Other features were also presented, which gave to this miserable scene a still more depressing character.  The voice of lamentation was loud, especially from the females, both young and old—­all of whom, with some exceptions, were in tears.  Many were rending their hair, others clapping their hands in distraction—­some were kneeling to Heaven to implore its protection, and not a few to call down its vengeance upon their oppressors.  From many of the men, especially the young and healthy, came stifled curses, and smothered determinations of deep and fearful vengeance.  Brows darkened, eyes gleamed, and teeth were ground with a spirit that could neither be mistaken or scarcely condemned.  M’Clutchy was then sowing the wind; but whether at a future day to reap the whirlwind, we are not now prepared to state.

At length it was deemed time that the ceremony should commence; and M’Clutchy, armed also with a case of pistols, rode up to Darby:—­

“O’Drive, you scoundrel,” he shouted—­for he saw his enemy, and got courageous, especially since he had a body of his father’s Dashers at his back—­“O’Drive, you scoundrel, do you mean to keep us here all day?  Why don’t you commence?  Whose is the first name on your list?  The ejectment must proceed,” addressing the poor people as much as Darby—­“it must proceed.  Everything we do is by Lord Cumber’s orders, and strictly according to the law of the land.  Every attempt at refusing to give up peaceable possession, makes you liable to be punished; and punished, by d—­n you shall be.”

“Do not swear, my dear friend,” interposed M’Slime; “swear not at all; but let thy yea be yea, and thy nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil.  My good friends,” he added, addressing himself to the people, “I could not feel justified in losing this opportunity to throw in a word in season for your sakes.  I need scarcely tell you that Mr. M’Clutchy, whose character for benevolence and humanity is perfectly well known—­and I would allude to his strong sense of religion, and its practical influence on his conduct, were I not afraid of giving rise to a feeling of spiritual pride in the heart of any fellow-creature, however humble;—­I need not tell you, I say, that he and I are here as your true friends.  I, a frail and unworthy sinner, avow myself as your friend; at least, it is the most anxious and sincere wish of my heart to do good to you; for, I trust I can honestly say, that I love my Catholic—­I mean my Roman Catholic friends, and desire to meet them in the bonds of Christ.  Yes, we are your friends.  You know it is true that God loveth whom he chasteneth, and that it is always good to pass through the furnace of tribulation.  What are we, then, but the instruments of his chastisement of you, and of bringing you through that furnace for your own good and for His honor!  Be truly grateful, then, for this instance of His interposition in your favor.  It is only a blessing in disguise; my friends—­strongly disguised, I grant you—­but still a blessing.  And now, my friends, to prove my own sincerity—­my affection, and, I trust, Christian interest in your welfare, I say unto you, that if such among you as lack bread will come to me, when this dispensation in your favor is concluded, I shall give them that which will truly nourish them.”