 

 with as many instructions from the owner as would have 

 sufficed for a jockey for the Cambridgeshire. But, bother 

 it, one of those rope-hung stirrups had swung over the 

 saddle. For the life of him he could find nothing of it. 

 At that moment three separate ashplants or blackthorns 



