After about an hour, however, the storm subsided, and the clouds broke
away into light, fleecy columns before the wind; the air, too, became
less cold, and the face of nature more visible. The driving sleet and
hard, granular snow now ceased to fall; but were succeeded by large
feathery flakes, that descended slowly upon the still air.

Had this trying scene lasted much longer, Owen must soon have been a
stiffened corpse. The child-like strength, however, which just enabled
him to bear up without sinking in despair to die, now supported him
when there was less demand for energy. The dog, too, by rubbing itself
against him, and licking his face, enabled him, by a last effort,
to recollect himself, so as to have a glimmering perception of his
situation. His confidence returned, and with a greater degree of
strength. He shook, as well as he could, the snow from his 'clothes,
where it had accumulated heavily, and felt himself able to proceed,
slowly, it is true, towards his father's house, which he had nearly
reached when he met his friends, who were once: more hurrying out to
the mountains in quest of him, having been compelled to return in
consequence of the storm, when they had I first set out. The whiskey,
their companionship, and their assistance soon revived him. One or two
were despatched home before them, to apprise the afflicted family of
his safety; and the intelligence was hailed with melancholy joy by the
Reillaghans. A faint light played for a moment over the gloom Which had
settled among them, but it was brief; for on ascertaining the safety
of their second son, their grief rushed back with renewed violence, and
nothing could be heard but the voice of sorrow and affliction.

Darby More, who had assumed the control of the family, did everything
in his power to console them; his efforts, however, were viewed with a
feeling little short of indignation.

"Darby," said the afflicted mother, "you have, undher God, in some
sense, my fair son's death to account for. You had a dhrame, but you
wouldn't tell it to us. If you had, my boy might be livin' this day, for
it would be asy for him to be an his guard."

"Musha, poor woman," replied Darby, "sure you don't know, you afflicted
crathur, what you're spakin' about. Tell my dhrame! Why, thin, it's
myself towld it to him from beginning to ind, and that whin we wor goin'
to mass this day itself. I desired him, on the paril of his life, not to
go out a tracin' or toard