His nephew could not but admit, that the instances adduced by his uncle were admirably calculated to illustrate his argument, and he accordingly pursued the subject no further.

“Ay!” exclaimed the Still-hound, “what d—­d scrawl have we got here?  Ay, ay, why this is better than I expected.”

“What is better, uncle?” said the nephew, venturing an experiment.

“Why,” replied the sagacious old rascal, “for you to mind your business, if you have any, and to let me mind mine, without making impertinent inquiries, Master Harry.”  With these words he went and. locked up both letters in his desk.  As we, however, possess the power of unlocking his desk, and reading the letter to boot, we now take the liberty of laying it in all its graphic beauty and elegance before our readers—­

“To MISTHER KLINTON, SIR: 

“Af you go this nite bout seven clocks or thereaway, you’d find a Still-Hed an’ Worm At full work, in they tipper End iv The brown Glen in Ahadarra.  Sir, thrum wan iv Die amstrung’s Orringemen an’ a fren to the axshize.”

The gauger after breakfast again resumed the conversation as follows:—­

“Have you changed your mind, Harry, regarding the Excise? because if you have I think I may soon have an opportunity of getting you a berth.”

“No, sir, I feel an insurmountable repugnance to the life of a Still—­hem.”

“Go on, man, to the life of a Still-hunter.  Very well.  Your father’s death last year left you and your sister there dependent upon me, for the present at least; for what could a medical man only rising into practice, with a, family to support and educate, leave behind him?”

“Unfortunately, sir, it is too true.”

“In the mean time you may leave ‘unfortunate’ out, and thank God that you had the shelter of my roof to come to; and be on your knees, too, that I was a bachelor.  Well, I am glad myself that I had and have a home for you; but still, Harry, you ought to think of doing something for yourself; for I may not live always, you know, and beside I am not rich.  You don’t relish surgery, you say?”

“I can’t endure it, uncle.”

“But you like farming?”

“Above every other mode of life.”

“Very well, I think it’s likely I shall have a good farm to put you into before long.”

“Thank you, uncle.  You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands.”

“Small thanks to me for that.  Who the devil would I assist, if not my brother’s orphans?  It is true, I despise the world, but still we must make our use of it.  I know it consists of only knaves and fools.  Now, I respect the knaves; for if it were’nt for their roguery, the world would never work; it would stand still and be useless.  The fools I despise, not so much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if they could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of honesty.  I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both.”