The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-12
CHAPTER I.

- CHAPTER
The Writer-ISome Aduanta9es in Being Sloso-
Ireland Waking Up-Thirty Years Ago.
was always remarkably dow. When was
little boy my mother would say, d" Try and
be wee thing smerter." It was my fathers
frequent complaint, jamie is powerful slow.
l would rather do a thing myself, than see him
at it." At school, the teacher would say, Be
quick, be quick" in sharper tones than usual
After grew up, the neighbors used to say, jo-
cosely, awe will send you for sorrow" My wife
put little life in your If ever poor mortal
was tormented with slow husband, it is l."
All this annoyed more than little; but
knew it was about the truth, and had to swal-
low it down. Sometimes tried to move round
as brisk as my neghbors, but soon forgot my
self, and fell back into the old gait. Ny mind
partook of the character of my body. 1t took
me long to learn my lesson, and longer still to
recite it.
There are few evils in this world unaccom-
panied by some compromising advantage. In
my case there were many. The slowness with
which took up ideas fixed them permanently
in my mind. With secret satisfaction began
to hear them say, " Give jamie his time, and
he will tell his story as well as any of them"
And the frequent remark, well, boy, would
gle good dale for SIGH maimory as you haze, y
took the edge off hints otherwise cutting.
| relished boyish sports very well, but my
| sluggish temperament made me dull playfel.
low while my fondness for knowledge and
quiet department made me a general favorite
with the old. Sympathy soon drew me from the
company of my equals to that of my seniors. /
listened to their anecdotes, and, when encour-
aged, took part in their conversation. In re-
thax, Co hot .o,,
than possessed, and talents that never were
mine. Before l was twelve years of age, the
disparaging cognomen Of Slow jamie had given
place to the more venerable name of Grandad-
dy, and, with scarce a mediocrity of talents, l
was considered an oracle among schoolboys.
1t was no advantage to enjoy q spurious pop
ularity, but it was an advantage TO have the
mind stored with the ideas and anecdotes of the
old, and to have the scenes of my childhood da-
guerreotyped on my memory, especially as left
Ireland at an early age, and do not wish to for
get my native isle.
Although it is scarcely twenty-seven years
since left the green island, yet since that time
great changes have taken place in the customs
manners, and condition Of the people. Her in
sulated condition, the poverty Of the inhabitants
and her anomalous political state, kept lrelxnd
half century behind the times. In Scotland
and England, in Australia and India, in these
United States and the Canadas, her sons &c
quired reputation, and accumulated fortunes
but they generally ended their days in their
adopted country, and seldom returned to diHpss
among their co9ntFymeR at hnme that spirit Of
energy and enterprise which they had caught
abroad.
In 1898 she made a convulsive effort fol
freedom, but it was total failure. The only
result was, that some of her most worthy citizens
along with many proAigate ones, were executed
as rebels, and her national Legisla,Npe was con
sslidated with the Imperial Parliament. Her
aristocracy now resided generally in England
and drained away her resources in the fosua Of
rents: This reduced the price of produce some
. and of labor more. At that time, however, the
evil was unfelt, for the feverish excitement re-
sulting from the wars with Napoleon and the
profnse policy OF Pitt gave strange impulse to
business. Prices, although lower than in Eng
land, were still unusually high. Whoever GOULD
not get employment at home, easily found place
in the army or navy. Farmers paying an ex
q great profit. Under-renters charged four
pounds sterling $500 for the summer pasture
of single COW, yet such was the price of but
ter, that it was an easy rate. Land agents ap
prised their masters Of this, and received orders
TO raise the rent Of land accordingly. When
ever lease fell out, double the former rate.
was asked, and eagerly given, for they could
still make COED profit
This state of things continued ten or ffteer
years, and then followed the terrible reaction
Napoleon was sent to st. Helena. Soldiers
were discharged, generally without q pension