unctual; and so great was the poverty of the
poor widow, and so destitute the situation of her sick son, that, in
fact, the burden of their support lay principally upon Vengeance's
family.

"Vengeance was a small, thin man, with fair hair, and fiery eyes;
his voice was loud and shrill, his utterance rapid, and the general
expression of his countenance irritable. His motions were so quick, that
he rather seemed to run than walk. He was a civil, obliging neighbor,
but performed his best actions with a bad grace; a firm, unflinching
friend, but a bitter and implacable enemy. Upon the whole he was
generally esteemed and respected--though considered as an eccentric
character, for such indeed he was. On hearing of Widow Doran's distress,
he gave orders that a portion of each meal should be regularly sent
down to her and her son; and from that period forward they were both
supported principally from his table.

"In this way some months had passed, and still Vengeance was undisturbed
in his farm. It often happened, however, that Doran's other son came
to see his brother; and during these visits it was but natural that
his mother and brother should allude to the kindness which they daily
experienced from Vesey.

"One night, about twelve o'clock, a tap came to Widow Doran's door, who
happened to be attending the invalid, as he was then nearly in the last
stage of his illness. When she opened it, the other son entered, in an
evident hurry, having the appearance of a man who felt deep and serious
anxiety.

"'Mother,' said he, 'I was very uneasy entirely about Mick, and just
started over to see him, although they don't know at home that I'm out,
so I can't stay a crack; but I wish you would go to the door for two or
three minutes, as I have something to say to him.'

"'Why, thin, Holy Mother!--Jack, a-hagur, is there anything the matther,
for you look as if you had seen something?'*

* This phrase means--you look as if you had seen a
ghost; it is a very common one.

"'Nothing worse than myself, mother,' he replied; 'nor there's nothing
the matther at all--only I have a few words to say to Mick here, that's
all.'

"The mother accordingly removed herself out of hearing.

"'Mick,' says the boy, 'this is a bad business--I wish to God I was
clear and clane out of it.'

"'What is it?' said Mick, alarmed. "' Murther, I'm afeard, if God
doesn't turn it off of them, somehow.

"'What do you mane, man, at all?' said th