the creature is afflicted."

"You say that this unhealthy woman has not got your
wife's washboard. It remains, therefore, that the fairies
have it."

"It looks that way," said Meehawl.

"There are six clans of fairies living in this neighbour-
hood; but the process of elimination, which has shaped
the world to a globe, the ant to its environment, and man
to the captaincy of the vertebrates, will not fail in this
instance either."

"Did you ever see anything like the way wasps have
increased this season?" said Meehawl; "faith, you can't
sit down anywhere but your breeches--"

"I did not," said the Philosopher. "Did you leave out
a pan of milk on last Tuesday?"

"I did then."

"Do you take off your hat when you meet a dust
twirl?"

"I wouldn't neglect that," said Meehawl.

"Did you cut down a thorn bush recently?"