are still weak from the typhoid and I have to sit on steps and hold on to walls and I wonder was it something good I said in that composition or something bad. Mr.Thomas L. O’Halloran teaches three classes in one room, sixth, seventh, eighth. He has a head like President Roosevelt and he wears gold glasses. He wears suits, navy blue or gray, and there’s a gold watch chain that hangs across his belly from pocket to pocket in his waistcoat. We call him Hoppy because he has a short leg and hops when he walks. He knows what we call him and he says,Yes, I’m Hoppy and I’ll hop on you. He carries a long stick, a pointer, and if you don’t pay attention or give a stupid answer he gives you three slaps on each hand or whacks you across the backs of your legs. He makes you learn everything by heart, everything, and that makes him the hardest master in the school. He loves America and makes us know all the American states in alpha- betical order. He makes charts of Irish grammar, Irish history and alge- bra at home, hangs them on an easel and we have to chant our way through the cases, conjugations and declensions of Irish, famous names and  battles,  proportions,  ratios,  equations. We  have  to  know  all  the important dates in Irish history. He tells us what is important and why. No master ever told us why before. If you asked why you’d be hit on the  head.  Hoppy  doesn’t  call  us  idiots  and  if  you  ask  a  question  he doesn’t go into a rage. He’s the only master who stops and says, Do ye understand what I’m talking about? Do ye want to ask a question? It’s a shock to everyone when he says, the Battle of Kinsale in six- teen nought one was the saddest moment in Irish history, a close battle with cruelty and atrocities on both sides. Cruelty on both sides? The Irish side? How could that be? All the other masters told us the Irish always fought nobly, they always fought the fair fight. He recites and makes us remember, They went forth to battle, but they always fell, Their eyes were fixed above the sullen shields. Nobly they fought and bravely, but not well, And sank heart-wounded by a subtle spell. If they lost it was because of traitors and informers. But I want to know about these Irish atrocities. Sir, did the Irish commit atrocities at the Battle of Kinsale? 207