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more than to father and mother.

Yet we daily see

marriages contracted in which it is not possible such a union could exist; where the dissimilarity of education, habits, tastes, or natural dispositions render it impossible for even a union in religious sentiments to produce that full harmony of heart necessary to the idea of two becoming one. From this cause I have seen much deficiency of affection and happiness in marriages, where each party possessed qualities capable of rendering them blessings in domestic life with a more suitable companion, Who can expect a blessing on a state entered into without a due regard to the declared will and intention of God!

35

RECOLLECTIONS OF IRELAND.

No. VI.

A PARISH HISTORY.

THE case is simply this,' said the curate: When I set out on the journey from which I am now returning, I arranged all its stages in my own mind previously; for one so little used to travelling, may, even in these days, be excused for feeling a little sort of nervous apprehension regarding a seat on the top of a coach, and, to avoid the expense of one inside it, I resolved to take poor old Dodger as my sole conveyance, and to stop each night at houses where I was assured of a cead-mil failthele to all they had to give. On approaching your county, I own, however, I found that in one respect I had been sadly deficient in the foresight on which I prided myself. It was the fair day, and I found I had to travel perhaps seven or eight miles at an hour which on such an evening could not be considered a safe one. I revolved, therefore in my mind the prudence of stopping till morning in the town; but the idea of spending the night at a noisy and public inn, which,

as I did not know a creature there, I must have done, counterbalanced the fear of assault, and I proceeded.

'A little out of the town, I perceived three men walking before me; and the suspicions of danger which probably arose from the consciousness that I had then upon my person nearly all my store of worldly goods, in the shape of cash to defray the expenses of my journey, made me keep an anxious eye upon them. I saw two of them were evidently intoxicated, and appeared to behave in that rude and reckless manner which made me much wish to avoid their path but poor Dodger was already tired, and therefore I thought it most advisable to linger behind, especially as I must turn off the cross-roads, to the friend's house where I intended to rest that night, and I hoped it might be their purpose to continue straight on.

'Before long, however, an altercation ensued between them, and after some disputation, the object of which appeared to be to prevent the most respectable-looking of the party from returning; one man turned back and ran towards the town. I felt a little uneasy at first, but I soon saw that I was not the object of his notice. The other two continued some short distance further, but on coming to the cross-roads at which I designed to turn off, the younger abruptly bade his companion good night. The other put out his hand with the intention, it seemed, of catching the breast of his coat, but failed in his object, and murmuring something indistinctly, staggered to the other side of the way. I was then close behind them; for being glad to find myself so near the road by which I was to leave the public one,

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I had come on faster than I did before. I am quite certain that I heard the words, Good night, Pat.' A glance at the countenance of the speaker reconciled me to taking the same road with him; indeed it was just the countenance in which you would hope you could not be mistaken-open, honest, and generous. I thought it expedient to join his company, and from his first salutation I saw he took me for a priest. I was not altogether disinclined to let him think me so; in the first place it would afford me a safe convoy, and next, it gave me the oportunity of conveying to my companion much truth which might be received with prejudice, if known to be uttered by a Protestant clergyman.

As he conversed without any respect to party, it was not until we were near parting that I discovered he too was a Protestant. It was in consequence of my endeavouring to shew him the injury that often arose from frequenting such places as he had first come from, that he told me, with perfect candour, of the manner in which he had been situated with respect to his companions, of his circumstances in the parish, and his object in coming to the fair, a step which he appeared on the whole to regret. As soon as he mentioned his name, I recollected having seen him here about a year ago; but as I saw he did not discover me, I did not make myself known, intending on my return here to give him a surprise. Poor fellow! had I foreseen what was before him! and, perhaps, had he known who I was, he might have employed me as a witness in his favour.'

'How wonderful are the ways of Providence!' said the rector, devoutly clasping his hands.

'But what is to be done?' I asked.

'Oh! do try,' Nanny articulated, and looked in all our faces without saying more.

'I will gallop over to R——,' said Mr. Hastings. 'Oh! thank you,' Nanny cried most earnestly, but her look expressed more than her words.

'I will go instantly,' Mr. Hastings rejoined, putting his hand on the bell.

6

No, Hastings,' said the rector, it will do no good.'

'No good!--my dear sir, surely'

'It would not,' said the curate, who had sat with his hands on his knees, and his head projected towards the fire, and his eyes intently fixed.

'And what then do you choose to have done, sir?' the young man demanded in an offended tone.

'Irwin must go himself,' said the rector, with the calmness and decision that always characterized him; and I will not even propose that you or I should accompany him. He will not be suspected as a stranger, and therefore be far safer alone than if attended by any one from this house.' As he said this, he walked into the hall, and soon returned with the tidings that the night was still a dismal one, the wind very high, and rain falling in torrents. The curate rose from his chair, and holding his red hands over the fire, looked at Nanny's anxious countenance, and asked if she thought his coat would be dry?

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You need not think of putting it on yet, Irwin,' said the rector: the night is so dark you would gain nothing in point of time by setting off now.

In

a few hours day will dawn, and then the storm may abate.'

And what shall I do till then?'

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