CHAPTER XXI. 



PADDY GOOD AT REPARTEE. 



IT is so long since I was in Ireland that I don't 

 know whether Paddy is as cheery and as witty as 

 he was in the days when he wore knee breeches, and 

 his whole suit made of grey frieze, which from first 

 to last was manufactured at home. In the days I 

 allude to he was always ready with some witty answer, 

 and there was no getting a rise out of him : he was 

 sure to have some answer ready for you. 



On one occasion I had been away from Ballina to 

 fish at a place called Bangor. There was a sort of 

 mail car that ran into that part of the world, and 

 was allowed to carry a couple of passengers, the driver 

 of which was riot expected to ask for or take any 

 tip. On my return to Ballina, as he was a good 

 kind of fellow, I thought I would be very generous. 

 Accordingly I liberated him half-a-crown. This he 



