, panting, on one end of it; as we
were resting ourselves, a shabby-looking man with a bundle of books came
and seated himself at the other end, placing his bundle beside him; then
taking out from his pocket a dirty red handkerchief, he wiped his face,
which was bathed in perspiration, and ejaculated: "By Jasus, it is
blazing hot!"

"Very hot, my friend," said I; "have you travelled far to-day?"

"I have not, your hanner; I have been just walking about the dirty town
trying to sell my books."

"Have you been successful?"

"I have not, your hanner; only three pence have I taken this blessed
day."

"What do your books treat of?"

"Why, that is more than I can tell your hanner; my trade is to sell the
books not to read them. Would your hanner like to look at them?"

"Oh dear no," said I; "I have long been tired of books; I have had enough
of them."

"I daresay, your hanner; from the state of your hanner's eyes I should
say as much; they look so weak--picking up learning has ruined your
hanner's sight."

"May I ask," said I, "from what country you are?"

"Sure your hanner may; and it is a civil answer you will get from Michael
Sullivan. It is from ould Ireland I am, from Castlebar in the county
Mayo."

"And how came you into Wales?"

"From the hope of bettering my condition, your hanner, and a foolish hope
it was."

"You have not bettered your condition, then?"

"I have not, your hanner; for I suffer quite as much hunger and thirst as
ever I did in ould Ireland."

"Did you sell books in Ireland?"

"I did nat, yer hanner; I made buttons and clothes--that is I pieced
them. I was several trades in ould Ireland, your hanner; but none of
them answering, I came over here."

"Where you commenced book-selling?" said I.

"I did nat, your hanner. I first sold laces, and then I sold loocifers,
and then something else; I have followed several trades in Wales, your
hanner; at last I got into the book-selling trade, in which I now am."

"And it answers, I suppose, as badly as the others?"

"Just as badly, your hanner; divil a bit better."

"I suppose you never beg?"

"Your hanner may say that; I was always too proud to beg. It is begging
I laves to the wife I have."

"Then you have a wife?"

"I have, your hanner; and a daughter, too; and a good wife and daughter
they are. What would become of me without them I do not know."

"Have you been long in Wales?"

"Not very long, your hanner; only about