For treacherous Mullen has me fairly delated ;
Bud had you been here for to show me fair play,
I could leather his p%tchcm around the lee bray.' "

" Bravo, Mat ! " addresang the insensible schoolmaster
- — " success, poet ! Hurroo for the Findramore boys !
the Bridge boys for ever ! "

* An allusion to a question in " Cough's Arithmetic."



3i6 carleton's traits and stories.
They then commenced, in a tone of mock gravity, to
lecture him upon his future duties — detailing the advan-
tages of his situation, and the comforts he would enjoy
among them ; although they might as well have addressed
themselves to the stone on the other side. In this
manner they got along, amusing themselves at Mat's
expense, and highly elated at the success of their under-
taking. About two o'clock in the morning they reached
the top of the little hill above the village, when, on looking
back aloag the level stretch of road, which I have already
described, they noticed their companions,' with Mat's
wife and children, moving briskly after them. A
general huzza now took place, which, in a few minutes, was
answered by two or three dozen of the young folks,
who were assembled in Barny Brady's, waiting for their
arrival. The scene now became quite animated — cheer
after cheer succeeded — jokes, laughter, and rustic wit,
pointed by the spirit of Brady's poteen, flew briskly
about. When Mat was unsacked, several of them came
up, and, shaking him cordially by the hand, welcomed
him among them. To the kindness of this reception,
however, Mat was wholly insensible, having been for
the greater part of the journey in a profound sleep.
