ng wealth had made on his heart as a manifest proof of much parental
attachment. He consequently loved his wealth through the medium of his
son, and laid it down as a fixed principle that every act of parsimony
on his part was merely one of prudence, and had the love of a father and
an affectionate consideration for his child's future welfare to justify
it.

The first striking instance of this close and griping spirit appeared
upon an occasion which seldom fails to open, in Ireland at least, all
the warm and generous impulses of our mature. When his wife deemed
it necessary to make those hospitable preparations for their child's
christening, which are so usual in the country, he treated her intention
of complying with this old custom as a direct proof--of unjustifiable
folly and extravagance--nay, his remonstrance with her exhibited such
remarkable good sense and prudence, that it was a matter of extreme
difficulty to controvert it, or to perceive that it originated from any
other motive than a strong interest in the true welfare of their child.

"Will our wasting meat and money, an' for that matthur health and time,
on his christenin', aither give him more health or make us love him
betther? It's not the first time; Honora, that I've heard yourself make
little of some of our nabors for goin' beyant their ability in gettin'
up big christenins. Don't be foolish now thin when it comes to your own
turn."

The wife took the babe up, and, after having gazed affectionately on
its innocent features, replied to him, in a voice of tenderness and
reproof--

"God knows, Fardorougha, an' if I do act wid folly, as you call it, in
gettin' ready his christenin', surely, surely you oughtn't to blame the
mother for that. Little I thought, acushla oge, that your own father
'ud begrudge you as good a christenin' as is put over any other nabor's
child. I'm afraid, Fardorougha, he's not as much in your heart as he
ought to be."

"It's a bad proof of love for him, Honora, to put to the bad what
may an' would be serviceable to him hereafter. You only think for the
present; but I can't forget that he's to be settled in the world, an'
you know yourself what poor means we have o' doin' that, an' that if we
begin to be extravagant an' wasteful, bekase God has sent him, we may
beg wid him afore long."

"There's no danger of us beggin' wid him. No," she continued, the
pride of the mother having been touched, "my boy will never beg--no,
avou