as to be worth narrating.
A man named Sullivan occupied a farm at Kilfalliny, on the little
river Main, a spot almost equidistant from each of the three railway
stations of Farranfore, Gortatlea, and Castleisland. When Sullivan
died several years ago, the farm, for which he paid about 190l. a year
rent, was divided between his three sons, the man who obtained the
middle or best section being "set" to pay 5l. more than either of the
others, as having the best farm. The brothers on the outside sections
have prospered. One has saved some hundreds of pounds; the other has
given good, substantial portions to his three daughters. No objection
was made to the manner in which the land was subdivided by the agent,
Mr. Hussey, of the firm of Hussey and Townsend, of Cork, Tralee, and
other places. The Sullivan who inherited the "good will," as it is
called here, of the "Benjamin's mess" has not succeeded in life so
well as his brothers. At the October sessions of 1878 an ejectment
order was obtained against him for one and a half year's rent, equal
to 100l. 10s. In January, 1879, possession was taken, and the farmer
formally ejected, but immediately reinstated as "caretaker," a
convenient practice, when it is borne in mind that in Ireland an
ejected tenant has six months allowed him for "redemption," during
which the landlord can only let the farm subject to the risk of the
late tenant paying up his rent, less whatever has been taken off the
farm in the meanwhile. Sullivan then was re-established in his farm as
"caretaker," and there he remained with the consent of the agent until
last spring, when he was summoned to depart. To this request he has
declined to pay the slightest attention. When he is summoned for
trespass and sent to gaol the Land Leaguers pay his fine and restore
him to his family, who still keep houses on the farm as before. As the
case at present stands he is indebted to his landlord (deduction being
made for sums received for grazing and for about 100l. worth of hay
still stacked on the farm) in the sum of 100l. The agent, anxious to
settle the matter, persuaded the landlord to offer him a receipt for
this, and a bonus of 100l. in cash, if he would go away, but this he,
or the Land League for him, declines to do.
It was obviously necessary at the end of the hay harvest to appoint a
caretaker to see that the crop was not "lifted," after the manner of
that of the irreconcilable Tom Browne, of Cloontakilla, cou
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