ay, as I left him that morning. In order
to make him laugh I enquired if he could not imagine the look of
astonishment with which Farmer Judson would regard us when we should
drive past his farm in our fine carriage, which (in imagination) we had
possessed the night before. Any one acquainted with Mr. Judson could not
have helped laughing at the idea; Charley did laugh but there were tears
in his eyes. As the train rapidly neared the station he suddenly
extended his hand to me for a last good-bye, and hurried swiftly from
the spot, he could not bear to witness my parting with my mother and
sister which was yet to come. My mother had borne up until now, but when
the time came that I must indeed go, her tears could no longer be kept
back. I kissed Flora good-bye, and last of all turned to my mother. She
imprinted a parting kiss upon my brow, and as she held my hand with a
long, lingering pressure, said in a choking voice, "Remember my
counsels, respect yourself, and others will respect you, and may God
bless and preserve you from evil!"

I was deeply moved, but to spare my mother's feelings I kept back my
tears. The conductor's loud voice was heard calling "All aboard." I
hastily entered the car, and taking my seat, the tears I had so long
repressed now flowed freely, till some of my fellow-passengers began to
question me, when I became ashamed of my weakness. To the many pitying
enquiries I replied that I was going a long distance from home and was
grieved at parting with my friends.

"Chare up, me man," said a good-natured Irishman who happened to be
seated near me. "I was jist yer size (only that I was bigger) when I
lift me father and mother in ould Ireland, an' come over to Ameriky."

This remark drew a burst of laughter from several of the passengers,
and, though the tears were not yet dry upon my cheek, I could not help
joining in the laugh. The man was not in the least disturbed by the
merriment of the others, but again turning to me continued:

"As I was a tellin' ye, an older brother an' mesilf crossed the sea to
Ameriky, an' the first year we arned money enough to fetch over the ould
folks, and we are now livin' altogether agin, in the city uv Montreal,
where we have a nate little home uv our own as your two eyes could
light upon." The friendly talk of the Irishman both amused and cheered
me. How true it is that kind and sympathizing words never fail to cheer
the desponding heart.

CHAPTER VIII.