foolish threats into execution against so
daring and desperate a man as Mr. O'Driscol is when provoked. He goes
well armed, is a dead shot, and would feel deeply grieved at having the
blood of any of his mistaken countrymen on his hands. This we say from
what we know of Mr. O'Driscol, both as a man and as a magistrate. In
further connection with the state of the country, we cannot think but
that government, if made properly acquainted with it, would place some
mild, firm, but fearless and resolute stipendiary magistrate in our
neighborhood; we mean, of course, a man who is capable, by the peculiar
qualities of his character, to make himself an instrument of great
public good, both to the people and the government. Such a man we know;
but as we are writing without either his knowledge or consent, we do not
feel ourselves called upon to pursue this important subject further.
All we can say is, that the violent opposition which is now organized
against tithes, and which is already beginning to convulse the country,
will, and even now does require, the active courage and decided
abilities of such a man."

"Well, now, Catherine," said he, addressing his daughter, who sat near
him, "upon my honor and conscience that was a friendly paragraph of my
friend Swiggerly--extremely so, indeed. The fact is, a dinner and a good
jorum is never thrown away upon honest Swiggerly; for which raison I'll
ask him to dine here on Thursday next."

He then handed her the paper, pointing out the paragraph in question,
which she read with something of an arch smile, and which, on her
brother Fergus (who had been to Lisnagola) joining them, she handed to
him.

"Fergus," said she, looking at him with an expression of character
still more comic, but yet sufficiently subdued to prevent O'Driscol from
observing it, "is not that paragraph very complimentary to papa?"

Fergus, who at once reciprocated the comic glance alluded to, replied
rather significantly, "It is certainly very gratifying to him,
Catherine."

"And very creditable to Swiggerly," added O'Driscol.

"Yes, father," replied Fergus, "but I think he ought to preserve, if
possible, a little more originality. The substance of that paragraph has
been regularly in his paper, in one shape or other, three or four
times a year during the last couple of years. I ought to except the
introduction of the threatening notice, which certainly is a new
feature, and the only new one in it."

"Fergus