It is from ould Ireland I am, from Castlebar in the county Mayo." "And how came you into Wales ?" "From the hope of bettering my condition, your hanner, and a foolish hope it was." "You have not bettered your condition, then ?" "I have not, your hanner; for I suffer quite as much hunger and thirst as ever I did in ould Ireland." "Did you sell books in Ireland ?" "I did nat, yer hanner; I made buttons and clothes--that is I pieced them.

I was several trades in ould Ireland, your hanner; but none of them answering, I came over here." "Where you commenced book-selling ?" said I.
"I did nat, your hanner.

I first sold laces, and then I sold loocifers, and then something else; I have followed several trades in Wales, your hanner; at last I got into the book-selling trade, in which I now am." "And it answers, I suppose, as badly as the others ?" "Just as badly, your hanner; divil a bit better." "I suppose you never beg ?" "Your hanner may say that; I was always too proud to beg.

It is begging I laves to the wife I have." "Then you have a wife ?" "I have, your hanner; and a daughter, too; and a good wife and daughter they are.

What would become of me without them I do not know." "Have you been long in Wales ?" "Not very long, your hanner; only about twenty years." "Do you travel much about ?" "All over North Wales, your hanner; to say nothing of the southern country." "I suppose you speak Welsh ?" "Not a word, your hanner.