When the prayer was over, the boy rose and calmly strapped to his back
a satchel covered with deer-skin, containing a few books, linen, and a
change of very plain apparel. While engaged in this, the uproar of grief
in the house was perfectly heart-rending. When just ready to set out, he
reverently took off his hat, knelt down, and, with tears streaming from
his eyes, craved humbly and meekly the blessing and forgiveness of his
father and mother. The mother caught him in her arms, kissed his lips,
and, kneeling also, sobbed out a fervent benediction upon his head;
the father now, in the grief of a strong man, pressed him to his heart,
until the big burning tears fell upon the boy's face; his brothers
and sisters embraced him wildly; next his more distant relations; and
lastly, the neighbors who were crowded about the door. After this he
took a light staff in his hand, and, first blessing himself after the
form of his church, proceeded to a strange land in quest of education.

He had not gone more than a few perches from the door, when his mother
followed him with a small bottle of holy water. "Jimmy, _a lanna
voght_," (* my poor child) said she, "here's this, an' carry it about
you--it will keep evil from you; an' be sure to take good care of the
written correckther you got from the priest an' Square Benson; an',
darlin', don't be lookin' too often at the cuff o' your coat, for feard
the people might get a notion that you have the bank-notes sewed in it.
An', Jimmy agra, don't be too lavish upon their Munster crame; they say
it's apt to give people the ague. Kiss me agin, agra; an' the heavens
above keep you safe and well till we see you once more!"

She then tenderly, and still with melancholy pride, settled his shirt
collar, which she thought did not set well about his neck, and kissing
him again, with renewed sorrow left him to pursue his journey.