Larry did not heed Teddy's sneers, but went directly and bought the
fiddle. He hugged it to his heart, and danced for joy all the way
home. But such a scolding as met him there! All blamed him for his
extravagance, but little Katy, who stole up to him and
whispered--"Niver mind the hard discoorse, Larry; ye've got the feddle
ony how, and it's mighty glad I am."

Larry was never allowed to play on his treasure within the cabin walls;
it was always "Away wid ye now, ye lazy feddling spalpeen!" But up
amid the gorge of the hill side, he used to sit, with Katy, on pleasant
summer evenings, playing so late that Katy would creep close to him,
fancying she saw the "little folk," or fairies, dancing in the
moonlight, to his delicious music.

In the mean time, "Phelim," the pig, throve finely, and grew to be, as
Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, "an iligant cratur, intirely." Every meal,
after the family had eaten, the remains were thrown into the
potato-kettle, and "the sinsible baste claned it out beautifully," so
saving work for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy.

At last, the first day of the Fair arrived, and Teddy and Larry set out
for Donnybrook, with the pig,--Larry taking his fiddle.

Now Phelim had been a wonderful animal at home, and in his own
mud-puddle, but it was quite another thing at Donnybrook. There he was
eclipsed by pigs of a more choice breed, fatter, cleaner, and better
behaved. Teddy was sadly disappointed and mortified--he had supposed
that there would be a tremendous competition for that jewel of a pig.

"Suppose, Larry, ye strike up a tune on yer feddle, to call the
attintion of the folk, just," said he, at last.

Larry began very timidly, but in a few moments an admiring group was
collected around him. A purchaser was soon found for Phelim, and Teddy
having doubled his money, felt rich and grand, and cast rather
contemptuous looks on his thriftless cousin. But before the day was
over, Larry had made more money than two pigs like Phelim would
bring--by playing for the dancers, and singing ballads. Among those
who listened most attentively to him was a great musician from Dublin,
who saw at once that the lad had a remarkable genius for music. He
talked with him, and was much pleased with his intelligence and
modesty. Larry was glad to find it was the same gentleman whose
writing-case he had picked up a few months before.

Mr. R---- inquired where the boys lived, and the next day drove down to
Michael O'Sha