Never did a minor's eye revel over his broad acres with more complacent enjoyment than did mine skim over the mutton and the muffin, the tea-pot, the trout, and the devilled kidney, so invitingly spread out before me.

'Yes,' thought I, as I smacked my lips, 'this is the reward of virtue; pickled pork is a probationary state that admirably fits us for future enjoyments.' I arranged my napkin upon my knee, seized my knife and fork, and proceeded with most critical acumen to bisect a beefsteak.
Scarcely, however, had I touched it, when, with a loud crash, the plate smashed beneath it, and the gravy ran piteously across the cloth.

Before I had time to account for the phenomenon, the door opened hastily, and the waiter rushed into the room, his face beaming with smiles, while he rubbed his hands in an ecstasy of delight.
"'It's all over, sir,' said he; 'glory be to God! it's all done.' "'What's over?
What's done ?' inquired I, with impatience.
"'Mr.M'Mahon is satisfied,' replied he, 'and so is the other gentleman.' "'Who and what the devil do you mean ?' [Illustration: DISADVANTAGE OF BREAKFASTING OVER A DUELLING-PARTY.] "'It's over, sir, I say,' replied the waiter again; 'he fired in the air.' "'Fired in the air! Was there a duel in the room below stairs ?' "'Yes, sir,' said the waiter, with a benign smile.
"'That will do,' said I, as seizing my hat, I rushed out of the house, and hurrying to the beach, took a boat for the ship.

Exactly half an hour had elapsed since my landing, but even those short thirty minutes had fully as many reasons that although there may be few more amusing, there are some safer places to live in than the Green Isle." A general burst of laughter followed the cornet's story, which was heightened in its effect by the gravity with which he told it.
"And after all," said Maurice Quill, "now that people have given up making fortunes for the insurance companies by living to the age of Methuselah, there's nothing like being an Irishman.

In what other part of the habitable globe can you cram so much adventure into one year?
Where can you be so often in love, in liquor, or in debt; and where can you get so merrily out of the three?
Where are promises to marry and promises to pay treated with the same gentleman-like forbearance; and where, when you have lost your heart and your fortune, are people found so ready to comfort you in your reverses?
Yes," said Maurice, as he filled his glass up to the brim, and eyed it lusciously for a moment,--"yes, darling, here's your health; the only girl I ever loved--in that part of the country, I mean.