Note 1 — THE EARL OF STAIRS’ SON.

A last one fine summer afternoon, a fine looking gentleman with a foreign appearance, and speaking English in a queer style, and travelling in a post-chaise, stopped at the inn at the cross of Rathduff, and put up there till next day; but said he wanted a guide to show him the way to the Earl of Stairs’ castle. The people knew the nickname well enough, and after he got some refreshment, a boy was sent to show him the way. When they came nigh the cabin which was on the open common, and near the ending of a lane that came up straight through the enclosed fields, they heard a great grunting and squeeling, and there they saw two stout two-year old pigs with their noses to the half-door, shrovellin’ at it with all their might, and only for the rings in their snouts they’d have it down in less than no time; and the squeelin’ they kept up all the time was enough to vex a saint. A puckawn1 and eleven meenshogues2 were surnadin’ along the ridge of the roof, and cantherin’ round the bawn, and givin’ a puck now and then to the musicianers at the door to quicken the tune a bit. Well, the gorsoon got through the goats and gave a welt or two to the pigs, and got them out of the way, and then he bawled out, “Earl of Stairs, are you within if you please, sir? Here’s a gentleman from foreign parts come to see you.” So with that the Earl came and opened the half-door, and requested the gentleman to walk in. There was as fine a dish of white eyes on their little table as you could wish to see, and a couple of noggins of boiled goats’ milk by the side of it, and a plate of butter, and the moment the gentleman entered, they pressed him to sit down and join them; and Lady Stairs filled out a mug of milk, and laid a knife and a pat of butter for the stranger.