60 SIMPSONS SNIPE 



" ' Ye did on Tib's Eve ! ' says the Major. 



''' Ocli, begorra, it's thrutli I'm tellin' ye/ says 

 she ; ' I seen thim this very mornin', when I was 

 comin' from mass — an' be the same token,' says she, 

 lukkin' out av the windy, ' there they are, rosy an' 

 well.' 



" ' Thin upon my conscience, mam,' roared the 

 Major, ' if I don't hit thim I'll make them lave that ! ' 



" So he ups an' loads an ould blundherbuss wud 

 all soarts av combusticles, an' down he creeps to the 

 edge av the wather, and hides hisself in some long 

 grass, for the ducks was heddin' for him. Up they 

 cum ; an' the minnit they wor within a cupple av 

 perch he pulls the thrigger as bould as a ram, whin 

 by the hokey smut it hot him a welt in the stum- 

 mick that levelled him, an' med him feel as if 

 tundher was inside av him rumblin'. He roared 

 millia murdher, for he thought he was kilt ; but 

 howsomever he fell soft an' aisy, an' he put out his 

 hand for to see if he was knocked to bits behind, 

 whin, begorra, he felt somethin' soft an' warm. 

 * Arrah, what the puck is this ? ' sez he ; an' turnin' 

 round, what was he sittin' on but an illigant Jack 

 hare. ' Yer cotch, ma bouchal,' sez he ; ' an' yer as 

 welkim as the flowers o' May.' 



" Wasn't that a twist o' luck, sir ? " asked Billy 

 pausing to take breath. 



