table, suggested an improvement in the
arrangement of the seats, broke several jests on Bariry and Granua
Waile--which, however, were returned with interest--and, in fact,
acquitted himself so creditably, that his father whispered with a sigh
to his mother--"Alley, achora, wouldn't we be the happy family if that
misfortunate boy of ours was to be always the thing he appears to be?
God help him! the gommach, if he had sinse, and the fear o' God before
him, he'd not be sich a pace o' desate to sthrangers, and such a divil's
limb wid ourselves: but he's young, an' may see his evil coorses in
time, wid the help o' God."

"Musha, may God grant it!" exclaimed his mother: "a fine slip he is, if
his heart 'ud only turn to the right thoughts. One can't help feelin'
pride out o' him, when they see him actin' wid any kind o' rason."

The Irish dance, like every other assembly composed of Irishmen and
Irishwomen, presents the spectators with those traits which enter into
our conception of rollicking fun and broad humor. The very arrangements
are laughable; and when joined to the eccentric strains of some blind
fiddler like Barny Dhal, to the grotesque and caricaturish faces of the
men, and the modest, but evidently arch and laughter-loving countenances
of the females, they cannot fail to impress an observing mind with
the obvious truth, that a nation of people so thoughtless and easily
directed from the serious and useful pursuits of life to such scenes,
can seldom be industrious and wealthy, nor, despite their mirth and
humor, a happy people.

The barn in which they danced on this occasion was a large one.
Around the walls were placed as many seats as could be spared from
the neighbors' houses; these were eked out by sacks of corn laid
length-wise, logs of round timber, old creels, iron pots with their
bottoms turned up, and some of them in their usual position. On these
were the youngsters seated, many of the "boys" with their sweethearts on
their knees, the arms of the fair ones lovingly around their necks; and,
on the contrary many of the young women with their bachelors on their
laps, their own necks also gallantly encircled by the arms of their
admirers. Up in a corner sat Barny, surrounded by the seniors of the
village, sawing the fiddle with indefatigable vigor, and leading the
conversation with equal spirit. Indeed, his laugh was the loudest, and
his joke the best; whilst, ever and anon, his music became perfectly
furio