to me in the morning, just as I had got down stairs. Shortly after my sergeant appeared with the village doctor, not a wigged apothecary, but a sportsman-like jolly-looking gentleman, whose bronzed and ruddy aspect gave assurance that the contents of his shop were never diminished by his personal consumption of them. "So, young gentleman," said he, "you have been riding in the sun, eh?-and sitting, I dare say, on some bank to cool yourself?" I attempted to explain the strange and alarming sensations that had oppressed and overpowered me; but John Abernethy himself could not have cut short my details with more contemptuous abruptness than this self-sufficient knight of the pestle. "Yes, yes! you have had a giddiness and shivering, and you felt you could not tell how-eh? eh?Well! you shall soon be put to rights!" On hearing that I drank a dose of strong wine whey the night before" Wine whey!--the devil you did! no wonder that you are feverish! I wish they had given you water," said he; "mind, don't take any more of their cursed slops. Wine whey, indeed! Drink water with a crust of toasted bread in it. My boy will fetch you something in an hour. Keep out of the sun; and-andgood morning to you!" And off he scampered, having picked up his packed fishing-rod at the door, which on his first approach towards the house I took it to be his gold-headed cane. The doctor's injunctions put to flight all Dame O'Farrell's kindly intended prescriptions for my relief. Within an hour the messenger of medicine brought my potion, on the potency of which my pastoral physician seemed to rest his claim to curative fame. On his visit the next day he hardly staid two minutes; held my hand, examined my tongue, and exclaimed, 'Good, sir, good!—A fresh breeze this morning!—charming curl on the water!-I must be off!-I shall send you some trout; and-keep yourself quiet!"

66

In two days I was permitted to indulge in the joys of the table, and my palate was once more tempted with some nice things which my widow had sent for to Trim; besides some truly delicious Boyne trout, the present of my sporting Ollapod. The only return I could make him,-for his bill was only three shillings, as I recollect,-was to employ him to examine my recruits, for which,-not always a very agreeable service,-I allowed him to charge five shillings each, instead of one, the usual fee. The success which attended my recruiting party rendered even this emolument handsome in his estimation. I had now collected six fine young able-bodied recruits, including the two suspected deserters, who joined according to promise, fascinated by the eloquence of Sergeant Macnab, besides an old one, who, though tough, strong, and hearty, was on the wrong side of fifty. As cunning as a fox, he came to my VOL. I. 9

quarters so sprucely dressed, so closely shaved, and with such a ruddy visage, which whiskey and a warm walk had an equal share in promoting, insisting on going for a soldier, that my sergeant was deceived; and immediately touched his ready palm with a golden guinea, besides which he ran up a score with my comely widow of three and thirty shillings for one day's general treat of bacon, eggs, ale, whiskey, and—PIPER!

The next day he requested leave to go home to see his family, which I granted; but only on the condition that Mr. Fagan, his landlord, should pledge himself to be answerable for his return within twenty-four hours. This person lived about four or five miles from Manor Rawdon. The messenger in a few hours brought the required pledge, written, however, in rather equivocal language, and accompanied with a verbal message, that he would call on me to talk about that "foolish old man. I allowed the venerable volunteer to depart; but instead of making his appearance next day, he or his landlord sent his daughter, an interesting, solemn-looking young woman, apparently about twenty-five years old, with a guinea, and money; also, to pay the smart-money and solicit his discharge. The simple account she gave of her poor father's follies, and her shrewd observations on his incapacity at his time of life to be of any use as a soldier, while to his family, "to which," she added with a heavy sigh, "he had been a heartbreak this many a long day," he would be for ever lost, were really affecting.

I pitied her from my soul; but I had a duty to perform; and had I yielded my right and the right of my colonel to his appearance at head-quarters, I should have considered myself unworthy my rank, and exhibited an example of weakness, of which more valuable recruits might take advantage. "All I ask, my poor good girl," I answered, "is, that your father should return to his colours, ask pardon for his folly, and discharge his score here; when I assure you that you shall have him back.". "Ah! sir," she replied, "will you give me your hand and word for it ?"*"Here is my hand," said I, tendering it to her, which she clenched with fervour; "and you may depend on my word.”- May God's blessing be about you ever, sir, and the blessing of the poor child!" (herself.) She then departed, much happier in appearance than when she first addressed me. My eye followed her with looks of admiration. She was a character, in humble life, it is true; but still a noble one. As I have said, she might be twenty-five years of ageperhaps younger; but field-labour had destroyed much of the original delicacy of her fine skin and features; while prema

-66

*This from a gentleman, is, in the eye of a poor Irish peasant, an obligation as binding as an oath!

ture care had anticipated the footsteps of time on the innocent and placid countenance of poor Nanny! The cleanliness of her personal appearance did much to increase my favourable opinion of her. On her head she wore a beaver hat, under which was a snowy white muslin kerchief, which was tied under her chin. Her fair hair was parted on the forehead, and the side locks, combed back, were combined with the remainder in a long and broad plait, turned up on the head, and which partly showed itself beneath the kerchief. Another white kerchief covered her shoulders and breast; while over and above all was a long, dark crimson-coloured cloak, which hung almost to her ankles, fitted more for January than June: but the genuine Irish, of both sexes, are partial to the cloak in all seasons, when dressed in their best, as a mark of humble wealth and comfort. Her stockings were of fine light-blue worsted, and displayed a well-shaped ankle; while her neat but strong shoes showed that no part of her dress had been unattended to. She was the eldest of six children, and on her devolved the charge of all; for the wretched mother had some infirmity which rendered her incapable of any other employment than that of spinning.

The father, a libertine in low life, had of late been a constant source of sorrow to his family; but possessing a small freehold, on which he resided, of the value of about twentyfour pounds a-year, the eldest daughter's industry, assisted by the labours of the younger children, had kept them in comparative comfort and plenty. The old man had twice before in the preceding three months enlisted, and after a debauch of some days was discharged on paying a sum of money by way of "smart" to the enlisting party. I determined in my own mind on giving him this time a salutary lesson of such severity as would, I hoped, correct his folly for the rest of his days; but the deep anxiety shown by that humble but excellent girl changed my purpose; and had he obeyed my mandate by returning that day, he should have been surrendered to her without penalty; unfortunately it proved otherwise. The poor girl returned to my quarters towards the dusk of the evening, with the sorrowful intelligence, as she termed it, that the old man had gone on the bog with Mr. Thomas Fagan's men, and was hidden amongst them. "God help us, what is now to become of us ?" said she, wringing her hands.

She had been on the bog for hours, searching for her unhappy father; and though on foot from dawn of day to the going down of the sun, she had not tasted food. Fatigue and anxiety now rendered her long and solemn countenance almost ghastly. I entreated her to be comforted, and insisted on her taking some refreshment. She passively suffered herself to

be brought into the kitchen tap by one of the young women of the house, and there she sat, silent as the grave, absorbed in sorrowful reflections. I sent her some tea, which, with a slice of griddle bread, was all she would partake of. The night came on thick and dark, yet she prepared to set off for her sad home at ten o'clock. When I was apprized of her intended departure, I went down to the kitchen and remonstrated with her. Although she still seemed fixed on going, a sort of terror hung over her, which even the natural imperturbability of her countenance could not conceal from me. "I ought to go, sir," said she to me; "but"- "But what, my poor girl," I inquired, "what do you fear? If you are determined to go, my sergeant and one of my men," pointing to a kind old fellow of the name of Connor, "shall see you every step of the way." She raised her gray and lack-lustre eye upon me with a look of peculiar anxiety and fear, and said, "Oh! your honour, no! no!"

There was something in her manner so different from her usual passiveness, that I desired to speak with her in the parlour: she followed me in with a step of innocence, unsuspicious of evil, and, when alone, I repeated my question, and offer of the escort. "Oh! don't, I entreat you, send the sergeant with me; but keep him here, while Mr. Connor," the old soldier I had named, "might see me as far as the Cross, and then, with God's help, I would get the rest of the way by myself."

"And why not the sergeant, Nanny?" she hesitated, and then said, "Because, sir, he attempted to make free with me this morning, before I saw your Honour; and now this evening again he has been whispering to me words not fit for a poor honest girl to hear." Oh ho! Mr. Macnab, thought I, you would be a precious guardian to the girl, but I'll put a stopper on your gallantry, you sinner! How apt are we to condemn and hate in others that very vice of which we are ourselves the slaves. "Well, my good girl, I will go myself with you, as well as old Connor, as far as the Cross, and no harm shall happen to you."—" May the Lord increase you, sir!"* was her homely thanks.

In five minutes we were on the road; old Connor, with the girl tucked under his friendly arm, and myself; accompanied by "Cromwell," whose affections I had so far conciliated by daily feeding him with my own hand, and gamboling about with him in the fields, that he stuck by my side, rubbing his rough cheek to my hand, while rested on his strong and bristly neck. The poor simple girl had for the first time in her life been honoured with such an escort; but she seemed to feel it

* A translation from the Irish blessing, which means, may the Lord in. crease your store.

in the light of an act of kind regard for the safety of unprotected innocence. On wishing her good night, I told her to have it made known to Mr. Thomas Fagan, that if he did not bring back her father, I should pay him a visit in a manner he would not like; and once more pledged my word-ay, and my hand, too-that my promise to her should be faithfully performed.

ANOTHER day passed, yet no tidings of my recruit, or his guarantee, Mr. Fagan; and as some of my recruits began to cabal and whisper, I sent my compliments to the Major commanding the ***** militia (the Earl having left some time) to beg a corporal and two file of men as escort for a short distance the next morning. This party arrived at daylight; and after regaling them, we set off for the bog. My sergeant and party, with the exception of Corporal Dumphy, remained at our quarters to take care of the recruits.

We had in all six muskets and plenty of ball cartridge. I had nothing in the way of arms but one of those gewgaw goodfor-nothing kind of swords then worn by officers; but the brave old Robin, who would not be left behind, carried his doublebarrelled gun, and wore his buck-handled hanger. In this formidable array on we marched, old Robin telling me stories every inch of the road, which so shortened our distance, that we were nearly at Fagan's house before I thought we had travelled half the road. We halted to reconnoitre, when old Robin gave me a lesson of advice. Captain, if you were not bent on this step, I would, before we set out, have tried to dissuade you from it; old Fagan is not a bad man himself, but his sons are no better than they should be; and if every man had his reward, they might, perhaps, have gone over the seas with many a poor boy they led into mischief. But the father votes for the Somervilles, and so he's safe, any how. Well, sir! we are now going where your eye will not see the sight of house or home, except Tom Fagan's, and there it stands forenenst

66