ll you, Pettier, that, by strictly
observing the doctrine of passive resistance, they will starve the same
garrison clane and clear out o' the country. And won't that be a great
day for Ireland, Pettier?"

"Yes, sir, no doubt of it; but in the meantime the unfortunate parsons
are suffering dreadfully: many of them are starving literally, and it
is those who have not hoarded up the mammon of unrighteousness, but have
been charitable and benevolent to the poor, who are now suffering most."

"Ay, faith, that's not a bad thought, Pettier; but I tell you the mammon
of unrighteousness is by no means a bad thing. We may say as we will, we
priests and parsons, but I say to you, what is a man worth in this world
without money? Not a thraneen. A complete nonenity, and sorras thing
else. And whisper, Pettier; what is the starving of the parsons to us?
They had the fat an' marrow of the land long, enough, and I think it's
full time that we should come in for a lick at last. Think of you or I
living to see ourselves rolling about in a rich carriage, with a lump
of a mithre, like a pair of ass's ears stuck together, painted on the
outride of it, and we waiting, and drinkn' of the best. Arra, salvation
to me, but the prospect's a born beauty, so it is, and will be rayalized
yet, plaise God."

"Too much wealth, sir, is an enemy to religion."

"Well, Pettier, that may be so occasionally; but here's your health, and
in the meantime, I didn't care that some of us had a little more of it.
I would have given a pound-note today to have had five shillings about
me; and sorra testher I had in my company."

"You must have been pretty closely pressed for cash, when you would have
given such a premium."

"Troth, then, I was; and when the poor boy mentioned whose son he was,
and when I saw his little delicate feet without shoes, and heard his
story--mammon of unrighteousness! devil a thing in life aiquil to it.
It enables a man to do the practical good, and not satisfy himself or
escape with empty words."

"They say our neighbor here, Mr. Goodison, is very ill off."

"Well, I dare say he's not on the top of the wheel; however, as I said,
what's their starvation to us? If it was laid upon them for their sins,
do you think it would be right in us to intherfare and set ourselves
against Providence?--blessed be His name."

"Well, I must confess," replied his amiable curate, "that I was not
prepared for such an argument as that from you. You