"And, so far as I am concerned, it would not certainly become me to
stand in the way of any honor bestowed upon my son Harry; so I perceive
you must only have it your own way--I consent."

"I don't care a fig whether you do or not. When matters come to a push,
I am always master of my own house, and ever will be so--and you know
it. Good-by, Harry, we will be back in time for dinner, with as many
friends as we can pick up on so short notice--hurroo!"

He and Charles accordingly went forth to make the necessary
preparations, and give due notice of the bonfire, after which they
succeeded in securing the attendance of about a dozen guests to partake
of the festivity.

Barney, in the meantime, having received his orders for collecting,
or, as it was then called, warning in the tenantry to the forthcoming
bonfire, proceeded upon his message in high spirits, not on account of
the honor it was designed to confer on Woodward, against whom he had
already conceived a strong antipathy, in consequence of the resemblance
he bore to his mother, but for the sake of the fun and amusement which
he purposed to enjoy at it himself. The first house he went into was a
small country cabin, such as a petty farmer of five or six acres at that
time occupied. The door was not of wood, but of wicker-work woven across
long wattles and plastered over with clay mortar. The house had two
small holes in the front side-walls to admit the light; but during
severe weather these were filled up with straw or rags to keep out the
storm. On one side of the door stood a large curra, or, "ould man," for
it was occasionally termed both--composed of brambles and wattles tied
up lengthwise together--about the height of a man and as thick as an
ordinary sack. This was used, as they termed it, "to keep the wind from