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CHAP, in.] THREE YEARS OF IDLENESS.

amusing shade of contrast must have fallen in after-life, from 1749.
the storms of Wilder's class-room, and the sunshine.of -2E*-2l
Greorge Conway's inn.

Thus the two years passed. In the day-time occupied,
as I have said, in the village school; on the winter nights,
at Conway's; and, in the evenings of summer, taking
solitary walks among the rocks and wooded islands of the
Inny, strolling up its banks to fish or play the flute,
otter-hunting by the course of the Shannon, learning French
from the Irish priests, or winning a prize for throwing the
sledge-hammer at the fair of Ballymahon.* " A lady who died
"lately in this neighbourhood, and who was well acquainted
" with Mrs. Groldsmith, mentioned that it was one of Oliver's
" habits to sit in a window of his mother's lodgings, and amuse
" himself by playing the flute."t

Two sunny years, with sorrowful affection long remem-
bered ;t storing up his mind with many a thought and fancy
turned to profitable use in after-life, but hardly better than
Ms college course to help him. through the world. So much
even occurred to himself when eight years were gone, and,
in the outset of his London distresses, he turned back with
wistful looks to Ireland. " Unaccountable fondness for
" country, this Maladie du Pdis, as the French call it!"
he exclaimed, writing to his brother-in-law Hoclson.
"Unaccountable that he should still have an affection for a
" place who never received when in it above common civility;
" who never brought anything out of it except his brogue

* " A blacksmith, who boasted to the rev. Mr. Handeock of having taught him
"the art, still survived about the year 1787." Prior, i. 116.

•f¹ Shaw Mason, iii. 358.

$ " Those -who have -walked in an evening by the sedgy sides of unfrequented
" rivers, must remember a variety of notes from different water-fowl; the loud
" scream of the wild goose, the croaking of the mallard, the whining of the lapwing,
" and the tremulous neighing of the jack snipe. But of all these sounds, there is



	CHAP, in.] THREE YEARS OF IDLENESS. amusing shade of contrast must have fallen in after-life, from 1749. the storms of Wilder's class-room, and the sunshine.of -2E-2l Greorge Conway's inn. Thus the two years passed. In the day-time occupied, as I have said, in the village school; on the winter nights, at Conway's; and, in the evenings of summer, taking solitary walks among the rocks and wooded islands of the Inny, strolling up its banks to fish or play the flute, otter-hunting by the course of the Shannon, learning French from the Irish priests, or winning a prize for throwing the sledge-hammer at the fair of Ballymahon. " A lady who died "lately in this neighbourhood, and who was well acquainted " with Mrs. Groldsmith, mentioned that it was one of Oliver's " habits to sit in a window of his mother's lodgings, and amuse " himself by playing the flute."t Two sunny years, with sorrowful affection long remem- bered ;t storing up his mind with many a thought and fancy turned to profitable use in after-life, but hardly better than Ms college course to help him. through the world. So much even occurred to himself when eight years were gone, and, in the outset of his London distresses, he turned back with wistful looks to Ireland. " Unaccountable fondness for " country, this Maladie du Pdis, as the French call it!" he exclaimed, writing to his brother-in-law Hoclson. "Unaccountable that he should still have an affection for a " place who never received when in it above common civility; " who never brought anything out of it except his brogue * " A blacksmith, who boasted to the rev. Mr. Handeock of having taught him "the art, still survived about the year 1787." Prior, i. 116. •f¹ Shaw Mason, iii. 358. $ " Those -who have -walked in an evening by the sedgy sides of unfrequented " rivers, must remember a variety of notes from different water-fowl; the loud " scream of the wild goose, the croaking of the mallard, the whining of the lapwing, " and the tremulous neighing of the jack snipe. But of all these sounds, there is