"Packing up and going away,
All for the sake of a holiday,"

more joyously than did I when my first midsummer holiday came round.

Larry was on the watch for me as I jumped out of the carriage which had
been sent over to Kerry to meet me. The old seaman had expected me to
come back a prodigy of learning; but was horrified to discover that I
was puzzled how to make a carrick-bend, and had nearly forgotten the
length of the _Psyche's_ main-top bowline.

"And that's what the Doctor calls schooling, does he, Master Neil?" he
exclaimed, indignantly. "Now I'll make bold to say that among all the
bigwigs he has under him, including himself, there isn't one on 'em
knows how to gammon a bowsprit or turn in a dead-eye. Now, to my mind,
if they can't give you more larning than you've got since you've been
away, you'd better stop at home altogether."

I agreed with Larry, but the higher authorities ruled otherwise; so back
to school I went at the end of the holidays, having regained all the
nautical knowledge I before possessed, with a little in addition.

I will pass over the sad time of my brave father's death. I was left to
the guardianship of my uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, the great Dublin
barrister, and of Doctor Driscoll. I was removed to the house of the
latter, with poor Larry, who threatened to do all sorts of dreadful
deeds, if he were not allowed to accompany me. My patrimony, which had
become somewhat attenuated, was in the meantime put out to nurse. I was
rather surprised at not being sent back to school, when one day the
Doctor, as he sat cross-legged before the fire after dinner, rubbing his
shins, called me to him.

"Neil, my boy, your uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, has requested me to speak
to you on a very important subject. It is time, he thinks, that your
studies should be directed to fit you for the profession you may select.
What would you wish to be, now? Have you ever thought on the matter?
Would you like to follow his steps, and study the law; or those of your
honoured father, and enter the army; or those of your grandfather, and
go to sea; or would you like to become a merchant, or a clergyman; or
what do you say to the practice of medicine?"

"That I would never take a drop, if I could help it, Doctor; or give it
to others either," I answered. "I fear that I should make a bad
minister, and a worse merchant; and as for the law, I would not change
places with the Counsellor himself, if he were t