One of the richest characters of the class we encountered on the road from Ross to Wexford; he told us how he got his first situation.
"The masther had two beautiful English horses, and he wanted a careful man to drive them; he was a mighty plisant gentleman, and loved a joke. Well, there was as many as fifteen after the place, and the first that wint up to him was examined as follows:—
"'Now, my man,' says he, 'tell me,' says he, 'how near the edge of a precipice would you undertake to drive my carriage?'
"So the boy considered, and he says, says he,
"'Within a foot, plaze your honour, and no harm.'
"'Very well,' says he, 'go down, I'll give ye yer answer, by-and-by.'
"So the next came up, and said he'd be bound to carry 'em within half a foot; and the next said five inches; and another—a dandified chap intirely—was so mighty nice that he would drive it within 'three inches and a half, he'd go bail.'
"Well, at last my turn came, and when his honour axed me how nigh I would drive his carriage to a precipice, I said, says I,
"'Plaze, yer honour, I'd keep as far off it as I could.'
"'Very well, Misther Byrne,' says he, 'you're my coachman,' says he.