“I am. Put down, as I said, two tumblers for me at home--Are they down?” “They are down--but”-- “Asy!--very good!--Put down two more for me at Dan's. Let me see!--two more; behind the garden. Well!--put down one at Father Mulcahy's;--two more at, Frank M'Carrol's of Kilclay. How many's that?” “Nine!!!” “Very good. Now put down one wid ould' Bartle Gorman, of Cargah; an' two over wid honest Roger M'Gaugy, of Nurchasey. How-many have you now?” “Twelve in all!!!! But, Misther Connelly there's a demonstration badly wanted here. I must confis I was always bright, but at present I'm as dark as Nox. I'd thank you for a taste of explanation.” “Asy, man alive! Is there twelve in all?” “Twelve in all: I've calculated them.” “Well, we'll hould to that. Och, och!--I'm sure, avourneen, afore I'd let you suffer one minute's pain, I'd not scruple to take an oath against liquor, any way. He may go an wid the masses now for you, as soon as he likes! Mr. O'Flaherty, will you put that down on paper,--an' I'll swear to it, wid a blessin', to-morrow.” “But what object do you wish to effectuate by this?” “You see, Masther, I dhrink one day wid another from a score to two dozen tumblers, an' I want to swear to no more nor twelve in the twenty-four hours.” “Why, there's intelligibility in that!--Wid great pleasure, Mr. Connell, I'll indite it. Katty, tare me a lafe out o' Brian Murphy's copy there.” “You see, Masther, it's for Ellish's sake I'm doin' this. State that in the oath.” “I know it; an' well she desarved that specimen of abstinence from you, Misther Connell. Thank you!--Your health agin! an' God grant you grace an' fortitude to go through wid the same oath!--An' so he will, or I'm greviously mistaken in you.” “OATH AGAINST LIQUOR, made by me, Cornelius O'Flaherty, Philomath, on behalf of Mr. Peter Connell, of the cross-roads, Merchant, on one part--and of the soul of Mrs. Ellish Connell, now in purgatory, Merchantess, on the other. “I solemnly and meritoriously, and soberly swear, that a single tumbler of whiskey punch shall not cross my lips during the twenty-four hours of the day, barring twelve, the locality of which is as followeth: