At the close of the
last verse he lay quietly down, all unconscious of the Musical
Entertainment he had given. The next morning some of the family began
teasing him about the song he had sung in his sleep. He was loth to
believe them, and as usual enquired of me if they were telling him the
truth. "I'll believe whatever you say," said he, "for its you that niver
toult me a lie yet." "You may believe them this time," said I, "for you
certainly did sing a song. The air was very fine, and I have no doubt
the words were equally so, if we could only have understood them."
"Well thin," replied he, "but I niver heard more than that; and if I
raaly did sing, I may as well tell yee's how it happint. I dramed, ye
see, that I was at a ball in Ireland, an' I thought that about twelve
o'clock we got tired wid dancin and sated ourselves on the binches which
were ranged round the walls uv the room, and ache one was to sing a song
in their turn, an' its I that thought my turn had come for sure." "Well
Terry," said I, "you hit upon the time exact at any rate, for it was
just twelve o'clock when you favoured us with the song." Soon after this
time I left the neighbourhood, and removed to some distance.
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