Teason

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to God!" and he looked full at poor Bill, who was notorious for having a little bantam wife at home, who crowed upon the top-roost. Of course, the gathering laugh which Bill's witticism had engen

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SHAWN GOW AND THE LITTLE GREY MAN OF

THE FAIRIES.

WITH AN ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.

"This night it is our pleasure to get drunk!
And this our Queen shall be as drunk as we."

"WELL, boys, what is it I'm to give ye?" said my uncle Ned, (addressing a group of neighbors who had assembled round my father's cheerful hearth to discuss the merits of a fresh running of potteen,) knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and extinguishing the remaining embers with the little finger of his right hand. "I suppose, as it's come to my turn, I mustn't be worse nor another."

"Ned, achorra! tell us the story of Paudieen Buee, that danced a hate with the good people for a year an' a day without resting," said my pretty cousin Peggy, stopping for an instant the rapid movement of her knitting-needles.

"No!-Unkey Ned, tell all about the grey bull and his seven calves," exclaimed little Shawneen, a curly-headed urchin, scrambling won't up his knees, and laying his head against his uncle's bosom: 'ee, uncle Ned?" and his full blue eyes were turned coaxingly on his face.

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Whist, ye little bouchal dhauna!" said my father: "leave Ned to his own fancy; I'll be bail it'll be something pleasant."

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"Troth, and maybe it 'ud be nothing to brag of afther all," replied my uncle. Any how, if I can, I 'll rape up an ould story I hard at Syl Rooney's wake, when I was a gossoon; it's about the Clough an far dhloss, as they call the big rock that lies acrass the sthrame below at the stepping-stone: it was wanst, but that 's long agone-in the anshent times of all, stuck up atop of that other great corrig that stands close by, like two of Fian M'Cool's jackstones; but it was balanced on with so much curosity, that, though this child on my knee could turn it as asy as a quern-stone, it never budged an inch, but stud there for many 's the long day, playing waidy-buckety with every idler that kem the way."

"Stop, Ned!" said my father, interrupting him; "it's dhry work talking-taste a drop of this, just to wet yer whistle;" and, filling a capacious measure of mountain dew, he handed it to his brother, with, "Come, Ned, honey! skirra dugh na skeal!"

"Sweet was your fist, Briney, jewel!" said my uncle, extending his hand for the proffered beverage. "Slaintha chud oghtha! and Peggy, ma cailleenoge, here 's t'wards your inclinations, soon an suddent!" and, winking knowingly on the blushing object of his jest, he emptied the noggin at a single breath.

Musha, Ned, ma bouchal! but it 'ud be a thousand murdhers to saddle you, an' you sich an iligant fine draught (draft) intirely," said Bill Connor, the parish wag.

"Troth and you may say that, Bill, avourneen! but that 's by reason that I never got a rugh.rider upon my back yet, praise be to God!" and he looked full at poor Bill, who was notorious for having a little bantam wife at home, who crowed upon the top-roost. Of course, the gathering laugh which Bill's witticism had engen

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