ly;
and this, indeed, when they lived near the clergyman, they always
preferred doing. To be sure, the step was a hazardous one, but, as
they say, where there is a will there is a way; and so it was in many
instances on this occasion. The dead hour of the night was necessarily
selected for the performance of this kind office, and in this way
many an unexpected act of relief was experienced by the starving and
destitute clergy, at the hands of the very persons who were sworn to
abolish tithes, and to refuse paying them in any shape.

Sometimes, to be sure, when Purcel or his sons happened to be abroad
on business, attended as they now generally were by policemen for their
protection, a countryman, for instance, would hastily approach him or
them, as the case might be, and thrusting a sum of money rolled up in
paper, into his hand, exclaim, "It's the thrifle o' the last gale o'
rint, sir, that I was short in--you'll find a bit o' murnmyrandim in
the paper, that'll show you it's all right." This, uttered with a dry,
significant expression of countenance, was a sufficient indication of
the object intended. On examining the paper, it was generally found to
contain some such direction as the following--

"MR. PURCEL, SIR--The enclosed is for the Rev. Misther Harvey. For God's
sake, give it to him as soon as you can; as I undherstand himself and
family is starvin' outright--I daren't give it to him myself, or be seen
goin' near his house. Sure when we think of the good he done, himself
an' his family, whin they had the manes, it's enough to make one pity
them, especially when we know what they're sufferin' so quietly, an'
without makin' any hubbub about it; but sure, God help us, there's
humbug enough in the counthry. Don't lose time, i' you plase, Mr.
Purcel, as I'm tould that they're brought to the dry praitie at last,
God help them."

It was in the early part of the day of O'Driscol's last triumph on Duke
Schomberg, that John Purcel went to discharge to a clergyman in the next
parish, a commission of a similar nature to that just recited. He drove
there on a car, accompanied by three policemen, avoiding, as well as he
could, all narrow and dangerous passes, and determined to return, if at
all practicable, by a different road, for such of late was the practice
of the family, when out on business. An it is, however, we shall
leave him on his way and take the liberty of requesting our readers
to anticipate his arrival, for