men, women, or were it tender infancy, stealing through street or lane, ready to sell body and soul for bread! No shivering children fronting driving rain and pitiless storm-beggary, misery, intemperance, crime, with all their sad abettors, fled. I turned to thank Cornelius for the emotions he had inspired; but he was already gone.

THE LABOURER'S HOME.

IN a few days I waited on my friends; it was to take my leave. I had been ordered to the south, and perchance should revisit Dublin no moré. "Fear not," exclaimed Cornelius, “I shall be faithful to the end; the interests of the poor and oppressed shall be to me as those of my own soul."

In effect, he repaired shortly after to his estates, and, convening his tenants, informed them of his designs. They, he expected, would

perform their part; he should not fail in his. Labourers were engaged in force; a field was drained, while substantial refreshments from time to time were handed round. At night,

wages, more liberal than had ever been known before, were handed over in full.

Superior instructors were set to work in the schools; and the little ones, their tasks well done, were dismissed each with a sturdy hunch in hand, happy to learn on the terms, and firmly resolved to return on the morrow.

Artisans were collected, and well-arranged cottages erected. In short, there was no single projected improvement that Cornelius did not set about without delay; for he had, above most men, the deep conviction of life's short span, and of the necessity of prosecuting our designs on the instant. Costly time was not wasted in idle words; what was clearly thought was promptly done.

.

The people were delighted—they were enchanted! Inexperienced, ignorant, they had been suspicious at first; but soon happiness sat on every brow, blessings poured from every tongue! With comfort, the inclination was awakened to retain it. The doctor, on the principle that prevention is better than cure, took sickness by the forelock, and the immunity from disease became altogether unprecedented. Good food, and plenty of it, averted fever- -warm clothing, inflammation and other maladies. Superior dwellings replaced, as if by magic, the miserable hovels of the poor; trim fields and gardens, with a hearty, contented peasantry, sterility and grim despair. Cornelius paid the rector his tithes, the priest his dues, the presbyterian minister his stipend, the methodist preacher his salary; for each was satisfied to receive his conventional hire, without driving the unwilling or coercing the destitute. His expenditure in

M

these several directions might be some three or four thousand a-year; but the princely outlay, for he held himself the steward of his means, was well repaid. Rents were handed in with hilarious alacrity- no process-serving, no distraining, no eviction of tenants, no unroofing of houses. Sharp practitioners had to take themselves off, or seek other employment; publicans, pawnbrokers, were fain to close their doors. Then, O Cornelius, wast thou happy; didst enjoy the God-like privilege of doing good, and of setting an example which, if followed, would convert Ireland into an Eden, and banish misery, want, and blasting strife, for ever!

THE LOT OF THE JUST.

SADLY contrasting with Cornelius, a neighbouring landlord, in concert with his agent, was guilty of every base and mean infliction on his

hapless tenantry. Lawsuits, distraining, with all the low machinery of petty oppression, were in daily requisition. Opposed in religionreligion, forsooth-as in politics, to his vassals, he esteemed them but as materials for his appetites and pleasures.

This man, if his vaunting could be depended on, was not deficient in courage; but, whether or no, he omitted no ingredient of security. Heavily accoutred himself, he was constantly escorted by armed followers; while door and window, like too many in Ireland to this day, were secured by bolt and bar. Of and to the peasantry, he spoke in terms of infamous discourtesy. friend's position and force of character constrained a semblance of respect; but, out of his presence, he lost no opportunity to deride his

measures.

My

The riband conspiracy was now at its height; but this, with its aiders and abettors, Rix, such