"I was nearly taken in there once to marry a girl that her brother-in-law swore had eight hundred a year; and it came out afterwards that so she had, but it was for one year only; and he challenged me for doubting his word too." "There's an old formula for finding out an Irish fortune," says Power, "worth, all the algebra they ever taught in Trinity.

Take the half of the assumed sum, and divide it by three; the quotient will be a flattering representative of the figure sought for." "Not in the north," said the adjutant, firmly,--"not in the north, Power.
They are all well off there.

There's a race of canny, thrifty, half-Scotch niggers,--your pardon, Doctor, they are all Irish,--linen-weaving, Presbyterian, yarn-factoring, long-nosed, hard-drinking fellows, that lay by rather a snug thing now and then.

Do you know, I was very near it once in the north.

I've half a mind to tell you the story; though, perhaps, you'll laugh at me." The whole party at once protested that nothing could induce them to deviate so widely from the line of propriety; and the skipper having mixed a fresh bowl and filled all the glasses round, the cigars were lighted, and the adjutant began..