often heard there is many a one lost
his wits in it.

_Conan_: It's likely they hadn't much to lose.
Without the education anyone is no good.

_Mother_: Ah, indeed you were always a tip-top
scholar. I didn't ever know how good you were
till I had my memory lost.

_Conan_: Indeed, it is a strange thing any wits
at all to be found in _this_ family.

_Mother_: Ah, sure we are as is allotted to us at
the time God made the world.

_Conan_: Now _I_ to make the world--

_Mother_: You are not saying you would make a
better hand of it?

_Conan_: I am certain sure I could.

_Mother_: Ah, don't be talking that way!

_Conan_: I'd make changes you'd wonder at.

_Celia_: It's likely you'd make the world in one
day in place of six.

_Mother_: It's best make changes little by little
the same as you'd put clothes upon a growing
child, and to knock every day out of what God
will give you, and to live as long as we can, and
die when we can't help it.

_Conan_: And the first thing I'd do would be to
give you back your memory and your sense. _(Sings.)
(Air, "The Bells of Shandon.")_

"My brain grows rusty, my mind is dusty,
The time I'm dwelling with the likes of ye,
While my spirit ranges through all the changes
Could turn the world to felicity!
When Aristotle..."

_Mother_: It is like a dream to me I heard that
name. Aristotle of the books.

_Conan: (Eagerly.)_ What did you hear about him?

_Mother_: I don't know was it about him or was
it some other one. My memory to be as good as
it is bad I might maybe bring it to mind.

_Conan_: Hurry on now and remember!

_Mother_: Ah, it's hard remember anything and
the weather so uncertain as what it is.

_Conan_: Is it of late you heard it?

_Mother_: It was maybe ere yesterday or some
day of the sort; I don't know. Since the age
tampered with me the thing I'd hear to-day I
wouldn't think of to-morrow.

_Conan_: Try now and tell me was it that
Aristotle, the time he walked Ireland, had come to
this place.

_Mother_: It might be that, unless it might be
some other thing.

_Conan_: And that he left some great treasure
hid--it might be in the rath without.

_Mother_: And what good would it do you a pot of
gold to be hid in the rath where you would never
come near to it, it being guarded by enchanted
cats and they having fiery eyes?

_Conan_: Did I say anything about a pot of
gold? This was better again than gold. This
was an enchantment would