earance of the resuscitated skeleton of a murderer, for
never in the same face were the kindred spirits of murder and cowardice
so hideously blended.

Much more dialogue of the description just detailed took place, in which
the proctor was not without defenders; but at the same time, as we are
bound to record nothing but truth, we are compelled to say, that the
majority of the voices were fearfully against him. If, however, he, the
proctor and the instrument, had but few to support him, what must we not
suppose the defence of the system in all its bearings to have been?

At length, as Purcel and his family approached, the conversation was
transferred from the political to the personal, and he, his wife, and
his children, received at the hands of the people that satirical abuse,
equally unjust and ungenerous, which an industrious family, who have
raised themselves from poverty to independence, are in general certain
to receive from all those who are deficient in the virtues by which the
others rose.

"Ay, there he comes now, ridin' on his jauntin' car, an' does he think
that we all forget the time when he went wid his basket undher his arm,
wid his half-a-crown's worth of beggarly hardware in it. He begun it as
a brat of a boy, an' was called nothin' then but _Mahon na gair_ (that
is 'Mat of the-grin'); but, by-and-by, when he came to have a pack over
the shoulder, and to carry a yard wan' he began to turn Bodagh on our
hands. Felix, it's himself that soon thought to set up for the style an'
state."

"At any rate," said the friendly voice aforesaid, "no one can deny but
he's a good employer--if he'd give better wages."

"A good employer!" said Hourigan; "we all know he must get his work
done--small thanks to him for that, an' a small price he-pays for it."

"We all know the ould proverb," said another individual; "set a beggar
on horseback, an' he'll ride to the devil. Whist! here they come."

As the last person concluded, Purcel and the female portion of his
family drew up under the shadow of the tree already alluded to, which
here overhung the road, so that he came right in contact with the crowd.

"Ah, boys," said he, with his characteristic good-humor, "how are you
all? Darby Hourigan, how are your family? Isn't this glorious weather,
boys?"

"Blessed weather, sir," replied Hourigan, who became in some degree
spokesman. "I hope your honor an' the mistress, sir, an' the young
ladies is all well."

"My hono