346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In Mr. Ronaldson’s callections are to be found many very amusing and
humorous articles, strongly indicative of his relish for the ludicrous. The
following may serve as a specimen :-
‘‘ [Taken from a Church-door in Ireland.]
“ RUN AWAY FROM PATRICK M‘DALLAGH.
--
“ Whereas my wife, Mrs. Bridget M‘Dallagh, is again walked away with herself, and left me
with four small children and her poor old blind mother, and no body to look after house or home, and I
hear has taken up with Tim Guigan, the lame fiddler, the same that was put in the stocks last Easter
for stealing Barney Doody’s game-cock, This is to give Notice, that I will not pay for hit or sup on
her or his account to mau or mortal, and that she had better never show the marks of her ten toes
near my house again. PATRICK M‘DALLAGB.
“ N.B.--Tim had better keep out of my sight.”
Mr. Ronaldson belonged to the right centre company of the Volunteers, but
was occasionally drafted to other companies ; in consequence of which he was
sometimes brought to cover Mr. Osborne. In this position little Francis, from
his convenient height, was of important service to his gigantic friend, by helping
him to his side-arms when ordered to fix bayonets-Osborne, owing to his
immense bulk, finding great difficulty in reaching the weapon.
The regimental firelocks being rather too heavy, Mr. Ronaldson had one
manufactured specially for himself. One day at a review, General Vyse, then
Commander-in-Chief, happening to observe the difference, remarked the circumstance-‘‘
Why,” said Ronaldson with great animation, “if my firelock is light,
I have weight enough here/” (pointing to his cartridge-box). The General
complimented little Francis on his spirit, observing-“ It would be well if every
one were animated with similar zeal.”
Although in the Print allusion is made to the “game-laws,” Mr. Ronaldson
was no sportsman ; that is to say, he was not partial to roaming through fields
with a dog and a gun ; but he affected to be a follower of Walton in the art of
angling. On one of his fishing excursions on the Tweed he was accompanied
by a gentleman, who was no angler, but who went to witness the scientific
skill of a friend. Francis commenced with great enthusiasm, and with high
hopes of success. Not a leap was observed for some time ; but by and by the
water seemed to live as it were with “the springing trout ;” yet, strange to say,
all the deherity of the angler could not beguile even a single par from its
element. After hours of fruitless labour, Francis was perfectly confounded at
his want of success. In vain he altered his flies-all colours and sizes were
equally ineffectual ; and at length the closing day compelled him to cease from
his labours. On his way home he was accosted by an acquaintance-“ Well,
what luck to-day, Mr. Ronaldson P” ‘‘ Very bad,” he replied ; “plenty raised,
but not a single take.” This apparent plenty, however, did not arise from the
abundance of fish, as Mr. Ronaldson supposed-his friend, who always kept a
little to the rear, having amused himself by throwing small pebbles into the
water, in such a way as led to the deception. The gentleman kept the secret,
