The Lord knows I don't wondher that the Jews hated the thieves, for sure they are the only blackguard animals that ever committed suicide, and set the other bastes of the earth such an unchristian example.

Not that a slice of ham is so bad a thing in itself, especially when it is followed by a single tumbler of poteen punch." "Troth, masther, I didn't see the pigs, or they'd not have my sanction to go into the lawn." "Not a thing ever you see, or wish to see, barring your dirty victuals." "I hope, sir," said the stranger, much amused in the meantime, but with every courtesy of manner, "that my request for a short interview does not come at an unseasonable hour ?" "And, do you hear me, you bosthoon," proceeded his reverence--this, however, he uttered sotto voce, from an apprehension lest the stranger should hear his benevolent purposes--"did you give the half crown to Widow Magowran, whose children, poor creatures, are lying ill of fever ?" Not a word to the stranger, who, however, overheard him.
"I did, plaise your reverence," replied the huge servant.
"What did she say," asked the other, "when you slipped it to her ?" "She said nothing, sir, for a minute or so, but dropped on her knees, and the tears came from her eyes in such a way that I couldn't help letting down one or two myself.

'God spare him,' she then said, 'for his piety and charity makes him a blessin' to the parish.' Throth, I couldn't help lettin' down a tear or two myself." "You couldn't now." exclaimed the simple-hearted priest; "why, then, I forgive you the pigs, you great, good-natured bosthoon." The stranger now thought that he might claim some notice from his reverence.
"I fear, sir," said he-- "And whisper, Mat," proceeded the priest--paying not the slightest attention to him, "did you bring the creel of turf to poor Barney Farrell and his family, as I desired you ?" "I did, your reverence, and put a good heap on it for the creatures." "Well, I forgive you the pigs!" exclaimed the benevolent priest, satisfied that his pious injunctions had been duly observed, and extending a portion of his good feeling to the instrument; "and as for the appetite I spoke of, sure, you good-natured giant you, haven't you health, exercise, and a most destructive set of grinders?
and, indeed, the wonder would be if you didn't make the sorrow's havoc at a square of bacon; so for heaping the creel I forgive you the digestion and the pigs both." "Will you permit me." interposed the stranger, a third time.
"But listen again," proceeded his reverence, "did you bring the bread and broth to the poor Caseys, the creatures ?" "No, sir," replied Mat, licking his lips, as the stranger thought, "it was Kitty Kavanagh brought that; you know you never trust me wid the vittles--ever since--" "Yes, I ought to have remembered that notorious fact.

There's where your weakness is strongest, but, indeed, it is only one of them; for he that would trust you with the carriage of a bottle of whiskey might be said to commit a great oversight of judgment.

With regard to the victuals, I once put my trust in God, and dispatched you, after a full meal, with some small relief to a poor family, in the shape of corned beef and greens, and you know the sequel, that's enough.