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The Poor Scholar - Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of - William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton
page 56 of 179 (31%)
of his countrymen; for--and we say it with pride--the character of this
excellent farmer is thoroughly that of our peasantry within the range of
domestic life.

When he had eaten a comfortable breakfast, and seen his satchel stuffed
with provision for his journey, the farmer brought him up to his own
room, in which were also his wife and children.

"God," said he, "has been good to me; blessed be his holy name!--betther
it appears in one sinse, than he has been to you, dear, though maybe I
don't desarve it as well. But no matther, acushla; I have it, an' you
want it; so here's a thrifle to help your forrid in your larnin'; an'
all I ax from you is to offer up a bit of a prayer for me, of an odd
time, an' if ever you live to be a priest, to say, if it wouldn't be
throublesome, one Mass for me an' those that you see about me. It's not
much, James agra--only two guineas. They may stand your friend, whin
friends will be scarce wid you; though, I hope, that won't be the case
aither."

The tears were already streaming down. Jemmy's cheeks. "Oh," said the
artless boy, "God forever reward you! but sure I have a great dale of
money in the--in the--cuff o' my coat. Indeed I have, an' I won't want
it!"

The farmer, affected by the utter simplicity of the lad, looked at his
wife and smiled, although a tear stood in his eye at the time. She wiped
her eyes with her apron, and backed the kind offer of her husband.

"Take it, asthore," she added, "in your cuff! Musha, God help you! sure
it's not much you or the likes of you can have in your cuff, avourneen!
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