'Labor for larnin, before you grow ould,
For larnin' is better nor riches nor gould;
Riches an' gould they may vanquish away,
But larnin' alone it will never decay.'"

"Success, Owen! Why, you might put down the pot and warm an air to it,"
said Murphy.

"Well, boys, are we all safe?" asked Traynor.

"Safe?" said old Dolan. "Arrah, what are you talkin' about? Sure 'tisn't
of that same spalpeen of a gauger that we'd be afraid!"

During this observation, young Dolan pressed Traynor's foot under the
table, and they both went out for about five minutes.

"Father," said the son, when he and Traynor re-entered the room, "you're
a wanting home."

"Who wants me, Larry, avick?" says the father.

The son immediately whispered to him for a moment, when the old man
instantly rose, got his hat, and after drinking another bumper of the
poteen, departed.

"Twas hardly worth while," said Delany; "the ould fellow is mettle to
the back-bone, an' would never show the garran-bane at any rate, even if
he knew all about it."

"Bad end to the syllable I'd let the same ould cock hear," said the