either the strength nor tenderness of the lad's affection was
unappreciated by this excellent couple. In a moment the farmer's wife
was also in tears; nor did her husband break the silence for some
minutes.

"The Almighty pity an' strengthen him!" said the farmer's wife, "but
he has the good an' the kind heart, an' would be a credit to any
family.--Whisht, acushla machree--whisht, we won't ax you to ate--no
indeed. It was out o' kindness we did it: don't be cast down aither;
sure it isn't the ocean you're crossin'; but goin' from one county
like to another. God 'll guard an' take care o' you, so he will. Your
intintion's good, an' he'll prosper it."

"He will, avick," said the farmer himself--"he will. Cheer up, my good
boy! I know thim that's larned an' creditable clargy this day, that went
as you're goin'--ay, an' that ris an' helped their parents, an' put them
above poverty an' distress; an' never fear, wid a blessin', but you'll
do the same."

"That's what brings me at all," replied the boy, drying his tears; "if
I was once able to take them out o' their distresses, I'd be happy: only
I'm afeard the cares o' the world will break my father's heart before I
have it in my power to assist him."

"No such thing, darlin'," said the good woman. "Sure his hopes out o'
you, an' his love for you will keep him up; an' you dunna but God may
give him a blessin' too, avick."

"Mix another sup o'that for him," said the fanner: "he's low spirited,
an' it's too strong to give him any more of it as it is. Childhre,
where's the masther from us--eh? Why, thin, God help them, the
crathurs--wasn't it thoughtful o' them to lave the place while he was at
his dinner, for fraid he'd be dashed--manin' them young crathurs, Alley,
But can you tell us where the 'masther' is? Isn't this his night wid us?
I know he tuck his dinner here."

"Ay did he; but it's up to Larry Murphy's he's gone, to thry his son
in his book-keepin'. Mavrone, but he had time enough to put him well
through it afore this, any way."

As she spoke, a short thickset man, with black twinkling eyes and ruddy
cheeks entered. This personage was no other than the schoolmaster of
that district, who circulated, like a newspaper, from one farmer's house
to another, in order to expound for his kind entertainers the news
of the day, his own learning, and the very evident extent of their
ignorance.

The moment he came in, the farmer and his wife rose with an air of much
defer