We then had the novel experience of going through eight locks ; this
quite satisfied anyone possessed of burglarious intentions, and would have
been interesting to Mr. Chubb, or any other safe man, but we found it rather a
bore.
In the afternoon every one desired to be as classical, continentally
speaking, as possible. For the rest of
the day French was the medium of conversation : the French Academy would
certainly have learned something of the resources and flexibility of their
language, had they been present ; the loss, however, was theirs, and not
ours.
Our tea was an equally pleasant meal with the others ; in fact, the
arrangements made by the ladies were simply perfection during the whole of
the trip. When we were finishing that meal, we were informed that the boat
had arrived in Lough Neagh ; this was scarcely correct, as we were only in
sight of the Lough, and not actually in it. We suggest to our informant that
he be more accurate in future, following the Scriptural injunction which
requires your Yea to be Yea, and your Nay Neagh.
We decided to land and explore. The only signs of life we discovered were in
a Commissionaire, who was dozing. On rousing him, we found the nearest house
was his own, two miles away ; so, as a company of pilgrims, we started for
that edifice. The nearest hotel and railway station were a mile or two away
from the house; so messengers were despatched to procure means of transit.
They procured two cars, calculated to carry together ten people. On these,
thirteen human beings mounted, and commenced a journey towards civilisation.
Arrived there, the hotel received some, the railway others, and thus ended
what was
Only a day of pleasure,
Alas ! too quickly fled ;
Only a pleasant meeting,
So soon to be scattered. |
Only a weary writer,
Who has worked to-day for his bread
Only just completed his writing,
He takes himself up to bed. |
Reader, go thou and do likewise. |
W. H. C. |
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