"to let in the day-light,
an' to let out the smoke." In the interior there was no division, or
separate apartment, as the one room contained the cooking materials, and
all other necessaries, beside their bed, which was placed close to the
fire, and, of course, nearly under the opening in the roof. If any one
spqke to Owen about the chances of rain coming down to where they slept,
his universal answer was, "Shure we're naither shugar nor salt, anyhow;
an' a dhrop ov or a thrifle ov wind, was niver known to do any body
harm--barrin' it brought the typhus; but God's good, an' ordhers all for
the best." Owen had been brought up in this way, and so he could live by
his labor, he never thought of needless luxuries; and Ellen, seeing him
contented, was so herself.

For some months previous to the time of which we write, Owen's affairs
had been gradually getting worse and worse; and it was with no pleasing
anticipations that he looked forward to his approaching rent day. His
uneasiness he studiously kept a secret from his wife, and worked away
seemingly with as much cheerfulness as ever, hoping for better days, and
_trusting in Providence!_ However, when within a week of the time that
he expected a call from the agent, he found that with all his industry
he had been only able to muster five and twenty shillings, and his rent
was above five pounds. So, after a good deal of painful deliberation, he
thought of selling his single cow, thinking that by redoubled exertion
he might after a while be enabled to repurchase her; forgetting, that
before the cow was sold was really the time to make the exertion. A
circumstance that greatly damped his ardor in this design was the
idea of his wife's not acquiescing in it; and one evening, as they sat
together by the light of the wood and turf fire, he thus opened his
mind--

"Ellen, asthore, its myself that's sorry I haven't a fine large cabin,
and a power o' money, to make you happier an' comfortabler than you
are."

"Owen," she interrupted, "don't you know I'm very happy? an' didn't
I often tell you, that it was the will of Providence that we shud be
poor'? So it's sinful to be wishin' for riches."

"Bud, Ellen acushla, it's growi'n' worse wid us every day; an' I'm
afeard the trouble is goin' to come on us. You know how hard the
master's new agint is--how he sould Paddy Murphy's cow, an' turned him
out, bekase he couldn't pay his rint; an' I'm afeard I'll have to sell
_Black Bess_,' t