All on the Irish Shore
Irish Sketches
By
E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross
Authors of
“Some Experiences of an Irish R.M.,” “The RealCharlotte” “The Silver Fox,” “A Patrick’s DayHunt” etc., etc.
With Illustrations by E. Œ. Somerville
SECOND IMPRESSION
Longmans, Green, and Co.
39 Paternoster Row, London
New York and Bombay
1903
CONTENTS
THE TINKER’S DOG
FANNY FITZ’S GAMBLE
THE CONNEMARA MARE
A GRAND FILLY
A NINETEENTH-CENTURY MIRACLE
HIGH TEA AT McKEOWN’S
THE BAGMAN’S PONY
AN IRISH PROBLEM
THE DANE’S BREECHIN’
“MATCHBOX”
“AS I WAS GOING TO BANDONFAIR”
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
“A SILENCE THAT WAS THE OUTCOME PARTLY OFSTUPIDITY, PARTLY OF CAUTION, AND PARTLY OF LACK OF ENGLISHSPEECH”
“MR. GUNNING WAS LOOKIN’ OUT FOR ACOB”
ROBERT’S AUNT
THE BLOOD-HEALER
“THE GREY-HAIRED KITCHEN-MAID”
SWEENY
“MUSHA! MUSHA!”
“CROPPY”
THE TINKER’S DOG
“Can’t you head ’em off, Patsey? Run, you fool! run,can’t you?”
Sounds followed that suggested the intemperate use of Mr. FreddyAlexander’s pocket-handkerchief, but that were, in effect, produced byhis struggle with a brand new hunting-horn. To this demonstration about as muchattention was paid by the nine couple of buccaneers whom he was now exercisingfor the first time as might have been expected, and it was brought to abruptconclusion by the sudden charge of two of them from the rear. Being coupled,they mowed his legs from under him as irresistibly as chain shot and beingpuppies, and of an imbecile friendliness they remained to lick his face andgenerally make merry over him as he struggled to his feet.
By this time the leaders of the pack were well away up a ploughed field, over afence and into