himself worthy of such a glorious descent. The fame, however, of his staunch Protestantism did not do him any harm with his Roman Catholic neighbours, until "conciliation" began to be the order of the day, when, unquestionably, the intimacy between Darby and them began to be a little interrupted, and the cobbler, for want of a Protestant boon companion, was obliged sometimes to take his six glasses alone, taking care to drink the Glorious Memory in the first, and with the last to curse the system of "counselleration" that made neighbours two.

God be with old times," Darby would say, "when a papist would drink the Glorious Memory as fast as one of the right sort; but since the big wigs took into their heads to make us all friends through other, there is nothing but wars; and one can't get an honest papist to take share of a glass;" and Darby, with a sigh, would finish his sixth, and depart.

The fame of a coming election at last disturbed the repose of Duke borough. Both political parties prepared themselves for a sharp contest. Lord Rackrent, the liberal proprietor of the soil, started the Honourable Mr. Arden, a relation of his own, on the Roman Catholic interest-the opposite party put forward Mr. Wilson, a merchant of high respectability. The influence of Lord Rackrent was considerable, and the contest was expected to be very sharp.

The din of the election invaded even the silence of the narrow lane in which the stall of Darby Sykes was situated. The Protestant party counted confidently on his vote-for Darby had a vote. Some of the other side did not despair that if they were close run, it might be possible to influence Darby's vote, by valuable consideration.

At last the day of nomination ar. rived-both candidates were proposed, and both attempted to address the electors. The Honorable Mr. Arden stammered out a few sentences about his uncle, Lord Rackrent; and after sundry hems and haws, which must have been very eloquent, from the cheers with which they were received by his friends, sat down. Mr. Wilson addressed the electors in a manly, although not very eloquent strain, and the polling commenced; and now it becomes necessary that I should explain to my readers a little of the local politics of Dukeborough.

The liberal party reckoned right

when they invited a relative of Lord Rackrent to be their candidate. The noble Lord's influence procured them some deserters from the opposite ranks; among the others, no less a personage than Captain William Wheeler-a gentleman who had upon all former occasions been among the most violent of the Protestant party; and who, having married into a uoble family, set up for an aristocrat, on the strength of the connexion, and was, accordingly, a great man in his own opinion, and in the opinion of all those dames and lasses of the town of Dukeborough, who felt themselves elevated by receiving occasionally an invitation to the parties of a real lady.

Lady Sally had been just as violent a politician as her husband. She added to her high Protestant principles the additional merit of being quite a town of Dukeborough. A patroness leader among the good ladies of the of all Bible societies, missionary associations, and poor shops-she was quite looked up to as a model of everyLike her husband, her greatest zeal was thing that was amiable and religious. constantly expressed for the Protestant religion, which she considered to be completely identified with the success to the election, an of Protestant politics. Just previous unaccountable

tain Wheeler's politics. He suddenly change came o'er the spirit" of Capdiscovered that he had been altogether wrong in his previous opinion-he became convinced that the very best method of encouraging Protestantisın, was to give power to its enemies-that it was quite unchristian to shew any regard for one's religion-and made sundry other very curious and original discoveries, in a space of time, the to his friends, who had never before shortness of which was really incredible given him credit for such extraordinary sagacity.

Captain Wheeler was an honest man, and he, of course, determined, however reluctantly, to act on his new conviction, and support Mr. Arden. Lady Sally Wheeler was a dutiful wife, and she of course, believed implicitly in all the discoveries of her husband. I know not how the marvellous change was brought about, but certain it is that the result was, that Captain William and Lady Sally Wheeler were now most strenuously opposing the principles of which all their lives they had been the violent partizans-and were both among the most active

agents of the priests and the Hon. Mr. Arden.

It was on the evening of the day of nomination, that Darby Sykes was slowly and sentimentally plodding his way up the narrow lane in which his abode was situate. He had taken this day as a holiday, and after the excitement of the hustings, it was but fair that he should take a glass. He was not drunk-and yet he was not sober.* His step was tolerably steady, but there was an excitement about his eye, and a kind of flush heightening the colour of his swarthy cheek, which, to an experienced observer, gave indication of a recent familiarity with the glass, that might perhaps have escaped the superficial. His state has been sometimes described by the term "muddled." If I knew of any more classical and equally correct I would employ it.

When Darby reached the door of his humble dwelling, he was met on the threshold by his wife, who appeared to have been casting many wistful glances down the lane, in expectation of his return. There was some excitement about her manner, but it was an excitement altogether different from Darby's. There was a quiet earnestness about it, which at once distinguished it from the excitement of one muddled.

"I am glad you're come back," were the first words of greeting with which she saluted her husband.

Darby made no reply, but pulled a chair over to the fire, and taking a pipe and some tobacco out of his pocket, he began to smoke.

66

Any one came while I was out," he asked, after a pause of the space of several whiffs.

"Yes," replied the other, "I had grand visitors since."

"Election times," replied the cobbler, significantly.

Well, Darby," replied his wife; maybe it is all for the best-why shouldn't we have a share of what's going? Lady Sally was with me here to-day, as conversable like as yourself, and a great deal more so-and she gave me good advice. Darby, I say, why should'nt we make what is to be made of election times ?"

Darby had taken the pipe from his mouth, and looked steadfastly at his

wife, during this speech, which was broken on her part by many pauses. He waited coolly, till she had done, and then asked with some surprise"What do you mean, woman?

Why," she answered, " I know nothing about it; but as Lady Sally said, she seemed very friendly like, and all for our good and she asked me if I would make you vote for the Lordand I said I did not think you would ; and she said, more fool you-and that she heard many were to be made men of for voting that way-and that she wished me well from having seen me so regular at church; and that she'd be sorry you'd do yourself harm, and

so on.

"I understand!" interrupted Darby.

"But her ladyship was very civil spoken; and I was all in a fluster about seeing her in such a poor place; but she told me not to mind. She came to see about the childhre going to school, and then she talked about the other and when she was going away she said that I should send you out to her tomorrow; and she hadn't gone more than five minutes, when Long Sandy, the Captain's own man, came in here, and urged me surely to make you go and to vote for the Lord; for that his lordship would turn all that went the other way out of the town; and he said he heard that he had allowed twenty guineas of goold to all that would go with his nephew."

“Troth then,” replied Darby, apparently unmoved, "a lady born and bred might have better to do than to come and bribe a poor man; she and the captain are both turncoats."

"But Darby," said his spouse :— "twenty guineas of goold is a great deal, besides all the custom; and, after all, what matter is it who you give your vote to; one's just as good as another; and that you know right well; so just go out to her ladyship tomorrow, and if you get the twenty guineas, vote for the lord. Sure, them kind of people knows best. I'll warrant you the captain himself got something for turning, and what a gentleman like him does, it is no disgrace for a poor man like you to do."

Stop, woman," cried Darby, vehemently, rising from his seat, sold my principles, and I never will.

No, Fermanagh for ever; I'm true to the core. Her ladyship and her twenty guineas may go be.'

Truth obliges us to add, that the destination to which the lady and the guineas were consigned, was not quite as correct as might have been hoped. Mrs. Sykes, however, was not foiled. She again pleaded the precedent of Captain Wheeler; and even higher precedents, which a respect for great people forbids me to quote.

some

"Much good you got by being true to your cause there is your neighbour O'Hagerty, a bitter Papist, and a known rebel into the bargain, and see whether he does not get all the custom of your great Protestants, and not one of them would ever think it worth their while to stop at your door."

This argument seemed to have its effect. The point was one upon which Darby had long felt sore. He mused a while; his wife continued to ply him with arguments. Darby took down the statue of King William, and began examining it attentively.

"Will I put this in the fire, Mary ?" said be.

'No!" said she, with something of a tremulousness in her voice, “I wouldn't just like to see you do that. Maybe that side would be up again, yet; but many's the one has him in their back parlours and goes the other waythey'll all come round again when that side's uppermost; and I'm sure I hope it will soon be so; but meanwhile, Darby you cant't afford to throw away twenty goold guineas."

The last was a home appeal ; it seemed to decide Darby's wavering mind. He said after a pause" Well, Mary, I'll go to Parkmount to see her ladyship,tomorrow; and if I get the twenty guineas, I'll not refuse them."

Next day saw Darby on his way to Parkmount, true to his word. What thoughts were passing in his mind we know not. Our business is to chronicle events. By Lady Sally he was received most graciously. She told him he must vote for Mr. Arden, and complimented him very much on his good character and respectability. He was formally introduced, too, to Lady Caroline Arden-wife to the candidate and own sister's daughter to Lord Rackrent-who, with the sweetest sinile imaginable, hoped that he would vote for Mr. Arden.

Darby, however, said that he never gave a promise, but it would be hard

to refuse two such ladies. Lady Sally insisted that he should dine that day at Parkmount, as Captain Wheeler wished particularly to see him; and Darby very politely accepted the invitation.

Captain Wheeler returned home to dinner at the close of the first day's polling; the two candidates had polled iman for man throughout the day; and the result was, if possible, more doubtful than ever. Of course the anxiety of the canvassers to secure Darby's vote was proportionately increased. "Sykes," said the Captain, when he met him, "you are an honest and a sensible fellow; you had better stay here tonight, and I will take you in tomorrow to give your vote."

Darby was overpowered with such kindness, and expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the arrangement.

At dinner, a side-table was laid for Darby in the room in which the family dined. Poor Darby was sorely puzzled by the viands that were set before him. Meats, of which he neither knew the name or the ingredients, were set upon his plate. Notwithstanding his ignorance, however, he contrived to regale himself with very tolerable satisfaction; he was sometimes puzzled as to whether he should apply his knife and fork or spoon in eating some of the meats; but he very easily solved the difficulty by using in all doubtful cases his fingers and his teeth.

During the progress of dinner, both the ladies asked him to take wine with them. "A servant," as he himself afterwards described it, "poured white porter out of a long thin bottle; it frothed up just like beer; but was far sweeter and went faster to the head."

I regret that I cannot now procure Darby's own account of this entertainment; but the story of his blunders and his wonders would be spoiled unless given in his own words. Darby, however, did not dislike his new mode of living; and after dinner and some more glasses of wine, Darby went to make merry a little while in the servants hall, and then retired to bed.

Next morning at breakfast he was placed in the same situation as at dinner on the preceding day. Lady Caroline made tea for him. Darby made a hearty breakfast on cold meat, eggs, and buttered toast. Before he had finished, the rest of the party had left the room. A fresh plate of toast had just been placed upon the table

before him. Darby did not exactly perceive by whom; he, however, proceeded to demolish it; when the first piece he removed, discovered underneath, to his admiring gaze, a heap of round pieces of real glittering gold. Darby's curiosity was excited. He took up the pieces one by one; and as he laid the last upon the table, he had counted twenty-one. He knew enough of arithmetic to know that twenty-one sovereigns make twenty guineas. He could not doubt that they were intended for him—and intended that he should take them away. He looked at them again. He remembered his promise to Mrs. Sykes, that if he was offered twenty guineas he would not refuse them; and he put them in his waistcoat pocket.

Captain Wheeler hurried Darby away, and placed him on the coachbox of his carriage. A short time sufficed to roll them to the hustings. Darby was first taken to the tally rooms of the Honorable Mr. Arden; and being placed with four others on a tally was conducted between Captain Wheeler and Mr. Arden to the polling place. The excitement was very great. Several mounted dragoons were patrolling in front; and the polling booth itself was crowded with the friends of both parties. It was early in the day, and the candidates were still equal. Captain Wheeler smiled approvingly upon Darby, as they went forward. Some of the opposite party pointed him out to each other with looks of indignant scorn, while curses not loud but deep were muttered by the Protestants of his own rank, who regarded his desertion with execration.

Darby was the last upon the tally; so that there was time for these exhibitions of feeling during the period he was obliged to wait. An incident in the meanwhile occurred which excited some amusement. The fourth

person upon the tally being asked for whom he would vote, said Mr. Wilson; but immediately exclaimed that it was a mistake, and corrected himself by voting for Mr. Arden. After a good deal of dispute, as to whether the correction was made in time, the vote was taken for Mr. Arden. The laughter at this incident had scarcely subsided when it came to Darby's turn. He came forward under the blandest smiles of Captain Wheeler and Mr. Arden, and the frowns of the opposite party. He preserved, however, most philosophical composure. "For whom do you vote?" said the poll clerk. Darby looked round with a knowing expression; something like a smile twinkled in the corner of his eye-“ I vote," said he, "for Mr. Wilson AND NO MISTAKE."

The effect was irresistible; a peal of laughter and cheering rung through the court-house. "Bravo, Fermanagh," resounded from some of the voices that a little while ago were disposed to curse poor Darby. Mr. Arden and the Captain both had the most blank expressions "Good morning to you, gentlemen," said Darby, most politely, as he bowed to them both, and retired to receive the congratulations of his Protestant friends.

That evening Lady Sally Wheeler received a most polite note with Mr. Sykes' compliments, thanking her for her hospitality, and saying he had been so well treated the day before he would be happy to dine with her again. What notice was taken of this we cannot say.

Rumour stated that twenty guineas were added by Darby Sykes to the subscription which was made to aid a petition against the return of the Honorable Mr. Arden.

Youghal, 6th Jan,, 1858.

S. A.

Of all the advantages we have derived from our Australian settlements, none seems to have given more universal satisfaction than the introduction of some crooked pieces of wood shaped like a horse's shoe, or the crescent moon; and called boomerang, waumerang, or kilee. Ever since their structure has been fully understood, carpenters appear to have ceased from all other work; the windows of toy

shops exhibit little else; walking sticks and umbrellas have gone out of fashion; and even in this rainy season no man carries any thing but a boomerang; nor does this species of madness appear to be abating. We had hoped that when the first enthusiasm was over, our fellow citizens would have returned to their senses; but no-a visit to the College Park checks all such vain hopes. That is the place where the