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his pillow, "Here," said he, "you will find

J

some things relating to one whom you have so acceptably served. Please take this ring-I wear the diamond still-nay, it is a dying man that asks. I might have choice as to a place of rest; but any quiet spot among the hills or along the shore will suffice. Thrice thanks, then, kind doctor,-and now, farewell!"

Here he turned his face to the wall; and, save that I heard, or thought I heard, the names of some who are mentioned in the following narrative, he never uttered word

more.

I did not go away, however, but sat quietly on, while thoughts appropriate to the solemn occasion kept thronging on my mind. At last, noiselessly rising, I bent over the bed; but already the spirit was fled, leaving the same sweet expression on the countenance it had worn in life. I left the room with the

involuntary precaution one uses towards the gentle dead. "There," said I, as I softly closed

the door

"there lies the mortal residue of a

good and pious man!" But it was not till I found myself at home, my singular gifts before me, that I was able to divest myself of a certain choking sensation which assailed me, I knew not well how or why.

There now ensued a sickly time among the hills; and it was long ere I had leisure to accompany my nephew to the great city for the purpose of initiating him into the first mysteries of his profession. This at length accomplished, I proceeded to spend my leisure at the house of an old friend. We had gathered round a blazing sea-coal fire; and that famous contrivance, a dumb-waiter, spared us the infliction of

servants.

In the course of conversation I came to relate the incidents already detailed.

"Did you never think of bringing it out?" said a little man, with rubicund visage and double chin, an eminent publisher in the city. "Bringing what out?" it was now my turn, somewhat surprised, to exclaim.

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"Why, The Irish Priest,'" rejoined the publisher.

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'Never,” replied I: "" 'No Irish,' you know, 'need apply.'

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Pooh, pooh," cried the little man;

"send

it me, and I shall see what I can do. And, doctor, will you just jot down some of those matters you have been telling us about?"

I did so. And now, thou precious reader, the very soul of him who traced these lines accosts thee from the page!

* Νω Οΐρισχ νεεδ ἁππλοῖ. Sic Pind. in Schol.

THE

IRISH PRIEST.

BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.

My first recollections are those of a busy, bustling community, in which my immediate relatives and some domestic animals performed their part. To creep out in morning's prime, to listen to the birds' song, to feel the wind on my cheek or amid my clustering hair, were among the greatest, as they were the earliest, of my enjoyments.

My father's humble means sufficed; we had enough-albeit none to spare. Potatoes, with the occasional relish of salted fish or bacon, constituted our simple fare.

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