"No, indeed," replied Jemmy, somewhat sorrowfully; "I didn't ever open a
Latin book, at all at all."

"Well, acushla, everything has a beginnin';--you won't be so. An' I know
by your face that you'll be bright at it, an' a credit to them owes (*
owns) you. There's my house in the fields beyant, where you'll be well
kept for one night, any way, or for twinty, or for ten times twinty, if
you wanted them."

The honest farmer then commenced the song of _Colleen dhas Crotha na
Mho_ (* The pretty girl milking her cow), which he sang in a clear
mellow voice, until they reached the house.

"Alley," said the man to his wife, on entering, "here's a stranger I've
brought you."

"Well," replied Alley, "he's welcome sure, any way; _Cead millia, failta
ghud_, alanna! sit over to the fire. Brian, get up, dear," said she to
one of the children, "an' let the stranger to the hob."

"He's goin' on a good errand, the Lord bless him!" said the husband, "up
the country for the larnin'. Put thim books over on the settle; an' whin
the, _girshas_ are done milkin', give him a brave dhrink of the sweet
milk; it's the stuff to thravel on."

"Troth, an' I will, wid a heart an' a half, wishin' it was betther I had
to give him. Here, Nelly, put down a pot o' wather, an' lave soap an'
a _praskeen_, afore you go to milk, till I bathe the dacent boy's feet.
Sore an' tired they are afther his journey, poor young crathur."