"Yes, exactly," said Mr. Jinks; "and the day on which this takes
place--Saint Patrick's day--is generally submerged in gore!"
Ralph remained for a moment overcome with horror at this dreadful
picture.
"Jinks," he said, at last.
"Sir?" said Mr. Jinks.
"I fear you are too military and bloody for me. My nerves will not
stand these awful pictures!"
And Ralph shuddered; or perhaps chuckled.
"That is only half of the subject," Mr. Jinks said, displaying much
gratification at the deep impression produced upon the feelings of his
companion; "the Irish, on St. Michael's day--the patron saint of the
Dutch, you know--"
"Yes."
"The Irish take their revenge."
And at the word revenge, Mr. Jinks' brows were corrugated into a
dreadful frown.
Ralph looked curious.
"How?" he said; "I should think the Dutch had exhausted the power and
capacity of invention. St. Patrick, with a necklace of potatoes, and
his wife Sheeley, with an apron full of the same vegetables, is surely
enough for one day--"
"Yes, for St.
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