she were a fox, and a voice went up "That's the way to serve the
landlords." This ebullition was followed by shouts of "Down wid 'em!"
and the meeting on Sheehane became more cheerful. It was recollected
that O'Connell once held a meeting on the same spot, and that the
hare and the meetings were both mentioned by the prophet Columbkill.

Of the speeches it need only be said that what they lacked in elegance
was made up in violence. The speeches made in the North were oddly
designated "seditious," and every kind of reprisal was hinted at in
the event of Mr. Parnell being arrested. If he were seized, not a
landlord in Ireland would be safe except in Dublin Castle. This kind
of thing, accompanied by shouts of "Down wid 'em!" at every mention of
the abhorred landlords, became very tedious, especially in a high wind
and drifting rain. The meeting gradually became thinner and thinner,
and finally faded out altogether. It is quite true that such
gatherings may have a powerful effect upon the vivacious Celt, but if
so, it is quite beneath the surface, for the people seemed to take
little interest in the proceedings. To all outward show the oratory at
Sheehane produced no more serious impression than that at Tiernaur on
the preceding Sunday. Yet there is something in the air, for the first
thing I heard on returning to Westport was that Mr. Barbour's
herdsman, who lives at Erriff Bridge, had been warned to leave his
master's service. The "herd" (as he is called here, as well as on the
Scottish border) is in great alarm. He cannot afford to leave his
place, for it is his sole means of subsistence, and if turned out in
the world the poor fellow might starve. Now it is a disagreeable thing
to think you will starve if you leave, and be shot if you remain at
your work; but I hear that the "herd" has asked for protection and
will try to weather it out. His master, Mr. Barbour, and Mr. Mitchell
hold each about half of the great farm formerly held of Lord Sligo by
Captain Houstoun, the husband of the well-known authoress. Large
numbers of black-faced sheep and polled Galloways are raised by Mr.
Barbour, who lives at Dhulough, in the house formerly occupied by
Captain Houstoun.

I have just come from Westport to this place, the mountain scenery
around which is magnificent. On the lofty heights of "the Devil's
Mother," a famous mountain of this country, the sheep are seen feeding
almost on the same level as the haunt of the golden eagles