at knowledge which would have made him
useful in his generation. However, he thought that he would make amends
for his early neglect; but even the great Saint had to learn that lost
opportunities in the days of our youth and strength can seldom or never
be recovered when years advance with rapid strides and lay a heavy hand
upon us. Thus, resting on his staff, with a scallop shell in front of
his broad-brimmed hat, in russet coat and wallet at his back, the old
hero set out once more on his adventurous journey.

Many strange adventures even then befell him. Often was he assailed by
fierce temptations, but bravely he resisted them, as he had done his
enemies of old. The laws and institutions of foreign countries were the
chief objects of his inquiries. Nothing came amiss to him; he asked
about everything he saw, and never seemed weary of gaining information.
Even into cook-shops and kitchens he found his way; and some assert that
the Irish from him learned how to cook potatoes properly, though I do
not see exactly how that can be the case, seeing, as may be remembered,
that potatoes came from America, and that America did not happen to be
known in those days. Perhaps he, however, may have been over there
unknown to the rest of the world. Others say that, at all events, he
introduced the Irish-stew; but to that there seems also some little
objection of the same character, as "praties" enter largely into its
composition.

Then, again, that objection is overruled by those who assert that some
other root or some cereal might have been used in their stead. No true
Irishman, however, doubts the following fact, which is about to be
described.

Travelling onwards, he at length reached a part of Africa, often much
infested by serpents. He was there told of a rare and wonderful means
which the inhabitants employed to get rid of the serpents. Having
caught them, they tied fish-hooks to their tails. No sooner did the
serpents find this incumberance attached to them, than in their rage
they never failed to turn round and bite at their other extremities. In
this way they invariably caught their mouths in the hooks, and thus
being turned into hoops or rings, from which uncomfortable position
being utterly unable to escape, they were easily caught up on long
sticks and thrown over the left shoulder into the nearest lake or river,
from which they were certain never again to come back.

This was only one, it must be rememb