boiling the potatoes in, or heating water for all and every household purpose. A wooden vessel, termed a piggin, for milk; half a pitcher, and three broken plates, formed the whole stock of domestic utensils. In one corner of the adjoining room was the shake-down of the founders of the family, and in its opposite the "vehicle" of Murty Mahoney, answering the double purposes of "a hod by day, a chicken-roost by night." The pig, claiming rank superior even to that of "Misther Mahoney" himself, adopted, for the scene of his repose, whatever unoccupied space happened to suit his fancy for the time being; nor was any remonstrance offered, when caprice led him to require a share of the shake-down.

It may be supposed that Mahoney had not long occupied his seat by the fire side, before he was informed of the visit of the English gentleman, together with his magnificent offers touching Barney, and the wonderful and unlooked-for luck of the latter in being their object; proving, as his mother declared, that after all the b'y was born to grace;" and she asserted, that she had expected all along something or other would happen, for that she had dreamed three times running, only last week, having

seen him standing with a rope round his neck, and father O'Connor by his side, ready to make a clean job of him.

"An' that's a drame, shoorely, for one sort o' luck! ye fool ye," said her husband; "what can you make out o' such a drame as that, and I'll throuble ye?"

"Ah, shoore, an' isn't it be conthraries them things goes always; an' issent it a sign he'll be a grate man an' a pride to his family, an' be goin' to England all de way. Dear knows, I little thought to see Barney taken a fancy to, an' that's God's thruth."

"Ah! its to be hoped no harum 'll come to him, the gossoon!" returned the father, sighing. "Now, Barney, aboughil yees hear to me, an' be a good b'y, darlint, and don't give way to low company and bad coorses, but ever an' always keep stiddy an' handy; and who knows, but in time, you may come to be valley de sham to some great lord or other. An' d'ye hear me a vick? Remimber de brothers and sisthers ye lave behind yees, an' niver miss to do them a like good turn, if it comes in yeer way, dy'e see Barney; an' honor yer mother an' me; an' mind what de priest sed last Sunday, to keep yer hands from pickin' an' stalin'; an', above all,

keep clear o' de English girls, Barney, or yees is as good as ruined, so you is."

"An' Barney, my heart!" interposed the mother, "remimber de honor o' de family, an' don't do nothin' to disgrace us, and keep yer oun counsel 'avourneen, for there's many 'll ax questions of yees only to jeer, an' put their comehether upon you, darlint; an' keep a civil tongue, an' a cool answer for all questions; an' doan't be flourishin' de shilela de way de b'ys does here, for de English does n't understand dem ways, an' you'd may be get throuble thro' it, so you would."

Long after Barney had sunk to repose, the paternal and maternal lecture continued to be addressed to the sleeping object of their anxiety. Barney had heard as much as he cared to listen to, and more than he considered needful. In youth, health, and vigour, he was entering upon a career, which, to his vision, bore only the aspect of unmixed success and prosperity. He had but one feeling approaching to anxiety on his mind; and this was, that Mr. Stapleton might forget his promised visit of the following day. On this subject, however, disappointment did not await him. That gentleman appeared, to repeat his offers of protection, and to receive the ready assent of the grateful parents.

The

business was soon concluded. Mr. Stapleton announced his intended departure for England in three days; merely requiring that Barney should assume his most respectable suit for the journey, and promising to take upon himself the charge of clothing him when they should arrive in London. The reversion of his wardrobe conferred considerable delight upon the two halfnaked younger brothers, to whom it was adjudged. And as Barney, notwithstanding his mother's dreams, and his own open countenance, caused some affliction to his father in his unlimited consumption of the "prates,"-had acquired a trick of contradicting and thwarting his mother to the utmost verge of his power and her forbearance; and had, moreover, a habit of cuffing and kicking his sisters and younger brothers, and quarrelling with the elder ones; if the truth must be confessed, his departure was witnessed by the whole family with something very nearly approaching to feelings of joy.

CHAPTER II.

The Merchant's Family.

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ON arriving in London, Mr. Stapleton proceeded to his residence in Finsbury Square, with his protegée. There, his return home was greeted by a joyful welcome from the worthy partner of his fortune and affection, his only daughter, and his younger son, Charles; the elder, William Stapleton, being absent on business relative to the firm of "Stapleton, Goodlad, and Co.," in which firm he was a junior partner.

Mrs. Stapleton, at the time I introduce her to my readers, was a comely, portly dame, of some fifty odd years; of cheerful countenance and gentle temper, for the world had gone well with her. She still retained the remains of that beauty which had been the first point of attraction to her husband. She possessed the pleasing consciousness of having performed her relative duties of daughter and wife in an exemplary and irreproachable manner. It had never occurred to her own temper to thwart any wish of