self that has the tear for the distresses of her
fellow-creatures, an' the ready hand to relieve them; may the Almighty
shower down his blessins on her!"

"Them tears do you credit," replied Frank, "and although I always
thought well of you, Art, and liked you betther than any other in the
family, although I didn't say much about it, still, I tell you, I think
betther of you this minute than I ever did in my life."

"There's only one thing in the wide world that's throublin' her,"
said Art, "an' that is, that she hadn't her parents' blessin' when she
married me, nor since--for ould Murray's as stiff-necked as a mule, an'
the more he's driven to do a thing the less he'll do it."

"In that case," observed Frank, "the best plan is to let him alone;
maybe when it's not axed for he'll give it."

"I wish he would," said Art, "for Margaret's sake; it would take away a
good deal of uneasiness from her mind."

The conversation afterwards took several turns, and embraced a variety
of topics, till the second tumbler was finished.

"Now," said Art, "as there's but the two of us, and in regard of the
occasion that's in it, throth we'll jist take one more a piece."

"No," replied Frank, "I never go beyant two, and you said you wouldn't."

"Hut, man, divil a matther for that; sure there's only ourselves two,
as I said, an' Where's the harm? Throth, it's a long time since I felt
myself so comfortable, an' besides, it's not every night we have you wid
us. Come, Frank, one more in honor of the occasion."

"Another drop won't cross my lips this night," returned his brother,
firmly, "so you needn't be mixin' it."

"Sorra foot you'll go to bed to-night till you take another; there, now
it's mixed, so you know you must take it now."

"Not a drop."

"Well, for the sake of poor little Kate, that you're to stand for; come,
Frank, death alive, man!"

"Would my drinkin' it do Kate any good?"

"Hut, man alive, sure if one was to lay down the law that way upon every
thing, they might as well be out of the world at wanst; come, Frank."'

"No, Art, I said I wouldn't, and I won't break my word."

"But, sure, that's only a trifle; take the liquor; the sorra betther
tumbler of punch ever was made: it's Barney Scaddhan's whiskey."*

* Scaddhan, a herring, a humorous nickname bestowed
upon him, because he made the foundation of his fortune
by selling herrings.

"An' if Barney Scaddhan keeps good whiskey, is that any ras