ulting tone," you all see that I did not murdher [left a chasm in his heart, which he thought nohim!" thing but the whiskey could fill up."

46

You DID," said a voice which was immediately recognized as the voice of the deceased.

*

*

*

*

**

Peter proceeds on in this manner, having become an habitual drunkard, his health rapidly declining, under the artificial excitement, We wish we were able to extract the de- which "often kills but never cures;" his famiscription of a snow storm in the mountains from ly and his landlord remonstrating with him, this story, which for accuracy of conception but in vain; as a "dernier resort" the priest is and vigor of description is unequalled by any applied to, whose remonstrances would have thing we recollect to have read; but we must been ineffectual, had he not threatened to stop hasten on, and passing over the "Donagh" and the masses for the soul of Mrs. Ellish Connell, "Pig Driver," proceed to the two concluding and to return the money Peter had given him sketches in this volume, which are so connect- for saying them-the latter part of the threat ed together, that the "Geography of an Irish is that which would probably have never been oath" may be considered merely as an illustra- executed. In consequence of the priest's intion of the preceding "Essay on Swearing," in terference, Peter at last promises to swear which is given a complete expose of the talent against more than a "rasonable share," and of an Irishman for oath-taking, especially the that evening goes to the house of the village department in which he is unrivalled and un-school-master to get the oath drawn up. approachable, namely, in swearing an alibi. "Misther O'Flaherty," said Peter, “I'm Our author in this essay contrasts the English, comin' to ax a requist of you, an' hope you'll Scotch, and Irish systems of swearing, and of grant it to me. I brought down a sup in the course establishes a triumphant case for Pad-flask, an' while we're takin' it, we can talk dy, proving his superiority in that polite accom- over what I want."

66

plishment; "in fact he is an improvisatore in "If it be any thing widin the circumference oath-taking, with this difference, that his ex-of my power, set it down Misther Connell, as tempore oaths possess all the ease and correct- already operated upon. I'd dip a pen to no ness of labor and design." We regret that our limits prevent our giving the whole of the Geography of an Irish Oath," which may be considered as a supplement to the "Essay;" we shall lay before the reader that portion which gives the name to the sketch, and an outline of so much as is required to make our extract intelligible.

man at keepin' books by double entry, which is the Italian method invinted by Pope Gregory the Great. The three sets bear a theological ratio to the three, states of a thrue Christian. The Waste-book,' says Pope Gregory, is this world, the Journal is purgatory, an' the Ledger is heaven.' 'Or it may be compared, he says, in the preface of the work, to the three states of the Catholic Church-the church militant, the church suffering, and the church triumphant.' The larnin' of that man was beyant the reach of credibility."

"Arrah, have you a small glass, masther? You see, Misther O'Flaherty, it's consarnin' purgatory, this that I want to talk to you about."

Nancy get us a glass-oh, here it is! Thin if it be, it's a wrong enthry in the journal."

"Here's your health, masther!—not forgettin' you, Mrs. O'Flaherty. No, indeed thin, it's not in the journal, but an oath I'm going to take aginst liquor."

Peter Connell first began the world as the keeper of a Sheebeen house, about four miles from the town of Ballyporeen; by active excrtion he gradually advances in the world, and at last arrives at the dignity of a squireen, at least so far as to be able to keep an horse and car, and to farm an extensive tract of land. This advance in the world is to be mainly attributed to the good sense and activity of his wife Ellish, whose industry and steadiness have been the means of correcting Peter's unsettled and intemperate habits, and of almost weaning him from Poteen. Unfortunately for poor Peter, at this period, his wife is carried off by a "Nothing is asier to post than it is. We fever, and he is left without the ballast which must enter it under the head of-let me seeenabled him to stand the storms and tempests it must go in the spirit account, under the head of life; his grief at the loss is so poignant and of Profit an' Loss. Your good health, Mr. bitter, that he flies for relief from his agony of Connell !-Nancy, I dhrink to your improvemind to the bottle, the usual resource of our ment in imperturbability! Yes, it must be enfellow-countrymen, and even of less volatile thered under the-" and better educated men, when in difficulties more easily overcome than Peter's; this is chiefly owing to his kind friends having encouraged him to drown care by a little sup, when he found his grief coming on.

"Faix, under the rose, I think," observed Peter, "don't you know the smack of it? You see since I tuck to it, I like the smell of what I used to squeeze out o' the barley myself, long ago. Misther O'Flaherty, I only want you to "Peter literally fulfilled his promise of tak-draw up an oath against liquor for me; but it's ing a jorum in future. He was now his own not for the books, good or bad. I promised to master; and as he felt the loss of his wife deep-Father Mulcahy that I'd do it. It's regardin' ly, he unhappily had recourse to the bottle to my poor Ellish's sowl that's in purgatory." bury the recollection of a woman, whose death Nancy, hand me a slate and cutter. Faith,

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Very good. Now put down one wid ould Birtle Gorman of Nurchasy; an' two over wid Michael Morris, of Cargah. How many have you now?"

sent as dark as Nox.
of explanation."

I'd thank you for a taste

"Asy, man alive! Is there twelve in all ?" "Twelve in all: I've calculated it."

"Well, we'll hould to that. Och, och!I'm sure, avourneen, afore I'd let you suffer one minute's pain, I'd not scruple to take an oath aginst liquor, any way. He may an wid the masses now for you, as soon as he likes. Mr. O'Flaherty will you put it down on paper, an'. I'll swear to it, wid a blessin,' tomorrow."

"But what object do you wish to effectuate by this?"

"You see, masther, I dhrink one day wid another from a score to two dozen tumblers, an' I want to swear to no more nor twelve in the twenty-four hours."

"Why there's intelligibility in that!-wid great pleasure, Mr. Connell, I'll indite it. Katty tare me a lafe out o' Brian Murphy's copy there."

You see, masther, it's for Ellish's sake I'm doin' this. State that in the oath."

"I know it; an' well she desarved that specimen of abstinence from you, Misther Connell. Thank you, your health agin! an' "Twelve in all!!!! But, Misther Connell, God grant you grace and fortitude to go there's a demonstration badly wanted here. 1 through wid the same oath! An' so he will, must confiss I was always bright, but at pre- or I'm grievously mistaken in you.”

OATH AGAINST LIQUOR,

Made by Mr. Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath, on behalf of Misther Peter O'Connell, of the Cross-roads, merchant, on one part, and of the soul of Mrs. Ellish O'Connell, now in purgatory, merchantress, on the other

I solemnly, and meritoriously, and soberly swear, that a single tumbler of whiskey punch shall not cross my lips, during the twenty-four hours of the day, barring twelve, the locality of which is as followeth :

N. B.-I except in case any Docther of Physic might think it right and medical to ordher more for my health; or in case I might get Father Mulcahy to take the oath off for a start, at a wedding, or a christening, or at any other meeting of friends, where there's drink.

Witness present,

Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath.

June the 4th, 18-.

his

PETER CONNELI.

mark.

I certify that I have made and calculated this oath for Misther O'Connell, merchant, and that it is strictly and arithmetically proper and correct.

Dated this fourth of June, 18-.

CORNELIUS O'FLAHERTY, Philomath.

In spite of this oath to which Peter swears after some time obliged again to have recourse obedience, after adding Octavo-one more to Mr. O'Flaherty.

tumbler out of respect for dacent Andy Ca- "Masther," said he, "we must thry and vanagh-1. He is still constantly drunk, and make the oath somethin' plainer. You see,

when I get confused, I'm not able to rimimber sign of the horsewhip, or the cudgel, for he's things as I ought. Sometimes, instid of one handy and argues well wid both. tumbler I take two at the wrong place; an' sarra bit o' me but call'd in and had three wid one Jack Rogers, that isn't in it at all; so I'd thank you to dhraw it clearer, if you can, nor it was.'

"I see," Mr. Connell," I comprehend, wid the greatest ase in life, the very plan for it. We must reduce the oath to Geography, for I'm at home there, being a surveyor myself. I'll lay down a map of the parish, an' draw the houses of your friends at their places, so that you'll never be out of your latitude at all."

"Faix I doubt that, Masther-ha, ha, ha!" replied Peter, "I'm afeard I will of an odd time, for I'm not able to carry what I used to do: but no matther; thry what you can do for me this time, any how. I think I could bear a long dozen still, if I don't make mistakes."

O'Flaherty accordingly set himself to work; and as his knowledge, not only of the parish, but of every person and house in it, was accurate, he soon had a tolerably correct skeleton map of it drawn for Peter's use.

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Now, see this dot--that's your own house." "Put a crass there," said Peter, "an' thin I'll know its the Crass-roads."

Now, here we dhraw a line to your son Dan's. Let me see: He keeps a mill an' sell's cloth. Very good. I'll dhraw a mill-wheel and a yard-wand. There's two tumblers. Will you know that?"

"Good! I'll put down the horsewhip first, an the cudgel alongside of it; then the tumbler, and there'll be the sign of the priest."

"Ay, do, Masther, and faix the priest 'ill be complete; there can be no mistakin' him thin. Divil a one but that's a good thought!" "There it is in black an white. Who comes nixt? Frank Carroll. He's a farmer. I'll put down a spade and harrow. Well that's done. Two tumblers."

"I won't mistake that aither; its clear enough."

"Bartle Gorman of Nurchasy. Bartle's a little lame, an uses a staff wid a cross on the end that he holds in his hand. I'll put down a staff wid a cross on it."

"Wud there be no danger of me mistakin that for the priest's cudgel?"

"Not the slightest. I'll pledge my knowledge of Geography, they're two very different weapons."

"Well, put it down, I'll know it."

"Michael Morris, of Cargah. What for him? Michael's a pig driver-I'll put down a pig. You'll comprehend that?"

"I ought; for many a pig I sould him in my day. Put down the pig; an if you could put two black spots upon his back, I'd know it to be one 1 sould him about four years agonethe fattest ever was in the country; it had to be brought home on a car, for it wasn't able to walk wid fat."

"The spots are on it. The last is Andy Cavanagh, of Lisbuy. Now do you see, I've dhrawn a line from place to place, so that you've nothing to do only to keep to it as you go. What for Andy?

แ "Andy! let us see. Andy! Pooh!--What's come over me that I've nothin for Andy? Aye! "I see it--go an, nothin' can be clearer. So I have it.-He's a horse-jockey. Put down a far I can't go asthray."

"Well, what next? two behind your own garden. What metaphor for a garden? Let me see!--let me cogitate! A dragon-the Hesperides! That's beyant you. A bit of a hedge will do an' a gate."

"Don't put a gate in; its not lucky. You know when a man takes to dhrink they say he's goin' a grey gate, or a black gate, or a bad gate. Put that, out, an' make the hedge longer, an' it'll do-wid the two tumblers, though."

"They're down; one at the Reverend Father Mulcahy's. How will we translate the priest.?"

"Faix I doubt it will be a difficquilt business."

grey mare I sould him about five years agone." "I'll put down a horse; but I can't make a grey mare wid black ink.”

"Well, make a mare of her, any way."

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Faith, that puzzles me. Stop, I have it! I'll put a foal along wid her."

"As good as the bank. God bless you, Misther O'Flaherty; I think this 'ill keep me from mistakes. An' now, if you'll slip up to me afther dark, I'll send you down a couple of bottles and a flitch. Sure you deserve it, afther the trouble you tuck."

We feel convinced that after this extract, our readers will agree with us in our commendations of Mr. Carleton's powers as a writer: we should mention, that the above is not without foundation, according to our author, and it "Upon my reputation I agree with you in certainly affords an additional reason for bethat, especially whin he repates Latin. How-lieving "truth to be stranger than fiction." ever, we'll see. He writes P. P. afther his In any of his sketches, where schoolmasters name; pee-pee is what we call the turkeys are introduced, Mr. Carleton shews great wid. What'ud you think of two turkeys?" ability; he has evinced the most consummate "The priest wud like them roasted, but I skill in displaying their pedantry and supercould'nt understand that. No; put down the cilious ignorance. In the former series, how

ever, he was more successful than in the pre-lady fell in love with Tim, and is to make him sent, in which he seems to have almost ex- a present of herself and her great fortune hausted his materials on this subject, and been (three estates) the moment he becomes a countherefore obliged to have recourse to the over-sellor: and in the mean time she allows him strained and unnatural hyper-iriscisms which thirty pounds a year to bear his expenses and disfigure the composition of most of our wri-live like a gentleman."

ters, and from which we had supposed Mr. We must now hasten to conclude, and shall Carleton entirely free, until we came to the therefore pass on, to the third volume, which sketch of the schoolmaster, in the "Poor contains two sketches, "Denis O'ShaughScholar," which is quite unworthy of Mr. nessy," and "Phelim O'Toole's courtship." Carleton's pen, and of the admirable story in We will not attempt any outline of these which it occurs; let any one read the speech stories, having trespassed too long already on in p. 160. vol. ii., and we are confident they our readers' patience, and wishing not to leswill agree with us in our observations; we are sen their interest in the perusal. We cannot,

at the same time ready to acknowledge, that however, resist the temptation of giving the it is almost the only defective writing in the following specimen of a prayer at a Pattern, book; it is also redeemed by the preceding which excels even Mrs. Malaprop's orthodoxy. sketch, in the same story, of Mr. Corcoran, "Queen o' Patriots pray for us! St. Abrawhich is redolent of humour, and in our au- ham-go to the divil you bosthoon; is it thor's best style. For the benefit of our Col-crushin' my sore leg you are?-St. Abraham, lege readers, we will give, in Mr. Corcoran's pray for us! St. Isinglass, pray for us! St. own words, the account of the prowess of his Jonathan pray for us! Holy Niniveh, look pupil, Tim Kearney, who "bate" them all in down upon us wid compression an' resolution that "overgrown hedge-school called Thrinity this day; Blessed Jerooslim, throw down comCollege."

'Arrah, how was that, Masther?" "Tim, you see, wint in to his Enthrance Examinayshuns, and one of the Fellows came to examin him, but divil a long it was 'till Tim sacked (puzzled) him."

"Go back agin," says Tim, "and sind some one that's able to tache me, for you're not."

"So another greater Scholar agin came to thry Tim, and did thry him, and Tim made a hare of him, before all that was in the place-five or six thousand ladies and gintlemin, at least!"

"The great larned Fellows thin began to look odd enough; so they picked out the best scholar among thim, but one, and slipped him at Tim: but well becomes Tim, the never a long it was 'till he had him, too, as dumb as a post. The Fellow went back."

puncture an' meditation upon us Christyeens assembled here before you to offer up our sins! Oh! grant us, blessed Catastrophy, the holy virtues of timtation an' solitude, through the improvenint an' accommodation of St. Columbkill! To him I offer up this button, a bit o' the waistband o' my breeches, an' a taste o' my wife's petticoat, in rimimbrance of us havin' made this holy station; an' may they rise up in glory to prove it for us at the last day! Amin."

We must also for the instruction of any of our readers about to enter the bands of Holy Matrimony, give the following extract, containing the most valuable advice for the arranging of marriage articles, and assisting them in the almost incomprehensible business of settling entails, or bona fide property in stock, which 'parvis componere magna,' is "Gintlemin," says he to the rest, "we'll be most expeditiously and satisfactorily decided, disgraced all out," says he, "for except the without either the interference of the lawyer Prowost sacks that Munsther Spalpeen, he'll or his jackall, in the cabin of the Irish peasant; bate us all, an' we'll never be able to hold up it is merely necessary to premise that Phelim our heads afther." is heir at law to a fee simple estate of "half "Accordingly, the Prowost attacks Tim, an acre," on which account his father is anxand such a meetin' as they had, never was ious he should marry and have an heir to keep seen in Trinity College since its establish-up the family of the O'Tooles.

ment. At length when they had been nine "When Phelim had reached his twentyhours and a half at it, the Prowost put one fifth year, his father thought it was high time word to him that he couldn't expound, so he for him to marry. The good man had, of lost it by one word. For the last two hours course, his own motives for this. In the first the Prowost carried on an examinayshun in place, Phelim, with all his gallantry and cleverHebrew, thinking, you see that he had Tim ness, had never contributed a shilling, either there; but he was mistaken, for Tim answer- towards his own support, or that of the family. ed him in good Munster Irish, and so it hap-In the second place, he was never likely to do pened that they understood each other, for the so. In the third place, the father found him a two languages are first cousins, or, at all bad companion; for in good truth he had corevents, close blood relations. Tim was thin rupted this good-man's morals so evidently, pronounced to be the best scholar in Ireland that his character was now little better than except the Prowost; though among ourselves, that of his son. In the fourth place, he never they might have thought of the man that taught thought of Phelim that he did not see a gallows him. That, however, wasn't all. A young in the distance; and matrimony, he thought,

might save him from hanging, as one poison more than legal authority is required, to make neutralises another. In the fifth place, the this country what it ought to be, and proves "half acre" was but a shabby patch to meet that the interest of the owners of the soil is the exigencies of the family, since Phelim intimately connected with what we conceive grew up. 'Bouncing Phelim," as he was to be their duty, namely, their personal attencalled, for more reasons than one,-had the tion to the necessities and wants of their gift of good digestion, along with his other ac- tenantry. Whether any exertion on their part complishments; and with such energy was it be not now too late is a question of a different exercised, that the "half acre" was frequently nature, as we fear that the die is cast and the in hazard of leaving the family altogether. fate of Irish landlords almost decided; and unThe father, therefore, felt quite willing, if less some measures are had recourse to ere Phelim married, to leave him the inheritance, long, which will restore their legitimate pow and seek a new settlement for himself. Or if ers to the landed proprietors in this country, Phelim preferred leaving him, he agreed to we apprehend that the situation of keeper of give him one-half of it, together with an equal their accounts, as far as the credit side of the division of all his earthly goods; to wit: two book is concerned, will be a sinecure. But a goats, of which Phelim was to get one; six truce to gloomy politics, and let us return to hens, and a cock, of which Phelim vas to get the author of "Traits and Stories," to whom three hens, and the chance of a toss-up for the we give our most sincere thanks, for the relief cock; four stools, of which Phelim was to get we obtained by his stories from the painfully two; two pots-a large one and a small one-exciting discussions of public affairs. We are the former to go with Phelim; three horn-fully aware of our inability sufficiently to praise spoons, of which Phelim was to get one, and these volumes, but were we to express what the chance of a toss-up for the third. Phelim we feel on the subject, our praise might ap was to bring his own bed, provided he did not pear extravagant to those who have not read prefer getting a bottle of fresh straw as a con- them, while to those who have it would be nubial luxury. The blanket was a tender superfluous, as we are convinced that no one subject; being fourteen years in employment, possessing the slightest knowledge of our counit entangled the father and Phelim, touching try can fail to consider them as the best traits the propriety of the latter's claiming it at all. and stories connected with our native land that The son was at length compelled to give it up, have ever issued from the press. We sincereat least in the character of an appendage tolly hope that Mr. Carleton may continue to his marriage property. He feared that the work this valuable mine, in which he has diswife, should he not be able to replace it by a covered and partially wrought, a new and rich. new one, or should she herself not be able to vein. As literary co-patriots, we trust that he bring him one, as part of her dowry, would will receive such encouragement at home as find the honeymoon rather lively. Phelim's will obviate the necessity of our advocating bedstead admitted of no disputes, the floor of the repeal of that literary union, which unlike the cabin having served him in that capacity the 'legislative,' draws from our shores our ever since he began to sleep in a separate bed. brothers of the quill, without giving their His pillow was his small-clothes, and his quilt equivalent or allowing us a draw-back on the his own coat, under which he slept snugly export. enough." We cannot conclude our review of these This is the last extract we are able to give admirable volumes without expressing the from this most amusing and instructive book-gratification we feel at being able, in the first instructive, as it acquaints us with the man-number of a new literary enterprize, to bring ners and feelings of a people but imperfectly before our readers a book, not merely meriting understood and unduly appreciated; and though notice as the work of a fellow-countryman, but we have frequent occasion to laugh at their worthy of taking a high place in the literature foibles or ridicule their errors, yet we should of any nation; and we trust that it is an augury never forget the circumstances which have of success for ourselves, to find publishers not mainly contributed to keep them permanently unwilling to risk capital in promoting literary in this state of degradation; which it seems exertion in this country, and purchasers ready the policy of their present rulers to perpetuate, to sanction the risk. Time was, when such by affording additional facilities to their great- an undertaking would be looked upon as a est enemies for keeping them under the do- speculation, only to be parallelled in absurdity minion of error and fanaticism, instead of en- by the "South Sea Stock," or "Peruvian deavouring to repress violence and encourage Bonds"—and though we cannot say, "nous education; still we have hopes, that the night avons changè tout cela;" yet, that such a of ignorance is drawing to a close, and that change has taken place is undeniable; and ere long the British Cabinet will see their real books are published and publishing in Dublin, interests in legislating rather on principle than which, in our youthful days, could only have expediency. The story entitled "Tubber found purchasers and publishers at the other Derg," which we have been obliged to omit side of the channel: so that we trust ere long any notice of, also conveys a lesson to the land- we will be able to say, with truth, what was lord, as it clearly demonstrates, that something said many years since without foundation in