could be said to constitute one.

Our readers, perhaps, are not aware that a cause of deep anxiety,
hitherto unnoticed by us, operated with latent power upon Fardorougha's
heart. But so strong in Ireland is the beautiful superstition--if it can
with truth be termed so--that children are a blessing only when received
as such, that, even though supported by the hardest and most shameless
of all vices, avarice, Fardorougha had not nerve to avow this most
unnatural source for his distress. The fact, however, was, that, to a
mind so constituted, the apprehension of a large family was in itself
a consideration, which he thought might, at a future period of their
lives, reduce both him and his to starvation and death. Our readers may
remember Nogher M'Cormick's rebuke to him, when he heard Fardorougha
allude to this; and so accessible was he then to the feeling, that, on
finding his heart at variance with it, he absolutely admitted his error,
and prayed to God that he might be enabled to overcome it.

It was, therefore, on the day after the baptism of young Connor, for
so had the child been called after his paternal grandfather, that, as a
justification for his own conduct in the matter of the christening,
he disclosed to his wife, with much reluctance and embarrassment, this
undivulged source of his fears for the future, alleging it as a just
argument for his declining to be guided by her opinion.

The indignant sympathies of the mother abashed, on this occasion, the
miserable and calculating impiety of the husband; her reproaches were
open and unshrinking, and her moral sense of his conduct just and
beautiful.

"Fardorougha," said she, "I thought, up to this time, to this day, that
there was nothing in your heart but too much of the world; but now I'm
afeard, if God hasn't sed it, that the devil himself's there. You're
frettin' for 'fraid of a family; but has God sent us any but this one
yet? No--an' I wouldn't be surprised, if the Almighty should punish your
guilty heart, by making the child he gave you, a curse, instead of a
blessin'. I think, as it is, he has brought little pleasure to you for
so far, and, if your heart hardens as he grows up, it's more unhappy
you'll get every day you live."

"That's very fine talk, Honora; but to people in our condition, I can't
see any very great blessin' in a houseful of childre. If we're able to
provide for this one, we'll have raison to be thankful widout wishin'
for more."