The worthy gentleman and his curate had just seated themselves in his snug, but humble little parlor, where a pleasant turf fire was beginning to get somewhat dim, when the following dialogue occurred between them: "Pettier," said Father Anthony to his curate, who had just returned from a sick call, "you found the night bitther, I think ?" "It is very cold, indeed, sir." "You have had a long ride of it upon that mountain road, without even a bush to shelther you." "It is not less than fourteen miles I think," replied the curate, "and a cold, desolate road as I ever travelled." "You have read your office ?" "I have, sir." "You have discharged your duty to that poor, sick widow ?" "I hope so, sir." "And you have ridden under a severe night, along a naked road, a distance of fourteen miles ?" "I have, sir." "And you feel your mind aisy, and your conscience at rest ?" "I can say so with truth, thank God," replied the curate.
"Well, then, in that case," proceeded the kind-hearted priest, "I think you had better take a tumbler of punch: it will comfort you, and make you sleep like a top." "Thank you, sir," replied the curate, "I am much obliged to you; but I don't require it, I have no particular wish for it." "But I tell you, man alive, that it will do you good; and lest you might feel solitary, I think I will take one with you, merely to keep you in countenance;--here Katty!" Katty, a complacent, kind-looking woman, somewhat past the middle period of life, then made her appearance.

"Well, your reverence ?" "Get hot water and tumblers--Father Pettier is starved after his long ride such a night, and must have a tumbler of punch to warm him, poor fellow, and I am going to keep him in countenance; and see, Katty, bring the poteen that's in Ould Broadbottom, at the right-hand side o' the cubbard.

Stir the fire a little, Pettier, and throw on a sod or two--it's getting dull." This was complied with; and Father Peter observed, after he had trimmed the grate a little:-- "The country, sir, is in a frightful state.

This tithe rebellion is quite general.

On my way out to Drumfurrar and home again, I met large crowds on the roads, cold as the night is; and on speaking to, and remonstrating with them, upon meeting and being abroad at such hours, they desired me to mind my own business, and allow them to mind theirs.
The country is literally alive with them night and day." "Very well," replied Father Anthony, "let them work out their own purposes, provided they keep within the limits of the law.