pressed with a conviction that this
partial and sudden restoration of his powers was merely what is termed
the lightening before death, and the consequence was, that every word he
spoke occasioned their grief, for the loss of the venerable and virtuous
patriarch, to break out with greater force. When he was dressed he
called Dora to aid her father in bringing him out, which she did with
streaming eyes and sobbings that she could scarcely restrain. After
having reached a little green eminence that commanded a glorious view of
the rich country beneath and around them, he called for his chair; "an',
Bryan," said he, "the manly and honest-hearted, do you bring it to me.
A blessin' will follow you, Bryan--a blessin' will follow my manly
grandson, that I often had a proud heart out of. An'; Bryan," he
proceeded, when the latter had returned with the chair and placed him
in it, "listen, Bryan--when you and Kathleen Cavanagh's married--but I
needn't say it--where was there one of your name to do an unmanly thing
in that respect?--but when you and Kathleen's married, be to her as your
own father was to her that's gone--ever and always kind and lovin',
an' what your grandfather that's now spaking to you, maybe for the last
time, was to her that's long, long an angel in heaven--my own Peggy
Slevin--but it's the Irish sound of it I like--Peggy Na Laveen. Bring
them all out here--but what is this?--why are you all cryin'? Sure;
there's nothing wrong--an' why do you cry?"

The other members of the family then assembled with tearful faces, and
the good old man proceeded:--

"Thomas M'Mahon, stand before me." The latter, with uncovered head, did
so; and his father resumed:--"Thomas M'Mahon, you're the only livin' son
I have, an' I'm now makin' my Will. I lave this farm of Carriglass to
you, while you live, wid all that's on it and in it;--that is, that I
have any right to lave you--I lave it to you wid my blessin', and may
God grant you long life and health to enjoy it. Ahadarra isn't mine to
give, but, Bryan, it's your's; an' as I said to your father, God grant
you health and long life to enjoy it, as he will to both o' you."

"Oh! little you know, grandfather dear," replied Shibby, "that we've
done wid both of them for ever."

"Shibby, God bless you, achora," he returned; "but the ould man's lips
can spake nothing now but the truth; an' my blessin' an' my wish, comin'
from the Almighty as they do, won't pass away like common words