Bud had you been here for to show me fair play,
I could leather his _puckan_ around the lee bray.'

"Bravo! Matt," addressing the insensible schoolmaster--"success, poet.
Hurroo for the Findramore boys! the Bridge boys for ever!"

They then commenced, in a tone of mock gravity, to lecture him upon
his future duties--detailing the advantages 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 undertaking. About three o'clock in the morning they
reached the top of the little hill above the village, when, on looking
back along 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. The boys now slipped
the loop of the sack off the straddle-pin; and, carrying Mat into a
farmer's house, they deposited him in a settle-bed, where he slept
unconscious of the journey he had performed, until breakfast-time on the
next morning. In the mean time, the wife and children were taken care of
by Mrs. Connell, who provided them with a bed, and every other comfort
which they could require.