HANDY ANDY

A Tale of Irish Life

IN TWO VOLUMES • VOLUME ONE

BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
MDCCCCIII

UNIVERSITY PRESS
JOHN WILSON AND SON
CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.

ADDRESS

I have been accused in certain quarters, of giving flattering portraits of my countrymen. Against this charge I may plead that, being a portrait-painter by profession, the habit of taking the best view of my subject, so long prevalent in my eye, has gone deeper, and influenced my mind:—and if to paint one's country in its gracious aspect has been a weakness, at least, to use the words of an illustrious compatriot,

"—the failing leans to virtue's side."