with me? He shall be well cared for under the stars and stripes. I'll
give him fair pay and good usage. Fact is, I am in want of a smart lad,
who has got his say-legs, to wait upon myself and a few extra
cabin-passengers. I like the cut of the boy's jib, so say yes or no--
how is it to be? It will be for the lad's good?"

"Arrah, good luck to ye, cousin, darlint, let me go! It has been the
wish of my heart, slapin' and wakin', this many a long day! Let me go,
and sorra a rap I'll spind of the lashings of goold Cousin Lanty will
give me, but bring every pinny home safe and sound, just as he puts it
into my hand!"

"You offer fair and honest," says my cousin. "It's true for you, it
would be for the boy's good--far better than his wasting his time
dredging and coasting about here; but--what would his mother say?"

"Wal," said the stranger, "I have done a good many pretty considerable
difficult things in my time, but as to my being able to tell you what
his mother, or any other female woman of the feminine persuasion, would
be likely to _say_, my hand won't run to that; so, rather than play the
game out, I'll hand in my cards. What I want to know is, what _you_
mean to say to it; and you must be smart making up your mind, for the
_Brother Jonathan_ will trip her anchor bright and early in the morning!
Yes, sir-ree!"

To cut the matter short, boys, the Yankee skipper gave my cousin enough
in advance to find me in the slops I wanted; and I felt as if I could
lep over the moon for joy when I saw the ship's articles signed, and
myself rated, at fair wages, as cabin-boy for the outward and return
trips.

The ould people lived some twenty miles inland, so there was no chance
of seeing them to bid good-by; and maybe that was all for the best, as
it wasn't till the hurry and bustle of buying my kit was over, and I got
fairly on boord, that the thought of my father and mother, little Norah
and Patsey, came across my mind; and when it did, the joy I felt at
getting the great wish of my heart gratified--sailing in an elegant
three-master--with more people on boord her (she was an emigrant ship)
than there was in my own native village, and a dozen besides--turned
into unfeigned sorrow at parting from them; and, for the life of me, I
couldn't close my eyes all night, because of the scalding hot tears that
would force their way from under the lids.

But boys are boys, and sorrow sits lightly on young hearts; and it's a
bl