rian Slevin's as the house
we'd go to. The next Sunday was the day appointed; so I had my uncle's
family prepared, and sent two gallons of whiskey, to be there before us,
knowing that neither the Finigans nor my own friends liked stinginess.

* Comedher--come hither--alluding to the burden of an old
love-charm which is still used by the young of both sexes on
May-morning. It is a literal translation of the Irish word
"gutsho."

** Fadh is tall, or long

"Well, well, after all, the world is a strange thing--it's myself hardly
knows what to make of it. It's I that did doat night and day upon that
girl; and indeed there was them that could have seen me in Jimmaiky
for her sake, for she was the beauty of the country, not to say of the
parish, for a girl in her station. For my part, I could neither ate nor
sleep, for thinking that she was so soon to be my own married wife,
and to live under my roof. And when I'd think of it, how my heart would
bounce to my throat, with downright joy and delight! The mother had made
us promise not to meet till Sunday, for fraid of the father becoming
suspicious: but if I was to be shot for it, I couldn't hinder myself
from going every night to the great flowering whitethorn that was behind
their garden; and although she knew I hadn't promised to come, yet there
she still was; something, she said, tould her I would come.

"The next Sunday we met at _Althadhawan_ wood, and I'll never forget
what I felt when I was going to the green at St. Patrick's Chair, where
the boys and girls meet on Sunday; but there she was--the bright eyes
dancing: with joy in her head to see me. We spent the evening in the
wood, till it was dusk--I bating them all leaping, dancing, and throwing
the stone; for, by my song, I thought I had the action of ten men in
me; she looking on, and smiling like an angel, when I'd lave them miles
behind me. As it grew dusk, they all went home, except herself and me,
and a few more who, maybe, had something of the same kind on hands.

"'Well Mary,' says I, 'acushla machree, it's dark enough for us to go;
and, in the name of God, let us be off."

"The crathur looked into my face, and got pale--for she was very young
then: 'Shane,' says she, and she thrimbled like an aspen lafe,
'I'm going to trust myself with--you for ever--for ever, Shane,
avourueen,--and her sweet voice broke into purty murmurs as she spoke;
'whether for happiness or sorrow God he only