"I cannot ate," said he, and he looked imploringly on the farmer and his
wife, whilst the tears started to his eyes--"don't ax me, for my heart's
wid them I left behind me, that I may never see agin!" and he wept in a
burst of grief which he could not restrain.
Neither the strength nor tenderness of the lad's affection was
unappreciated by this excellent couple. In a moment the farmer's wife
was also in tears; nor did her husband break the silence for some
minutes.
"The Almighty pity an' strengthen him!" said the farmer's wife, "but
he has the good an' the kind heart, an' would be a credit to any
family.--Whisht, acushla machree--whisht, we won't ax you to ate--no
indeed. It was out o' kindness we did it: don't be cast down aither;
sure it isn't the ocean you're crossin'; but goin' from one county
like to another. God 'll guard an' take care o' you, so he will. Your
intintion's good, an' he'll prosper it."
"He will, avick," said the farmer himself--"he will. Cheer up, my good
boy! I know thim that's larned an' creditable clargy this day, that went
as you're goin'--ay, an' that ris an' helped their parents, an' put them
above poverty an' distress; an' never fear, wid a blessin', but you'll
do the same."
"That's what brings me at all," replied the boy, drying his tears; "if
I was once able to take them out o' their distresses, I'd be happy: only
I'm afeard the cares o' the world will break my father's heart before I
have it in my power to assist him.
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