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rage whatever tends to promote it; though, unfortunately, there still exists a class of men who seek to maintain undeserved superiority, by keeping all persons subordinate to them in ignorance, instead of generously extending to them such help as would enable them to advance in intelligence. How different was the feeling of him who said, that if permitted to have his wishes accomplished he would ask but for two: the first, that he might possess all knowledge that man in his finite nature can or ought to possess; and the second, that having attained this knowledge, all his fellow-creatures might be admitted to a participation of it.

The value of observation as an accessible source of information to all, must be obvious; the infant observes before he reasons, and reason advances with the powers of observing. When the man becomes a sage, he may theorise; but he must first test his wisdom by observation, which would thus appear to be the fulcrum on which mind must depend to raise itself; and as opportunities of observation are now daily increasing, it becomes a matter of importance to aid those who are inclined, by showing them how to observe, and to draw out the latent talent in those who, having eyes, yet see not; and there is no mode in which this can be more effectually and agreeably done than by drawing their attention to those natural objects by which they are surrounded. The sacred writers were well aware of the value of thus directing the mind; and our poets have in many instances derived applause and celebrity from their power of accurately observing and faithfully describing the phenomena of nature.

To aid the people in the acquirement of knowledge so desirable, our best efforts shall not be wanting, and we propose to ourselves accordingly to give a series of papers on Natural History, pointing out, in a popular manner, what all who have eyes may see, and, seeing, profit by.

ANSALDO AND THE CATS.

B.

EVERYBODY, we presume, has heard or read the story of "Whittington and his Cat," which is an especial favourite with the worthy citizens of "London town," where it is matter of history that the once poor and friendless little boy rose to be thrice Lord Mayor; but from the tale quoted below, it would seem that the Italians are not without a version of their own on the subject. Which of the two is the most ancient or original, we confess our inability to decide, but it is a matter of very little consequence, as the moral in each is similar, namely, that perseverance and industry will generally meet their just reward, while the endeavours of an idle and improvident man to realise a great fortune all at once, by some wild and desperate speculation, pretty much the same as gambling, or even, as we may add, by that detestable and degrading vice itself, rarely fails to involve the rash projector in ruin and disgrace. However, without fatiguing the reader with further preface, we will present him with the following literal translation from the Italian of Lorenzo Magaletti :

fortune was so kind as to enable him to reach an island called

In fact, so many and so large were the rats which came in from all quarters, that it was really wonderful to see them. Thereupon the youths aforesaid took to their sticks, and with great labour defended the dish from which the king and Messer Ansaldo were eating. When the latter had heard and seen the multitudes of those filthy animals which were innumerable in that island (nor had any means been found to extirpate them), he sought to make the king understand by signs that he wished to provide him with a remedy by means of which he might be freed from such horrid creatures; and running quickly to the ship, he took two very fine cats, male and female, and brought them to the king, saying that on the next occasion they should be put upon the table. As soon therefore as the smell of the meat began to diffuse itself, the usual procession made its appearance, when the cats seeing it began to scatter them so bravely that there was very soon a prodigious slaughter of the enemy.

On seeing this, the delighted king, wishing to remunerate Ansaldo, sent for many strings of pearls, with gold, silver, and rare precious stones, which he presented to Messer Ansaldo, who, thinking he had made a good profit of his merchandise, spread his sails to the wind, prosecuted his voyage, and returned home immensely rich.

Some time afterwards, he was relating what had occurred between himself and the King of Canaria to a circle of his friends, when one of them, named Giocondo dé Finfali, was seized with a desire to make the voyage to Canaria himself, to try his fortune also; and in order to do so, sold an estate he had in the Val d'Elsa, and invested the money in a great quantity of jewels, together with rings and bracelets of immense value; and having given out that he intended to go to the Holy Land, lest any should blame his resolution, he repaired to Cadiz, where he embarked, and soon arrived at Canaria. He presented his riches to the king, reasoning in this manner-If Messer Ansaldo got so much for a paltry pair of cats, how much more will be my just recompence for what I have brought his majesty!' But the poor man deceived himself, because the King of Canaria, who highly make him a fairer exchange than by giving him a cat; so havesteemed the present of Giocondo, did not think he could ing sent for a very fine one, son to those which Ansaldo had given him, he presented it to Giocondo; but he, thinking himself insulted, returned miserably poor to Florence, continually cursing the King of Canaria, the rats, and Messer Ansaldo making him a present of a cat, gave him what he considered and his cats; but he was wrong, because that good king, in the most valuable thing in his dominions." W. S. T.

INSCRIPTION ON A TOMBSTONE IN THE
CHURCHYARD OF YOUGHAL,

ON ANNE MARIA CAREW, AGED 24.

'Tis ever thus, 'tis ever thus, when hope hath built a bow'r
Like that of Eden, wreathed about with many a thornless flow'r,
To dwell therein securely, the self-deceivers trust-
A whirlwind from the desert comes, and all is in the dust.
'Tis ever thus, 'tis ever thus, that when the poor heart clings
With all its finest tendrils, with all its flexile rings,
That goodly thing it cleaveth to so fondly and so fast,
Is struck to earth by lightning, or shattered by the blast.
'Tis ever thus, 'tis ever thus, with beams of mortal bliss,
With looks too bright and beautiful for such a world as this,

"About the time when our Amerigo Vespucci discovered the new world, there was a merchant in our town whose name was Messer Ansaldo degli Ormani, who, though he had become very rich, but yet desirous to double his wealth, chartered a very large ship, and began to trade with his merchandise in the newly-discovered regions of the West. Having already made two or three prosperous voyages, he wished to return thither once more; but scarcely had he left Cadiz when there arose a most furious gale, which drove him along for several days, without his knowing where he was; but at length Canaria. He had no sooner done so than the king, being in-One moment round about us their angel light wings play; formed of the arrival of a vessel, went down to the port with all his nobles, and gave Messer Ansaldo a kind reception: he then conducted him to the royal palace, to show his joy at his arrival. Dinner was then prepared in the most sumptuous style, and he sat down with Messer Ansaldo, who was surprised to see a great number of youths who held in their hands long sticks, similar to those used by penitents; but no sooner were the viands served up than he understood fast enough the meaning of such attendance, for

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Then down the veil of darkness drops, and all is passed away.
'Tis ever thus, 'tis ever thus, with creatures heavenly fair,
Too finely formed to bear the brunt more earthly natures bear—
A little while they dwell with us, blest ministers of love,
Then spread the wings we had not seen, and seek their homes

above.

Printed and Published every Saturday by GUNN and CAMERON, at the Office of the General Advertiser, No. 6, Church Lane, College Green, Dublin.Agents :-R. GROOMBRIDGE, Panyer Alley, Paternoster Row, London; SIMMS and DINHAM, Exchange Street, Manchester; C. DAVIES, North John Street, Liverpool; J. DRAKE, Birmingham; M. BINGHAM, Broad Street, Bristol; FRASER and CRAWFORD, George Street, Edinburgh; and DAVID ROBERTSON, Trongate, Glasgow,

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AMONG the very many beautiful residences of our nobility and gentry, situated within a drive of an hour or two of our metropolis, there is probably not one better worthy of a visit than that which we have chosen to depict as the illustration of our present number-Hollybrook Hall, the seat of Sir George Frederick John Hodson, Bart. It is situated in the county of Wicklow, about a mile beyond the town of Bray, and about eleven miles from Dublin.

To direct public attention to this charming spot is no less our pleasure than our duty, for we feel quite assured that even among the higher classes of our fellow-citizens but a very few know more respecting it than its name and locality, and that it will surprise the vast majority to be told that Hollybrook Hall is no less remarkable for the beauty of the sylvan scenery by which it is surrounded, than as affording in itself the most perfect specimen of the Tudor style of architecture to be found in Ireland.

That Hollybrook is thus little known to the public, is not, however, their fault: excluded from the eye by high and unsightly stone walls on every side by which it might otherwise be seen by the traveller, it is passed without even a glimpse of the bower of beauty, which would attract his attention and excite the desire to obtain a more intimate acquaintance with objects of such interest by a request to its accomplished owner, which we are satisfied would never be denied.

Hollybrook Hall, like Clontarf Castle, of which we have already given some account, is a fine specimen of the many recently erected or rebuilt residences of our nobility and gentry, which we esteem it our duty to notice and to praise. Like that fine structure also, it is an architectural creation of that accomplished artist to whose exquisite taste and correct judgment we are indebted for so many of the most beautiful buildings in the kingdom; and in many of its features and the general arrangement of its parts, it bears a considerable resemblance to that admirably composed edifice. In its ground plan and general outline, however, it is essentially different; and it is, moreover, characterised by a peculiarity which perhaps no other of Mr Morrison's works exhibits, namely, that it has no mixed character of style, but is in every respect an example of English domestic architecture in the style of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, or, in other words, it uniformly preserves through all its details the character of the Tudor style.

In the choice of this style, as well as in the general composition of the structure, the artist was obviously guided by a judicious desire to adapt the building to the peculiar character of the scenery by which it is surrounded, and the historical associations connected with the locality; and a more happy result than that which he has effected could hardly be imagined. Seated upon a green and sunny terraced bank in the

midst of venerable yew and other evergreens, and immediately above a small artificial lake or pond, which reflects on its surface the dark masses of ancient and magnificent forest trees, which rise on all sides from its banks, and which are only topped by the peaked summits of the greater and lesser Sugar-Loaf Mountains, as seen through vistas, the building and its immediate accompaniments seem of coequal age and designed for each other; and all breathe of seclusion from the cares of the world and a happy domestic repose. It would indeed be impossible to conceive any combinations of architecture and landscape scenery more perfectly harmonious or beautiful of their kind.

Hollybrook Hall is wholly built of mountain granite squared and chiselled, and presents three architectural fronts. That which we have represented in our illustration is the east front, which faces the small lake or pond, and contains the library and drawing-room; but the principal front is that facing the north, on which side the entrance porch is placed. The principal apartments consist of a hall, library, dining and drawing rooms, with the state bed-rooms above them; and of these apartments the hall is the most grand and striking feature, though of inferior size to that of Clontarf Castle. It is thirtyfour feet long by twenty feet wide, but has an open porch and vestibule or outer hall, twelve feet six inches wide; and like every other part of the edifice, its details are throughout in the purest style of Tudor architecture. This hall is panelled with oak, and is lighted by one grand stained glass window, eight feet six inches wide, and fourteen feet six inches high. This window, which resembles those of the English ecclesiastical edifices of the fifteenth century, is divided by stone mullions into four days, or compartments, and being beautifully proportioned, affords abundant light to the interior. But the most imposing feature of the hall is its beautiful oak staircase, which, rising from beneath the window, conducts to a gallery which crosses the hall, and communicates with the bed-rooms over the principal apartments. The ceiling is of dark oak, supported by principals which spring from golden corbels, and it is enlivened by golden bosses, which are placed at the various crossings of the rich woodwork, and have a most pleasing effect from the contrasting relief which they give to its pervading dark colour. The cornice, which is equally rich and elegantly proportioned, is surmounted by a gilded crest ornament, which by its lightness and brilliancy attracts the eye, and leads the mind to contemplate the fine proportions and elegance of design which characterises the details of the ceiling in all its parts. Of the other principal apartments it is only necessary to state that they are equally well proportioned, and have ceilings of great richness and beauty, executed in a bold and masterly style of relief: they are of larger size than the similar rooms of Clontarf Castle, the library being thirty feet by seventeen feet six inches, the dining-room thirty feet by twenty, and the drawing-room thirty-four feet six by twenty. These apartments are lighted by oriel windows, each of which commands a view of some striking beauty in the surrounding scenery. An extensive range of offices and servants' rooms branches off the Hall on its western side, but these are as yet only partly erected, and further additions are still wanting to carry out the original design of the architect, and give to the edifice as a whole the intricacy and picturesque variety of out

line which he intended.

Hollybrook was originally the seat of a highly respectable branch of the Adair family, who, as it is said, though long located in Scotland, are descended from Maurice Fitzgerald, fourth Earl of Kildare. By a marriage with the only daughter of the last proprietor of this family, Forster Adair, Esq., it passed into the possession of Sir Robert Hodson, Bart., descended of an old English family, and father of the present proprietor, who succeeded to the baronetcy and estates on the death of his elder brother the late Sir Robert Adair Hodson, by whom the new structure of Hollybrook Hall was commenced. Sir Robert was a gentleman of refined tastes and intellectual acquirements—a landscape painter of no small merit, and of a poetic mind. The present baronet is, we believe, similarly gifted, and therefore worthy to be the proprietor and resident of a spot of such interest and beauty; but he should raze those odious unsightly walls, which exclude Hollybrook from the eye, and make it an unvisited and almost

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TIM CALLAGHAN,

THE INIMITABLE PIPER.

OH! ye whom business or pleasure shall henceforth lead to the county of Wexford, especially to the baronies of Forth and Bargie, should you see a tall, stout, lazy-looking fellow, with sleepy eyes and huge cocked nose, dragging his feet along as if they were clogs imposed on him by nature to restrain his motion instead of helping him forward, dawdling along the highways, or lounging about a public-house, with a green bag under his arm, beware of him, for that is Tim Callaghan! fling him a sixpence or shilling if you will, but ask him not for music!

Tim Callaghan seriously assured me "that he sarved seven long years wid as fine a piper as ever put chanther ondher an arm;" and that at the end of that well-spent period he began to enchant the king's lieges on his own account, master of a splendid set of pipes, and three whole tunes (barring a few odd turns here and there which couldn't be conquered, and of no consequince), a golden store in his opinion.

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Ah, then, Tim," said I, when I was perfectly acquainted with himself and his musical merits, "what a pity that with your fine taste and superior set of pipes you did not try to conquer the half dozen at least !"

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Ogh, musha!" quoth Tim, looking sulky and annoyed, "that same quisthen has been put to me by dozens, an' I hate to hear it! It was only yistherday that another lady axt me that same. 'Arrah, ma'am,' ses I, did ye ever play a thune on the pipes in yer life?' Niver, indeed,' ses she, lookin' ashamed ov her ignorance, as she ought. Bekase if ye did,' ses I agin, 'ye'd soon say, "bright was yerself, Tim Callaghan, to get over the three thunes dacently, widout axin' people to do what's onpossible." An' now I appail to you, Miss, where's the use ov bodherin' people's brains wid six or seven whin three does my business as well?"

As in duty bound, I admitted that his argument was unanswerable, and thenceforward we were the best friends possible. Grateful for my patience and forbearance, he eternally mangles the three unfortunates for my gratification; and I doubt if I could now relish them with their fair proportions, so accustomed as I have been to Tim's "short measure!"

After all, Tim Callaghan was a politic fellow; and these three tunes were expressly chosen and learnt to win the ears and suffrages of all denominations of Christian men. Thus, the " Boyne water" is the propitiatory sacrifice at the Protestant's door," Patrick's Day" at that of the Roman Catholic, and when he is not sure of the creed of the party he wishes to conciliate, to suit Quakers, Methodists, Seekers, and Jumpers, "God save the Queen" is the third. For many years he was contented to give these favourite airs in their original purity; but some wicked wight-a gentleman piper, I suspect has at last persuaded him that his melody would be altogether irresistible if he would introduce some ornamental variations, “such as his own fine taste would suggest;" and poor Tim, unaccustomed to flattery, and wholly unsuspicious of the jest, caught at the bright idea, conquered his natural and acquired laziness, and made an attempt. When he thought he had mastered the difficulties, he did me the honour to select me as judge to pronounce on his melodious acquisitions; and all I shall say anent them is, let the blackest hypochondriac that ever looked wistfully at a marl-hole or his garters, listen to Tim Callaghan's “varry-a-shins,” and watch his face while performing them, and he will require "both poppy and mandragora to medicine him to sleep," if sleep he ever will again for laughing!

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When Tim arrives at a gentleman's door, his usual plan is to commence with the suitable serenade, and drone away at that till the few pence he is piping for sends him away content. But if he is detained long, and he sees no great chance of reward or entertainment within doors, he becomes furious, and in his ire he rattles up that one of the three which he supposes most disagreeable and opposite to the politics of the offender. If the party be a Roman Catholic, he will be unpleasantly electrified, and all his antipathies aroused, by the Boyne water," performed with unusual spirit; and if a churchgoer, he will never recover the shock of "Patrick's Day," given with an energy that will render the wound unhealable! If he is asked for any favourite or fashionable air-and you might as well ask Tim Callaghan to repeat a passage of flomer in the original Greek-his civilest reply is, "I haven't that, but I'll give yez one as good,” when one of the trio follows of course; and if the impertinent suitor for novelties in

his ignorance persists in demanding more than is to be had, he is angrily cut short, especially if of inferior rank, with "How bad ye are for sortins! Yer masther wud be contint wid what I gave ye, an' thankful into the bargin!" Thus qualified to please, it is not to be wondered at that he is celebrated through three baronies as "the piper!"

When first I had the pleasure to see and hear Tim Callaghan, it was in the middle of winter, dark and dreary, and in a retired country place, where even the "vile screeching of the wry-necked fife" would have been welcome in lieu of better. Conceive our ecstacy, then, when the inspiring drone of the bagpipe startled our ears into attention and expectation! The very servants were clamorous in expressing their delight, and in beseeching that the piper should be brought into the house and entertained. The petition was granted, the minstrel was led in "nothing loth," and seated in the hall. Well, Tim's first essay at the minister's house was of course "the Boyne," played very spiritedly and accurately on the whole, with the exception of a few rather essential notes that he omitted as unnecessary and troublesome, or (as the servants supposed) in consequence of the cold of his fingers; and finally they took him to the kitchen, and seated him opposite to a blazing fire. "Now he'll play in airnest!" cried they, as one and all gathered round him in expectation of

music.

Our piper being now in the lower regions, among the inferior gentry, and willing to please all orders and conditions, begins to consider whether he shall repeat the "Boyne," or commence the all-enlivening "Patrick's Day."

"What religion is the sarvints ov ?" replied he at length to a little cow-boy gaping with wonder at the grand ornaments of the pipes.

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They are ov all soarts, sur," whispered Tommy in reply, and reddening all over at the great man's especial notice. "Ov all soarts!" mutters Tim significantly; then deciding instantly, with much solemnity of face and strength of arm he squeezed forth the conciliating "God save the King."

The butler listened awhile with the sapient air of a judge. "You're a capitial performer, piper!" said he at length patronizingly, and with a hand on each hip; "an' that's a fine piece ov Hannibal's compersition! but it is not shutable for all occashins, an' a livelier air would agree with our timperament betther. Change it to somethin' new." And tucking his apron aside, he gallantly took the rosy tips of the housemaid's fingers and led her out, while the gardener as politely handed forth the cook. The piper looked sullen, and still continued the national anthem as if he knew what he was about, and was determined to play out his tune. The butler's dignity bristled up.

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Railly," he observed, and smiled superciliously, "we are very loyal people hereabouts, but at this pertickler moment we don't want to join in a prayer for our savren's welfare! Stop that melancholic thing, man! an' give us one of Jackson's jigs."

"Out ov fashin," quoth Tim sullenly, “but I'll give yez one as good," and "Patrick's Day" set them all in motion for a quarter of an hour.

"Oh, we're quite tired ov that!" at length lisped the housemaid; "do, piper, give us a walse or co-dhreelle. Do you play Tanty-polpitty? Jem Sidebottom and I used to dance it beautifully when I lived at Mr A- -'s!"

"What does yez call it ?" asked Tim rather sneeringly. Tanty-polpitty," replied the damsel, drawing herself up with an air enough to kill a piper!

"Phew!" returned the musician contemptuously, "that's out ov fashin too; but I'll give yez one as good" and the "Boyne" followed, played neither faster nor slower than he had been taught it, which was in right time, and any thing but dancing time, to the no small annoyance of the dancers. Another and another jig and reel was demanded, and to all and each Tim Callaghan replied, "I have'nt that, but I'll give yez one as good;" and the " King," the "Boyne," and the "Day," followed each other in due succession.

Was there anything more provoking! There stood four active, zealous votaries of Terpsichore, with toes pointed and heads erect, anxiously awaiting a further developement of Tim Callaghan's powers! There stood the dancers, looking beseechingly at the piper; there sat the piper staring at the dancers, wondering what the deuce they waited for, quite satisfied that they had got all that could reasonably be expected from him.

"An' have you nothin' else in yer chanther?" at last angrily demanded the butler.

"E-ah?" drawled Tim Callaghan, as if he did not understand the querist.

The question was repeated in a higher key.

"Arrah, how bad yez are for sortins!" retorted the piper; "yer masther wud be contint wid what I gave yez, an' thankful into the bargin!"

"By Jupither Amond!" exclaimed he of the white apron, "this beats all the playin' I ever heerd in my life! Arrah, do ye ever attind the nobility's concerts?-Ha! ha! ha!" "Pon my voracity," cried the smiling housemaid, "I am greatly afeerd he will get 'piper's pay- -more kicks than halfpenee.'-Ha! ha! ha!"

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a fella

"An' good enough for him!" added the gardener; that has but three half thunes in the world, an' none ov them right! Arrah, what's yer name, avic ?" "What's that to you?" growled the piper. "Oh, nothin'! Only I thought that you might be the piper that played before Moses.'-Ha! ha! ha!"

"Oh! the world may wag

Since he got the bag,"

sang the cook, as she returned to her avocations. But the butler, as master of the ceremonies, showed his disappointment and displeasure in a summary ejection of the unfortunate minstrel from the comforts of the fire and the house altogether. It was in another part of our county, and where he was quite Again I had the exquisite delight of hearing Tim Callaghan. a stranger. A lady had assembled a number of young persons to a sea-side dance one evening; but, alas! ere the hour of meeting arrived, she had heard that the fiddler she expected was ill, and could not possibly attend her. What was to be done? Nothing!

the gentlemen in spite of themselves looked terrifically glum, When the guests arrived, and the dire news communicated, tenances of the ladies were overcast, though as usual, sweet as if they anticipated a dull evening; and the bright councreatures! they tried to look delightful under all visitations. In this dilemma one of the beaux suddenly recollected that and he thought it was probable he would stop for the night at he had seen a piper coming into the village that evening; faces, and a messenger was forthwith dispatched for the man one of the public-houses." Hope instantly illuminated all of music. For my part, whenever I heard a piper mentioned, I knew who was full before me.

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"What sort of person is your piper?" asked I of the gentleman that had introduced the subject.

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"A tall, stout, rather drowsy-looking fellow," was the reply. "Oh!" cried I, "it is the Inimitable!-it is Tim Callaghan!" I was eagerly asked if he were a good performer; and as I could not venture to reply with any degree of gravity, one other person present, who knew honest Timothy and his ways, with admirable composure answered, "That under the shield of Miss Edgeworth's mighty name he would decline trumpeting the praises of any one, she having expressly declared in her novel of Ennui,' that whoever enters thus announced appears to disadvantage;' and therefore," said my friend, “we leave Tim Callaghan's musical merit to speak for itself." Nothing could be better than this, and the effect Tim produced was corresponding.

anecdote of another servant, and a rustic one too, once sent While the messenger is away for our piper, I must relate an on a similar errand. John's master had friends spending the cian for the young folks for love or money. evening with him, and he desired his servant to procure a musiIn about half an

hour John returned after a fruitless search; and instead of

saying in the usual style that "he could not find one," he flung open the drawing-room door, and announced his unsucsis and discretioncess in the following impromptu,* spoken with all due empha

"I searched the city's cir-cum-fe-rence round, And not a musician is there to be found! I fear for music you'll be at a loss, For the fiddler has taken the road to Ross!" and then made his bow and retired. The city, by the way, was a village of some half-dozen houses. So much for John, and now for Tim Callaghan.

Presently the identical Tim made his appearance, and was placed in high state at the top of the room, with a degree of attention and respect fully due to his abilities. For my part, the very sight of Tim, and the thought of his consummate

Fact! He composed and spoke the verses as I give them.

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assurance or stupidity in attempting to play for dancing, amused me beyond expression; but I suppressed all symptoms of this, and kept my eyes and ears on the alert in expectation of what was to follow. A bumper of his favourite punch was prepared for him, and while sipping it, I thought he cast a scrutinizing and anxious glance on the company, probably thinking how he should adjust his politics there. But he had little time to pause. A quadrille set was immediately formed, and he was called on to play!-the sapient belles and beaux never dreaming that a modern piper even might not play quadrilles. Never did I find it so difficult to restrain myself from immoderate laughter! There stood the eight elegantes, ringleted, perfumed, white-gloved, and refined; and there sat Tim Callaghan in all his native surly stupidity, dreadfully puzzled, "looking unutterable things," humming and hawing, and tuning and droning much longer than necessary-not in the least aware of the demand that was to be made on himself or his pipes, but puzzling his brains as to which of his own he should play first.

"A quadrille, piper!—the first of Montague's!" called out the leading gentleman.

"E-ah!" said Tim Callaghan, opening his sleepy eyes, surprised into some little animation.

"The first of Montague's set of quadrilles !" repeated the beau.

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All stared, and most laughed heartily; but what was of more consequence to poor Tim, his arm was fiercely seized, and he was stopt short in the midst of his loyalty by an angry demand "if he could play no quadrilles? Not or ?" and the names of a dozen quadrilles and waltzes were mentioned, that the unfortunate minstrel had never heard of in all his days and travels! In his dire extremity he commenced "the Boyne," when at the instant some person called the lady of the house. The name seemed a Catholic one-a sudden ray of joy shot through his frame to his fingers' ends, and from thence to his pipes, and poor Patrick's Day" was the result. A kind of jigging quadrille was then danced by the least fastidious and better humoured of the party; the first top couple, superfine exquisites!the lady an importation from London, and odorous of "Bouquet a-la-Reine," and the gentleman a perfect "Pelham," from the aristocratic arch of his brow to his shoe-tie-having retreated to their seats with looks and gestures of horror and disgust, quite unnoticed by Tim Callaghan, who bore himself with all the dignity of a household bard of the olden time, in his element, playing his own favourite tune, and quollity actually dancing to his music! It was a great day for the house of Callaghan!

Well! as there seemed nothing better to be had, "Patrick's Day" continued in requisition, now as a quadrille, now as a country-dance, by all who preferred motion to sitting still, before and after supper, till at last every one was weary of it, and a general vow was made to drop the "Day" and take the "Boyne," and endeavour to move it as we best could. By that time, too, our piper seemed most heartily tired of his patron saint, and having quaffed his fourth full-flowing goblet, appeared to be rather inclined for a doze than to renew his melody. But he was roused up by our worthy host, who, good, gay old man! was the very soul of cheerfulness.

For pity's sake, piper," said he, "try to give us something that we can foot it to! I was not in right mood for dancing to-night till now. If you be an Irishman, look at the pretty girl that is to be my partner for the next dance, and perhaps her eyes may inspire even you, you drowsy fellow, with momentary animation, and perform a miracle on your pipes!" Short as this address was, and gaily as it was uttered, it had no other effect on our piper than administering an additional soporific.

While the old gentleman was speaking, the drowsy god was descending faster and faster on Tim Callaghan. He dozed and was shaken up.

"What does yeż want?" growled he at length. d-1 does yez want?" looking as if he would say, "Now my weary lips I close; Leave me, leave me to repose."

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"What the

"Music! music!" said our host, laughing. Any sort of music, any sort of noise," and he left the piper and took his place amongst the dancers.

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Tim mechanically fumbled at his pipes, while the gentlemen busied themselves in procuring partners. There was silence for some seconds. Begin, piper," called out our host. "Out ov fashin," muttered Tim in broken half-finished sentences; "but I'll-give-yez-one-as-good ——;" and a long, a loud reverberating snore at the instant made good his promise of music almost as harmonious as the sounds elicited from his bagpipe!!

Imagine to yourselves, ye who can, the scene that followed. The salts-bottle and perfumed handkerchief of the exquisites were in instant requisition, as if they felt sensations of fainting! the nervous started as if a pistol went off at their heads, and those who bore the explosion with fortitude joined in a chorus of laughter, increased to pain when it was perceived that the Inimitable, noways disturbed or alarmed, prolonged his repose, and agreeably to the laws of music, and in excellent taste, bringing in his nasal performance as a grand finale to each resounding peal!

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Now," observed the friend who had answered for me at a critical crisis, "has not Tim Callaghan made his own panegyric? Has not his merit spoken for itself? What a figure our inimitable piper would have cut, had we ushered him in with a flourish of trumpets!"

When the cachinnatory storm had subsided, and when all considered that their unrivalled musician had had enough of slumber, he was once more aroused, to receive his well-earned guerdon, when the following colloquy commenced :—

"Pray, piper, what is your name?" demanded the master of the house, with all the gravity of a magistrate on the bench, and drawing forth his tablets.

"E-ah? Why, Tim Callaghan."

"Ha! Tim Callaghan (writing), I shall certainly remember Tim Callaghan! I suppose, Tim, you are quite celebrated?"

"E-ah ?"

"I suppose you are very well known?"

"Why, those that knowed me wanst, knows me agin," quoth Tim Callaghan.

"I do believe so! I think I shall know you at all events. Who taught you to play the pipes?"

"One Tim Hartigan, of the county Clare." "Had he much trouble in teaching you?"

"He thrubble! I knows nothin' ov his thrubble, but faix I well remimber me own! There is lumps in my head to this very day, from the onmarciful cracks he used to give it when I wint asthray."

"Ha! ha ha! Oh, poor fellow! Well, farewell, Tim Callaghan!-pleasant be your path through life; and may your fame spread through the thirty-two counties of green Erin, till you die surfeited with glory!"

"Faix, I'd rather be surfeited wid a good dinner!" quoth Tim Callaghan, and made his exit.

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For a couple of years I quite lost sight of Tim, and I began to fear that he had evanished from the earth altogether "without leaving a copy;" but, lo! this very summer, that "bright particular star" appeared unto us again, with a strapping wife, and a young Timotheus at his heels-a perfect facsimile of its father, nose, sleepy eyes, shovel feet and all; and all subsisting, nay flourishing, on three tunes and their unrivalled “varry-a-shins !" M. G. R.

THE DEAD ALIVE.-In my youth I often saw Glover on the stage: he was a surgeon, and a good writer in the London periodical papers. When he was in Cork, a man was hanged for sheep-stealing, whom Glover smuggled into a field. and by surgical skill restored to life, though the culprit had hung the full time prescribed by law. A few nights after, Glover being on the stage, acting Polonius, the revived sheep-stealer, full of whisky, broke into the pit, and in a loud voice called out to Glover, "Mr Glover, you know you are my second father; you brought me to life, and sure you have to support me now, for I have no money of my own: you have been the means of bringing me back into the world, sir; so, by the piper of Blessington, you are bound to maintain me.' Ophelia never could suppose she had such a brother as this. The sheriff was in the house at the time, but appeared not to hear this appeal; and on the fellow persisting in his outcries, he, through a principle of clemency, slipped out of the theatre. The crowd at length forced the man away, telling him that if the sheriff found him alive, it was his duty to hang him over again!-Recollections of O'Keefe.

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