e. Bryan, thry an' be worthy of that girl--oh, do! an'
if you ever get her, you'll have raison to thank God for one of the best
gifts He ever gave to man. Hanna, come here--come to me--let me put my
hand upon your head. May my blessin' and God's blessin' rest upon you
for ever more. There now, be stout, acushla machree." Hanna kissed her
again, but her grief was silent; and Dora, fearing she might not be able
to restrain it, took her away.

"Now," proceeded the dying woman, "come to me, you Kathleen, my
daughter--sure you're the daughter of my heart, as it is. Kneel down and
stay with me awhile. Why does my heart warm to you as it never did to
any one out o' my own family? Why do I love you as if you were my own
child? Because I hope you will be so. Kiss me, asthore machree."

Kathleen kissed her, and for a few moments Mrs. M'Mahon felt a shower
of warm tears upon her face, accompanied by a gentle and caressing
pressure, that seemed to corroborate and return the hope she had just
expressed. Kathleen hastily wiped away her tears, however, and once more
resuming her firmness, awaited the expected blessing.

"Now, Kathleen dear, for fear any one might say that at my dyin' hour,
I endeavored to take any unfair advantage of your feelings for my son,
listen to me--love him as you may, and as I know you do."

"Why should I deny it?" said Kathleen, "I do love him."

"I know, darlin', you do, but for all that, go not agin the will and
wishes of your parents and friends; that's my last advice to you."

She then placed her hand upon her head, and in words breathing of piety
and affection, she invoked many a blessing upon her, and upon any that
was clear to her in life, after which both Bryan and Kathleen left her
to the rest which she now required so much.

The last hour had been an interval from pain with Mrs. M'Mahon. In
the course of the day both the priest and the doctor arrived, and she
appeared somewhat better. The doctor, however, prepared them for the
worst, and in confirmation of his opinion, the spasms returned with
dreadful violence, and in the lapse of two hours after his visit,
this pious and virtuous woman, after suffering unexampled agony with a
patience and fortitude that could not be surpassed, expired in the midst
of her afflicted family.

It often happens in domestic life, that in cases where long and
undisturbed affection is for the first time deprived of its object by
death, there supervenes upon the s