IRELAND.

1. THE EMERALD ISLE.

1. The Emerald Isle," as Ireland is called on account of the rich green colour of her fields, lies west of England and south-west of Scotland. The narrowest part of the sea between Great Britain and Ireland is the North Channel, which, at the Mull of Cantire, is only thirteen miles wide.

2. The boundary of Ireland, on the north, west, and south, is the Atlantic Ocean. No grander sight can be seen than the giant waves of the Atlantic breaking with tremendous force on the west coast of Ireland. The boundaries on the east are the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St. George's Channel.

3. Ireland measures about 250 miles from north

to south. Its greatest length from north-east to south-west is about 300 miles. The coast-line measures above 2,000 miles, including the inlets, which, especially on the west coast, are very numerous. Beyond it the Atlantic Ocean stretches away to the westward in an unbroken expanse of sea for 2,000 miles to the continent of America. Ireland thus forms the extremity of Europe, and the last fragment of that great tract of land which stretches eastward across Asia to the shores of the Pacific.

4. The climate of Ireland is more moist than that of Great Britain,- -less warm in summer, but milder in winter. Westerly winds prevail for nine

months in the year. As these winds come across the broad Atlantic they are laden with moisture, which falls in copious rains, especially on the west coast. To its moist climate Ireland owes the wonderful freshness of its pastures and fields and its name, "The Emerald Isle."

5. The native Irish belong to the Celtic race. Their language is very like the Gaelic of Scotland; but it is little used except in the west. The population has greatly decreased during recent years, as thousands of the Irish have emigrated to America and Australia. People of English descent are numerous in all parts of the country, but especially in the north and the east.

Cli-mate, weather.
Co-pi-ous, plentiful.

E-spec-ial-ly, most of all.

Ex-panse', stretch.
Pre-vail', continue.

Tre-men-dous, very great; terrible.

SUMMARY.-Ireland is called "The Emerald Isle' on account of the rich green colour of its fields. It lies west of Great Britain. Boundaries: north, west, and south, Atlantic Ocean; east, North Channel, Irish Sea, St. George's Channel. Length, from north to south, 250 miles; from north-east to south-west, 300 miles. moist; westerly winds prevail. The native Irish are Celts. people are numerous, especially in the north and the east.

EXERCISE.-Draw the Map on page 98.

Climate,

English

2. RECOLLECTIONS OF IRELAND.

1. I remember a beautiful isle far away,
An isle by the blue sea caressed;

And the fields are so green and the mountains

so gray

In this isle far away in the west.

2. There rocks grim and hoary and stately old hills
Still echo the peasant's sweet song,

And broad shining rivers and murmuring rills
Go flashing and dancing along.

3. And many a dim grot and weird-looking dell
Peeps out from her emerald breast-
Ah, well may the fairies continue to dwell
In this beautiful land of the west.

4. O land ever lovely, though many long years
My feet have a stranger soil pressed,
Thy memory comes with a gush of fond tears,
Sweet home of my youth in the west.

5. And often I dream I'm a bare-footed child,
And sit by the old cabin door

With a head full of fancies romantic and wild,
And a warm heart with love brimming o'er.

6. In the glens through the tangled green bushes I

roam,

And, oh, I supremely am blest,

As even in spirit again I'm at home,

At home in the beautiful west.

7. Still, as life's troubled day to its close draweth nigh, Like some poor little bird to its nest,

This heart, worn and weary, right gladly would fly
To its own darling isle in the west.

3. PROVINCES AND COUNTIES

1. Ireland is divided into four provinces, and these are subdivided into thirty-two counties. The provinces are--Ulster in the north-east, Leinster in the south-east, Connaught in the north-west, and Munster in the south-west. They were originally separate kingdoms; but that was before England and Ireland were united.

2. The counties of Ireland are never called shires. When they are named, it is customary to prefix the word "County,"—as, County Dublin, County Wicklow, County Cork.

3. Ulster, which contains nine counties, is the most prosperous province of Ireland, being the one in which both agriculture and manufactures flourish most. Many of the inhabitants are descendants of Scottish colonists who settled there in the reign of James the First. Before that, Londonderry had been called Derry; but when King James made a grant of its lands to certain companies of London merchants, the name was changed. A great deal of flax is grown in Ulster, and an active linen manufacture is carried on.

4. Leinster contains twelve counties, and is the largest of the provinces. It contains the most extensive bog in Ireland, called the Bog of Allen, which covers a large part of County Kildare and King's County. King's County was named after Philip of Spain,1 husband of Queen Mary of England; and Queen's County was named after that queen. Louth is the smallest county in Ireland.