ready for distribution. I produced my
certificate, and received 167 pounds for my share. So it's come at
last, thought I.

"I had never had such a handful of money in my life. I thought of my
mother, and of the cows, and the pig, and the furniture, all gone; and
of my brothers and sisters wanting praties, and I made a vow that I'd
send every farthing of it to them, after which Father McGrath would no
longer think of not giving me absolution. So I sent them every doit,
only reserving for myself the pay which I had received, amounting to
about 30 pounds: and I never felt more happy in my life than when it was
safe in the post-office, and fairly out of my hands. I wrote a bit of a
letter to my father at the time, which was to this purpose:--

"`HONOURED FATHER,--Since our last pleasant meeting, at which you threw
the stool at my head, missing the pigeon and hitting the crow, I have
been dead and buried, but am now quite well, thank God, and want no
absolution from Father McGrath, bad luck to him. And what's more to the
point, I have just received a batch of prize-money, the first I have
handled since I have served His Majesty, and every farthing of which I
now send to you, that you may get back your old cows, and the pig, and
all the rest of the articles seized to pay for my fitting-out; I'm a
true O'Brien, tell my mother, and don't mane to turn Protestant, but
uphold the religion of my country; although the devil may take Father
McGrath and his holy water to boot. I sha'n't come and see you, as
perhaps you may have another stool ready for my head, and may take
better aim next time. So no more at present from your affectionate son,

"`Terence O'Brien.'

"About three weeks afterwards I received a letter from my father,
telling me that I was a real O'Brien, and that if any one dared hint to
the contrary, he would break every bone in his body: that they had
received the money, and thanked me for a real gentleman as I was; that I
should have the best stool in the house next time I came, not for my
head, but for my tail; that Father McGrath sent me his blessing, and had
given me absolution for all I had done, or should do for the next ten
years to come; that my mother had cried with joy at my dutiful
behaviour: and that all my brothers and sisters (bating Tim, who had
died the day after I left them) wished me good luck, and plenty more
prize-money to send home to them.

"This was all very pleasant; and I had nothi