l returned, every man and woman more or less
in liquor. The boys of the Emerald Isle were fast approaching to that
state in which they are said to be in all their glory; and nothing was
now seen or heard but singing, swearing, cooking, eating, smoking,
talking, larking, and quarrelling.

The first who broke the peace was a stout bare-footed fellow, a
Welshman, who began beating his wife (a girl of the _pave_), for her
excessive partiality for gin.

"Are not you a pretty ---- of a woman," he exclaimed, with a voice as
gruff as a ruffian's could well be, "to call yourself a man's wife, to
come home here, by ----, drunk, every night, while I am going about
the streets all day long bawling myself hoarse!" and at the conclusion
of every sentence sent her a blow of weight enough to lower one of his
mountain bulls.

No one ever offered to interfere, although the woman's face was
already beginning to exhibit both blood and marks; for, however that
old right for a man to chastise his wife is repudiated in the other
parts of society, in this refined age, yet in these walks of life,
this ancient custom still holds good. Here a man is considered
perfectly in the right to match his strength of arm against his wife's
strength of tongue.

The fellow hammered away at his helpless helpmate with hard words and
harder blows, threatening all the time a separation, and extolling to
their skies the beauties and perfections of another nymph, whom he
swore he would join.

Just at this moment the lady in question made her appearance; and,
certainly, as far as personal looks, dress, and a more sober demeanour
went, she was superior to the one in possession. The wife, who had
borne beneath the weighty power of her husband, in as becoming a
manner as a wife ought to do, now felt as if endowed with the nervous
locks of Sampson; fired with jealousy, and backed by _Old Tom_ (gin),
she sprung upon her rival, and, in a moment, ribbons, caps, and hair,
were twisted in the clenched hand. Down went a table and one or two
forms,--men, women, and children,--and up rose yells, screams, and
oaths, with all the stormy joys of fight seconding the uproar.

Old Ben rushed in, and did his utmost to restore order, but it was "no
go," as they would say--family affairs must be settled. The Amazons
tugged and tore at each other, if not with the fury and hate of
bull-dogs, at least like their mates. The wife had secured the
sweetheart by the hair, and was takin