,,live ,,to ,,be ,,useful               
,,or1         ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,annie
 ,,lee ,,and             ,,her ,,irish  
,,nurse4                  ,decoration   
,,thomas ,,nelson ,,and ,,sons  ,london1
 ,edinburgh1 ,dublin1 and ,new ,york    
#aiac     ,illustration3 ,annorah       
turned1 and saw the shadow of a man on  
the sloping rock4  ,page #be4     ,,live
 ,,to ,,be ,,useful4     ,,chapter ,i4  
,,annie',s ,,plan4   ,annie ,lee was a  
cripple4 ,until her eighth summer she   
had been strong and well1 like most     
other children2 but then disease began  
to appear1 and although she had skilful 
doctors and kind nurses1 it was soon too
 plain that she was never to be well    
again4  ,five years of pain and weakness
 had been her portion at the time our   
story commences4 ,so accustomed had she 
become to her sad situation1 that it    
seemed like a delusive dream when she   
remembered the sportive hours of her    
earlier childhood4 ,like other sick     
children1 she was far more thoughtful   

than was quite natural at her age1 and  
very seldom in her easiest moments      
laughed aloud4 ,but she was not an      
unhappy child4  ,as soon as she was old 
enough to understand that she had a     
sinful heart and needed salvation1 she  
had earnestly sought the ,saviour of    
sinners1 and had been graciously        
received by him1 and made a lamb of his 
flock4 ,in the school of ,christ she    
learned to bear pain without murmuring1 
and to submit with cheerfulness to her  
lot in life4 ,instead of requiring      
comfort from her parents1 who seemed to 
realize her misfortune more fully than  
she did herself1 she became their       
consoler1 and rarely failed in her      
efforts to lighten their sorrow on her  
account4  ,it might have been so much   
worse1 mamma1 she said one day1 when    
,mrs4 ,lee was lamenting her condition4 
,only think of poor lame ,phelim1 ,biddy
 ,dillon's little boy4  ,what is the    
matter with him8 asked her mother4      
,have you not seen him8 ,he is often in 

the back-yard when ,biddy comes to wash 
in the kitchen4 ,i've watched him often4
 ,i think it was before he came to this 
country--but ,i'm not sure--that a large
 stone1 falling from a wall1 so mangled 
his poor limbs that one of them had to  
be cut off4 ,i never see him limping    
about on his crutches while ,biddy is   
washing without thanking ,god for my    
happier fate4  ,why1 ,annie1 it is not  
probable that he suffers one-half as    
much as you do4  ,as much pain1 do you  
mean1 mamma8  ,yes4  ,i wasn't thinking 
of that4 ,they are very poor2 and if he 
lives to be a man1 how can he earn the  
comforts of life8 ,i need have no care  
on that account4  ,i daresay he has     
none4 ,there are several trades that he 
might learn which require a sitting     
posture2 he might be a shoemaker1 for   
instance4 ,do not fret on his account1  
,annie4  ,it seems to me1 mamma1 replied
 ,annie1 with a thoughtful air1 that his
 only prospect for the future is to be  
pushed about here and there in the      

crowd1 until at last he finds a refuge  
in the grave4  ,what foolish fancies6   
said ,mrs4 ,lee1 rising1 as a noise in  
the yard below attracted her to the     
window4 ,we know nothing about the      
future1 and it is not quite right to    
make ourselves sad about it4 ,it is     
hardly like your usual trust in ,god1 to
 be thus imagining trouble4 ,there's a  
little lame boy in the yard1 who1 ,i    
suppose1 is ,phelim2 he seems happy     
enough4 ,hark6 don't you hear him sing8 
,he is sitting on the bench behind the  
clothes-frame1 and his mother is hanging
 out the clothes to dry4 ,don't you hear
 her laugh at what he is singing8  ,what
 is it1 mamma8 ,can you hear the words8 
asked ,annie1 brightening up1 and       
raising herself on her elbow as she lay 
on her low couch4  ,i hear them very    
well2 but his ,irish gibberish is as    
,greek to me4 ,all that ,i can make out 
is what seems to be the chorus3      ',o
 ,ireland1 green ,ireland1              
,swate gem o' the sae6'  ,mamma1 said   

,annie1 after listening with smiling    
interest a while1 it troubles me very   
often because ,phelim knows nothing     
about our ,saviour4 ,he has a sister1   
two years older than ,i am1 who cannot  
read4 ,she never went to school2 and    
none of the family can read a word4     
,how did you learn this8  ,from ,phelim4
 ,i speak to him sometimes when he plays
 under the window4  ,well1 ,i don't know
 how we can help them4 ,if we should    
offer to teach them1 they would not be  
willing to learn4  ,are you sure of it1 
mamma8  ,not quite so sure1 perhaps1 as 
if ,i had tried to instruct them2 but ,i
 know that they regard a book as a sort 
of ,protestant trap1 made on purpose to 
catch them1 soul and body4 ,it is an    
evil that we cannot remedy4--,have you  
more pain than usual1 my dear8 said     
,mrs4 ,lee1 appearing a little startled1
 and bending anxiously over ,annie's    
couch as she observed an unusual flush  
on her pale cheek4  ,no1 mamma2 but ,i  
was thinking of a plan that ,i have had 

for some weeks1 and hoping that you     
would not object to it4  ,object6 ,you  
shall have whatever you like1 if it can 
be procured4 ,what is it1 ,annie8  ,oh1 
dear mamma1 said ,annie1 ,i do so long  
to do some good6 ,i cannot bear to live 
such a useless life4 ,every day1 when ,i
 feel the goodness of ,god and his great
 love to me1 ,i long to do something for
 him4 ,and ,i think1 mamma1 that ,i have
 planned a way to do good without       
getting off my sofa4  ,you are always   
doing good1 ,annie4 ,do you suppose that
 your patience under suffering is not a 
lesson to us in our smaller trials8     
,there are many ways in which you are a 
blessing to us all2 so do not weary     
yourself with new schemes4 ,if ,god had 
required active service from you1 he    
would have given you health and         
strength4  ,but ,i can do something1    
mamma4 ,please to hear my plan4 ,i want 
to tell you something more about        
,phelim's sister4 ,she has been ,mrs4   
,green's servant1 and her business was  

to assist in the nursery4 ,she would    
have done nicely1 ,phelim says1 but for 
her violent temper4 ,last week one of   
the children was cross and provoking1   
and the girl got angry and pushed him   
down-stairs4 ,he was much bruised2 and1 
of course1 she was dismissed at once4   
,i should hope so4 ,but your plan1      
,annie8  ,the poor girl has no place1   
mamma1 and1 with such a dreadful temper1
 is not likely to get one soon4 ,and    
they are very poor4 ,i know that since  
,jessie left us1 you are too closely    
confined here with me2 and my plan is to
 have this poor girl to wait on me1     
and--  ,why1 ,annie1 what a wild        
project6 interrupted her mother4 ,you   
must not think of it4 ,she would be     
throwing you out of the window1 or      
beating you to a jelly1 in her first fit
 of ill-temper4  ,oh no1 she won't1     
mamma1 urged ,annie4 ,she will not be so
 easily vexed here1 and no one is ever  
angry with me4 ,please to try her4  ,are
 you really in earnest1 ,annie8  ,yes2  

and very anxious to be indulged in my   
strange plan4  ,have you thought how    
awkward she will be in assisting you8   
,i have thought of it all1 over and     
over1 replied ,annie1 and ,i think she  
will make a good nurse for me4  ,mrs4   
,lee hesitated a long time4 ,she could  
not bear to deny ,annie1 and could not  
overcome her dislike to the proposed    
arrangement4 ,but ,annie's pleading look
 at length decided her4  ,you wish very 
much to try this wild-goose plan6 she   
said1 resuming the conversation4  ,very 
much1 mamma1 replied ,annie4  ,well1 you
 shall have your own way about it4 ,it  
will last but a few days1 ,i am sure2   
and the change will interest you at any 
rate1 poor thing6 ,then going to the    
window1 she looked down into the yard1  
and said1 ,mrs4 ,dillon1 come up to     
,miss ,annie's room1 will you8  ,in a   
minute the woman made her appearance at 
the door1 with the suds still lingering 
in foamy flakes upon her arms and along 
the folds of her apron4  ,you have a    

daughter1 ,i believe8 said ,mrs4 ,lee4  
,two of them1 an' ye plaze1 ma'am1      
replied ,biddy1 wiping her arms as she  
spoke4  ,are they both at home8  ,it's  
,bessie that is in service2 and it's    
only ,annorah that's at home1 shure4    
,what is ,annorah doing8 inquired ,mrs4 
,lee4  ,doing8 repeated ,biddy          
wonderingly4  ,i mean1 how does she get 
her living8  ,at service too1 ma'am1    
when it is to be had4 ,but1 shure1 it's 
a bad timper she has1 and will sthrike  
and scold whin her blood is up4 ,an' she
 has lost the fine1 comfortable place   
she had with ,mrs4 ,green1 jist for a   
thrifle of spaach4  ,that is            
unfortunate4  ,oh1 thin1 ye may well say
 that4 ,anither mouth in a family like  
me own is far from convenient whin the  
cost of the mate and the flour is beyond
 raach intirely4  ,well1 ,biddy1 ,miss  
,annie wants some one to wait on her in 
the place of ,jessie1 who has gone4 ,she
 has taken a fancy to try your girl4    
,when can she come8  ,coom6 ,why1 this  

very hour1 an' ye like4 ,a blessin' on  
yer swate1 pale face6 said ,biddy1      
looking pityingly towards ,annie4  ,she 
must be gentler here1 said ,mrs4 ,lee2  
she must govern her temper4 ,miss ,annie
 must not be excited and made worse by  
your girl's fits of ill-humour4  ,leave 
her to me1 mamma1 said ,annie4 ,i think1
 ,mrs4 ,dillon1 that there will be no   
trouble4 ,what did you say is her name8 
,annorah1 an' ye plaze1 miss4  ,annorah8
 ,very well4 ,when shall she come1      
mamma8  ,not until ,monday1 ,i think1   
replied ,mrs4 ,lee4 ,then turning to    
,mrs4 ,dillon1 she added1 ,you may send 
her on ,monday4  ,an' she gets a mad    
streak along o' that pritty crathur1    
said ,mrs4 ,biddy1 as she went          
down-stairs1 she desarves the warm      
bating she'll get from her own mother at
 home4     ,,chapter ,,ii4  ,,annorah',s
 ,,first ,,appearance ,,in ,,the        
,,sick-,,room4   ,monday came1 and      
,annorah came too4 ,it was with a       
doubting heart and a troubled look that 

,mrs4 ,lee introduced her into her      
daughter's chamber4 ,it would be        
difficult to find a plainer-looking or a
 more awkward girl4  ,mrs4 ,lee looked  
at the monstrous foot in its heavy shoe1
 and at the thick1 freckled hands1 that 
seemed incapable of the gentle services 
that ,annie's helplessness required1 and
 wondered at her own folly in indulging 
the singular caprice of her daughter4   
,but a single look at ,annie assured her
 that she1 at least1 felt no misgivings4
 ,still1 she did not like to leave them 
by themselves until she had tested the  
new attendant's ability4  ,annorah1 she 
said1 what sort of work can you do8 ,i'm
 afraid you are not used to such        
services as ,miss ,annie will require4  
,i can do most anything1 ma'am1 answered
 the girl resolutely4  ,indeed6 ,well1  
let me see how you would manage to place
 ,annie on the bed when she is tired of 
the sofa4  ,the words were scarcely out 
of her mouth before ,annorah had lifted 
the frail form of the invalid in her    

arms and deposited her in the middle of 
the bed4 ,annie burst into such a laugh 
as she had not indulged in for a year4  
,i think you may be satisfied1 mamma1   
she said2 ,i never was moved easier4    
,mrs4 ,lee began to think better of     
,annie's plan1 and joined quite         
cordially in her daughter's mirth4  ,and
 if she were too tired to rest in any   
position1 what would you do8  ,carry her
 to the windows1 or out in the air1 for 
a change4--,will ye plaze to thry it1   
,miss ,annie8  ,not now1 ,annorah4 ,then
 looking towards her mother1 she said1  
,mamma1 you may be easy2 ,annorah and ,i
 shall get on famously together4  ,thus 
assured1 ,mrs4 ,lee left them1 and went 
down-stairs with a better opinion of the
 rough ,irish girl than she had thought 
it possible to entertain an hour        
previous4  ,left by themselves1 the two 
girls began to form an acquaintance with
 each other4 ,two persons more unlike   
could not have been brought together4   
,annorah was evidently much interested  

in her young charge1 and felt the most  
unbounded sympathy in her sufferings4   
,annie spoke first4  ,please draw my    
couch nearer the window1 ,annorah4 ,that
 will do4 ,now1 sit down on this low    
stool1 and tell me how long it is since 
you left ,ireland4  ,it's two years1    
miss1 coom ,april4  ,so lately8 ,then   
you remember all about the old country8 
,remember6 ,an' it's me that'll niver   
forget that same4 ,the beautiful        
counthree it is6  ,pleasanter than this1
 do you think8  ,a thousand times4      
,there is no place in the world like it2
 the dear ould counthree6  ,why1 then1  
did you leave it1 ,annorah8  ,bad luck  
we had1 miss2 and a worse luck intirely 
here1 the mane town that this is4  ,tell
 me all about it4  ,what for8 ,that ye1 
too1 may laugh like the rest1 and call  
us the mane1 dirty set of ,irish        
vagabonds8 asked the girl1 her small    
eyes kindling with a sense of imaginary 
insult4  ,no1 no1 ,annorah4 ,you don't  
think ,i would say such things1 do you8 

,but you need not tell me a word if you 
had rather not4 ,i only thought it would
 make me forget my pain for a little    
time2 and1 besides1 ,i love dearly to   
hear about ,ireland1 or any place where 
,i have never been1 said ,annie1 with a 
tone of voice so calm and earnest that  
the girl could not doubt her sincerity4 
,do you1 in truth8 ,why1 thin1 it's me  
that'll talk till ,i hoarse meself dumb 
for yer good4 ,it was the famine1 miss1 
that came first1 and stole the bit o'   
food that was saved4 ,the praties were  
rotten in the field2 and the poor pigs  
starved that should have helped us out  
wi' the rint4 ,och1 but it was a sore   
time o' grief whin sorra a mouthful were
 left for the bit childer and the ould  
people who were weak before wi' ould    
age6 ,in the worst time o' all1 whin the
 need was the sorest1 our ,bessie got   
into disgrace1 and came home from       
service wi' niver a penny to help       
herself or us4 ,there was nought to do  
and nought to eat at all4 ,the          

neighbours were faint wi' the hoonger2  
and so1 before the worst came1 we left  
all that was dear and came here4  ,how  
many of you came1 ,annorah8  ,nine1     
miss1 if we consider our uncles and     
cousins4 ,we did not come altogether2   
brother ,john1 who is dead1 and uncle   
,mike1 came first4 ,and a fine chance to
 work they got directly1 miss2 and then 
they sent money to pay the old folk's   
passage4 ,our hearts gathered coorage   
and strength at once1 miss1 and we      
thought1 shure1 the great throubles were
 over4 ,but the next vessel brought the 
bad news for us1 and we forgot the      
glimmer of hope we had2 for it was our  
own father dear who was dead o' the     
cholera4  ,poor ,annorah6 exclaimed     
,annie pityingly4  ,poor indade6 ,but   
soon came the money for the rest2 and   
much as we feared the deep wathers1 the 
hoonger still pressed on us1 and the    
sickness was every day striking down the
 stoutest1 and so we all left ,ireland  
but ,bessie4  ,did you like the passage 

across from ,ireland8  ,no1 indade4     
,were you sea-sick8  ,no1 miss4 ,but we 
came in the steerage2 and a crowded1    
dirthy place it was4 ,the dirt was not  
so bad1 for in the ould counthree it    
ofttimes gets the betther o' us2 but the
 men were either drunk or ill-nathured1 
and the women quarrelled1 and the young 
ones were aye cross or sick2 and a bad  
time they made of it all4  ,did you come
 directly here8  ,no2 we stayed where we
 landed for seven weeks1 till we got    
word to our cousin4  ,and since you have
 been here1 ,annorah1 what have you been
 doing8 ,have you been to school8  ,no2 
the praste forbade4  ,poor thing6 ,then 
you cannot read8  ,how should ,i know   
reading1 ,i'd like to know8 ,who would  
teach me that same8  ,many good people  
would like to do it1 if you would like  
to learn4  ,i'm ower knowin' for that1  
miss1 replied ,annorah1 with a glance   
which betrayed that she was rather      
suspicious of ,annie's good intentions4 
,it's a mighty pity that readin' was    

contrived at all1 for it's the books    
that makes the black heretics o' us4    
',let alone the books and the readin'1' 
said ,father ,m',clane to me last       
evening1 'and confess to me faithfully  
all that ye hear in the grand           
,protestant family1 an' all will go well
 wi' ye1 ,annorah1' says he1 'now and   
for evermore4'  ,annie laughed          
pleasantly4 ,and so you are to play the 
spy and the tattler2 and however kindly 
we may treat you1 you are to report all 
our sayings and doings to the priest8 ,i
 don't believe1 ,annorah1 that you can  
be mean enough for that1 if you try4 ,i 
thought the ,irish people were too      
generous to act so low a part4  ,an' so 
we are1 shure4 ,sorra a bit will the    
praste get from me about you here4  ,if 
he were a good man1 a noble1 honourable 
man1 said ,annie1 do you think he would 
ask you--  ,he's the praste6 interrupted
 ,annorah1 her eyes flashing2 the       
praste1 is ,father ,m',clane4 ,an' ye   
mind to spake well o' him1 it's nought  

,i've to say2 an' the tongue is a       
heretic's that would spake ill o' him1  
and he laving the ould counthree to stay
 for our good in this haythen land4 ,an'
 the books an' the readin' were for the 
like o' us1 would he not be the first to
 bid us welcome to the same8 ,och1 it's 
a good man and a holy is ,father        
,m',clane1 say what ye will1 miss4  ,i  
have not called him otherwise1 said     
,annie1 much amused by the ,irish girl's
 warmth4 ,i only asked you1 or tried to 
ask you1 if he would be likely to       
require you to tattle and to be a       
tell-tale1 if he were so good as you    
describe him8  ,it were jist putting    
before me eyes the maneness of the man4 
,is that nothing at all1 and he a       
praste8  ,well1 well1 ,annorah1 we will 
say no more about him now4 ,i am tired1 
and must rest4 ,you won't mind being    
still a while8  ,poor little thing6 said
 ,annorah2 ye're pale as a lily4 ,is    
there a dhrap o' anything ye would like1
 and then slape a bit8  ,i will try to  

sleep4  ,but ye cannot kape still4 ,the 
pain is shure too great4 ,let me carry  
you about a little4  ,no1 no2 it would  
tire you1 said ,annie1 who in her spasm 
of pain really longed for so novel a    
method of changing her position4  ,at   
least1 let me thry it for once1 urged   
the girl1 whose ,irish sympathies were  
powerfully awakened by her young        
mistress's evident suffering2 jist for  
once1 darlin'4  ,annie offered no       
further resistance1 and1 as ,annorah    
bore her light form carefully up and    
down the room1 experienced a feeling of 
relief that inspired her with warm      
gratitude toward her uncouth attendant4 
,ye're light as down1 honey1 said       
,annorah1 as she met ,annie's anxious1  
inquiring look4  ,satisfied at last that
 she was really no heavy burden1 the    
weary invalid soon dropped asleep1 with 
her head on the ,irish girl's shoulder4 
,mrs4 ,lee opened the door and looked   
in4  ,whist6 said ,annorah1 in a low1   
impatient whisper4 ,kape quiet1 will ye1

 and let the poor lamb slape6  ,mrs4    
,lee hardly knew whether to be amused or
 provoked as she1 the mistress of the   
house1 obeyed ,annorah's imperative     
gesture1 and withdrew softly from the   
apartment4     ,,chapter ,,iii4         
,,annorah ,,learns ,,to ,,read4   ,in a 
very few days ,annie was intrusted to   
the sole care of her young ,irish nurse1
 who served her with the most           
affectionate attention4 ,mrs4 ,lee often
 came to sit with her suffering child1  
but ,annorah alone performed the tender 
offices of the sick-room4 ,rough and    
uncouth as she was1 she readily adapted 
herself to the services required2 and no
 power on earth could have persuaded her
 that ,annie could be so well taken care
 of by any one else4  ,it naded a dale  
o' contrivance1 to be shure1 she said to
 her mother one afternoon1 when1 ,annie 
being asleep1 she ran home to ask after 
the family1 or ,i would be well bothered
 with all her pretty talk o' books1 and 
taching me to read and write2 but she1  

poor darlin'1 shall say whatever she    
plazes to me4  ,an' if she spake ill o' 
the praste and the holy ,church1 how    
then1 ,annorah8 asked ,mrs4 ,dillon1    
eying her daughter rather curiously4    
,blessed little good can we say o'      
,father ,m',clane1 whin we spake truth1 
as ye know1 mother dear2 and it's not to
 be expected o' her to tell lies for his
 sake4  ,does she spake o' the ,catholic
 ,church ,norah8 asked her mother4      
,never at all1 mother2 so make yer heart
 aisy4 ,she spakes to me o' meself1 and 
the wickedness in me heart2 and when she
 leans so lovingly on me shoulder1 and  
raises her clear eyes to the blue sky1  
or watches the bright sunset1 and spakes
 so softly to me o' the beauty o' a holy
 life1 ,i feel all the betther and      
patienter meself for hearing the good   
words4 ,she says1 mother dear1 as how it
 is depravity that makes me so often    
angered and wrong2 and how that ,jesus  
,christ1 the ,son o' ,god himself1 died 
to save us and cure us o' our sin4 ,it  

would do yer own heart good1 could ye   
hear her2 and there's nought wrong in it
 at all1 ye see4  ,annie's influence    
grew stronger and stronger1 and not a   
day passed without some precious truth  
from her lips finding a place in the    
heart of her attendant4 ,it was many    
weeks before ,annorah yielded to her    
persuasions1 and commenced learning to  
read4 ,the pleasant summer days had     
come1 and they were often abroad in the 
fresh air together1 ,annie in her low   
carriage1 which was easily drawn by her 
young nurse4  ,down in the valley behind
 ,mr4 ,lee's house there was an old     
mill1 long since deserted and unused4   
,this was a favourite resort of         
,annie's1 and it was here that she      
taught ,annorah to read1 during the long
 summer afternoons4  ,at first ,annorah 
was listless1 indifferent1 and often    
suspicious that all this attention to   
her education boded no good to her old  
religious prejudices4 ,but she could    
deny ,annie nothing2 and after a time1  

as her confidence in the piety of her   
gentle teacher increased1 she began to  
feel a deep interest in the truths      
taught4  ,in her anxiety to please her  
invalid charge1 she made rapid progress 
in reading1 and before the end of the   
summer could write a few plain          
sentences4 ,she began to love knowledge 
for its own sake2 and many a pleasant   
hour did she spend1 when ,annie was     
asleep or weary1 in reading the easy    
lessons selected for her4 ,but she was  
careful that neither her mother nor the 
priest should suspect her progress in   
learning1 and as she still went         
regularly to confession1 it was easy to 
keep her secret from them4 ,annie was   
often not a little puzzled to know how  
she managed to elude the vigilance of   
the priest4  ,it was a beautiful autumn 
afternoon1 when the air was just cool   
enough to be refreshing1 that1 with     
,mrs4 ,lee's permission1 ,annie and her 
nurse sought their favourite seat by the
 mill-stream4 ,annie had been thinking  

more than usual about ,annorah's        
progress in religious knowledge1 and    
wondering how1 with the light and wisdom
 she had received1 she could still cling
 to her old superstitions4 ,a great     
change had taken place in her temper1   
which was now usually controlled2 her   
manners had gradually become more       
gentle2 but the radical change of heart 
that ,annie so longed to witness1 did   
not yet show itself4  ,tell me1         
,annorah1 she said1 after the usual time
 had been spent in reading1 does ,father
 ,m',clane know that you can read yet8  
,not he1 indade4  ,does he not question 
you8  ,not exactly4 ,he says ,i spake   
better ,english1 and that shure it is   
because ,i live where it is well spoken4
  ,what did you say to that8  ,i said4  
',true1 your riverence4'  ,i'm afraid   
that is hardly the truth1 ,annorah4 ,if 
anything has improved your language1 it 
is your reading4  ,to be shure4 ,but is 
it not because ,i am with those who     
spake ,english well1 that ,i'm learning 

to read8 ,so it was the truth1 after    
all4  ,not the whole truth1 ,annorah4   
,just then ,annorah turned1 and saw the 
shadow of a man on the sloping rock at  
the left hand4 ,her first impulse was to
 cry out1 but the fear of alarming      
,annie1 and her own natural courage1    
prevented her2 and she soon thought she 
could detect in the shadowy outline a   
resemblance to ,father ,m',clane4 ,och1 
then1 the murder's out1 she thought2 the
 mane creature has been listening1 and  
faith now he shall have a pill that will
 settle his stomach intirely4--,what    
were you saying1 ,miss ,annie8 she asked
 aloud1 turning towards ,annie's        
carriage4  ,i said that you did not tell
 him the whole truth4  ,small matter for
 that4 ,it was all he asked for1 and    
it's better plazed he is than if it were
 more4 ,he's a lying ould thing himself1
 any way6  ,why1 ,annorah8  ,ye may well
 open yer eyes4 ,did he not tell me last
 ,sunday that you1 miss1 with your sweet
 voice and comforting ways1 were jist a 

temptation placed in me way1 by the ould
 inimy himself8  ,i1 ,annorah8 ,what    
does he know of me8  ,nothing at all1   
savin' that ye are a saint1 and he an   
ould--  ,stop1 stop1 ,annorah4 ,we must 
not speak evil of any one4 ,i hope that 
you were civil in your reply4  ,civil6  
indade ,i was4 ,i said1 ',ye should     
teach your flock better than to tempt   
honest people4' ',it's gettin' impudent 
ye are1' says he2 'ye'll be turnin'     
heretic next4 ,you must be seen to and  
taken care of1' says he4 ',bad luck to  
ye6' says ,i2 'when ye sees me two eyes 
light me to confession again1 ye may    
take care o' me and welcome4'  ,and     
shall you not go again8  ,never again4  
,annorah saw the shadow raise its hand  
threateningly4 ,no1 indade4 ,where's the
 use o' telling all ye know to an ould  
creature like him8 ,doesn't the blessed 
,book say that no man can come to the   
,father but only through ,jesus ,christ8
 ,an' shure1 the great ,father in heaven
 is angered to see me kneel down before 

that biggest o' scamps1 when ,i should  
be praying to himself4 ,i'll do it no   
more4  ,i am glad to hear you say so1   
,annorah2 ,i do so hope1 said ,annie1 as
 the affectionate tears stole down her  
thin cheek1 that you are beginning to   
learn in the school of ,christ4 ,but1 my
 poor girl1 you will meet much          
opposition4 ,i am afraid that your      
family will join with the priest in     
opposing you4  ,let them4 ,i'll fight   
them all with pleasure--more especially 
the praste4  ,but fighting is not the   
way to make them think well of the      
religion of ,jesus4 ,he was mild and    
gentle1 patient under abuse and         
persecution2 and he must be your        
pattern1 if you desire to please ,god4  
,you must pray to him1 ,annorah1 for a  
new heart1 so that none of these angry  
feelings will trouble you4  ,is it the  
new heart1 miss1 that makes you so sweet
 and patient8  ,if ,i have any goodness1
 ,annorah1 it is because ,god has       
changed my old heart1 and made it       

better4 ,it is his grace that enables me
 to suffer without complaining2 and it  
is his love1 which ,i feel in my heart1 
that makes me calm and happy in my      
greatest pain4  ,then ,i am sure1 said  
the girl earnestly1 forgetting for a    
moment that she was overheard4 ,i will  
never rest a day at all1 till ,i get    
that same done for me4 ,but mayhap he   
will not be so willing to look upon me4 
,in his holy ,book we read that he is no
 respecter of persons1 and that         
whosoever cometh unto him he will in no 
wise cast out4  ,why1 then1 ,i can coom 
as soon as the grandest4 ,how shall ,i  
coom8  ,i will tell you how ,i came to  
him4 ,i studied his holy ,word to learn 
his will1 and ,i prayed often that he   
would give me his ,spirit to teach me   
the way to him4  ,an' did he8  ,yes4 ,in
 a little time ,i began to know more    
about myself1 and to see how much ,i    
needed a ,saviour2 and then ,i saw how  
willing ,jesus must be to save me1      
having died for me as well as for       

others2 and so1 in a way that ,i can't  
explain1 ,i was led to give myself to   
him1 and ,i soon found peace in         
believing4 ,he will teach you1 ,annorah1
 and lead you right1 if you earnestly   
seek him4 ,look at the sunset clouds4   
,did you ever see such gold1 and        
crimson1 and purple before8 ,but the    
sunset is not half so bright and        
beautiful as the true ,christian's      
prospects4  ,looking at the sunset      
reminded ,annorah that it was late for  
her charge to be out4 ,a very slight    
rustle in the bushes behind her1        
recalled what she had strangely         
forgotten1 in her interest in the       
conversation4 ,she took up a large stone
 and threw it among the bushes4  ,what  
is there1 ,annorah8 asked ,annie1 in    
alarm4  ,only a sarpint1 miss4  ,well1  
let us hasten home4 ,mamma will be      
anxious4  ,after they left1 the dark    
form of a man rose from behind the green
 knoll where they had been sitting1 and 
moved slowly along the bank of the      

stream1 down the valley4 ,it was ,father
 ,m',clane4     ,,chapter ,,iv4  ,,the  
,,priest ,,meets ,,annorah ,,at ,,her   
,,mother',s ,,cottage4   ,biddy ,dillon 
had just finished a large ironing for   
one of the families in the village1 and 
having placed the clothes-frame where   
the dust from the open fire-place could 
not fall on the fine starched linens and
 muslins1 she began to set her table for
 tea1 at the same time counting over the
 gains of the week4 ,not a trifle in her
 calculations were the wages of         
,annorah1 who came regularly every      
,saturday evening to add her            
contribution to the family fund4  ,it's 
a good child she is gettin' to be1 and a
 pleasant-tempered one1 too1 said ,mrs4 
,dillon to herself2 it's made over      
intirely1 she is1 our ,lady be praised6 
,she began to sing the burden of an     
,irish ditty1 but the broken-nosed      
tea-kettle over the fire beginning to   
sing too1 she commenced talking again4  
,heaven send it mayn't be thrue1 but it 

does look like the heretic's doings4    
,she were like a brimstone match1 or    
like gunpowder itself1 at home1 and     
tender-hearted as a young baby besides4 
,shure1 it's a mighty power1 any way1   
that has so changed her4 ,i can't jist  
feel aisy about it1 for it's ,father    
,m',clane will find out the harm of her 
good spaches and doings4  ,the words    
were hardly out of her mouth when the   
priest entered4 ,the storm on his brow  
was not unnoted by ,biddy1 but she      
respectfully set a chair for him in the 
cleanest part of the room4 ,she was not 
quite so easily terrified by priestly   
wrath and authority as she had been in  
her own country2 for she had the sense  
to know that the ghostly father's       
malediction did not1 as in ,ireland1    
entail a long course of temporal        
misfortunes upon the poor victims of his
 displeasure4 ,but she had not yet      
acknowledged to herself the doubts that 
really existed in her mind in regard to 
the truth of the ,romish faith2 she     

still clung to the errors in which she  
had been brought up1 and feared the     
effect on her eternal happiness of      
,father ,m',clane's displeasure4 ,so it 
was with a beating heart that she       
awaited his time to address her4  ,do   
you know that your daughter is a        
heretic8 was his first question4        
,indade1 no1 yer riverence1 replied     
,biddy4  ,an' what sort o' a mother are 
you1 ,biddy ,dillon1 to stand still and 
look on while the wolf stales the best  
o' yer flock8 ,you might have known that
 heretic family would lave not a stone  
unturned to catch her at last4 ,and so  
she can read--  ,read6 interrupted the  
astonished woman4  ,yes1 read6 ,and it's
 the heretics' ,bible she has read1     
too1--and all through your fault4       
,mighty proud ye have been o' all the   
fine housekeeping ways she has learned1 
and very thankful1 no doubt1 for the    
bits o' could victuals from the big     
house2 but where's the good now8 ,ye may
 thank yourself that she will lose her  

sowl for ever4  ,mrs4 ,dillon started   
and turned pale as the door softly      
opened1 and ,annorah herself1 unobserved
 by the priest1 came in4 ,he went on3   
,do you call her better1 the pestilent  
crather1 when1 from her first going to  
the grand place on the hill1 never a    
word about them has been got from her at
 confession8 ,the obstinate crather6  ,i
 came to your riverence for spiritual   
good1 said ,annorah1 now coming forward 
and laying a fat chicken and sundry     
paper parcels beside her week's wages on
 the little table by her mother's side4 
,i came for spiritual good1 and ye      
thried to teach me to tattle4 ,it's a   
mane trade intirely1 lettin' alone the  
maneness of sich as teach it4  ,annorah6
 exclaimed her mother1 do you dare to   
spake in that way o' the praste himself8
  ,i mean no harm1 mother4  ,no harm6   
repeated ,father ,m',clane1 turning     
fiercely toward her4 ,you won't cheat me
 with words like these4  ,annorah tossed
 her head scornfully and sat down       

opposite the priest1 who on his part    
seemed far less desirous to carry on the
 war since her arrival4 ,the cottage    
that he occupied belonged to ,mr4 ,lee1 
and judging that gentleman by his own   
heart1 he feared that an unfavourable   
representation of the case to him might 
either increase his rent or turn him out
 altogether4 ,besides1 he was not unlike
 blusterers1 and could denounce the     
erring with greater ease when they stood
 in awe of him4 ,that ,annorah felt     
neither fear nor reverence for him1 it  
was easy to see4 ,so1 smothering his    
wrath1 he began1 to the great surprise  
of ,mrs4 ,dillon1 to address the girl in
 his most coaxing tones4  ,come1 come1  
,annorah1 he said1 let us be friends4   
,it's me that's ould enough1 and willing
 too1 to be to you in place o' yer own  
father1 ,heaven rest his sowl2 but he's 
gone to a better counthree than this    
sinful world4 ,an' yer own good1 child1 
is what ,i think on in spaking to you of
 ,miss ,annie and the heretics          

generally4 ,it's not for meself1 shure1 
that me prayers go up at the could      
midnight hour whin ye're all sleeping in
 quiet4 ,it's not me own throubles that 
make me dream o' ,heaven's wrath1 but   
it's me care for yer sowl1 ,annorah1 and
 for the sake o' yer gettin' saved at   
last4  ,hear that1 ,norah1 child1 said  
her mother4 ,who else ever fretted      
themselves for yer good8 ,what would    
become o' ye1 an' ,father ,m',clane gave
 ye up entirely8  ,your riverence must  
stay till ,i draw the tae and fry a bit 
o' the chicken1 added ,biddy1 as the    
priest rose to take his leave4  ,no1    
thank you1 he replied2 ,i must not sit  
down at ease4 ,small rest is there for  
me when the wolf is in the fold1 and the
 flock is in danger4  ,he took leave    
quite cordially1 but when he was gone1  
,biddy turned1 with a shadow on her     
round face1 to speak to her daughter4   
,an' what's this ye've been doing1      
child8 ,is it me own ears that have     
heard o' yer ,bible-reading and railing 

at the praste8 ,what's coom to ye now8  
,didn't ,i warn ye against their heretic
 ways8 ,an' ye've been and fallen into  
the dape pit as aisy as a blind sheep4  
,och6 for shame1 ,annorah ,dillon6 ,why 
do ye not spake8 ,what can ye say for   
yourself8  ,mother1 said ,annorah1 how  
often you've said1 when ,larry          
,o',neale's good luck has been tould of1
 that it was the larnin'1 shure1 that   
did it all6 ,an' when we were over the  
great water1 you said1 ',how nice and   
comfortable would it be an' we had one  
in the family like ,larry himself1 to   
send back the news to ould friends1 when
 we got safe here4' ,do ye not mind1    
mother dear1 how often you've said that 
same since8 ,well1 now1 ,i've been and  
learned what ye wanted so much2 and     
first cooms the praste and makes a big  
fuss1 and then you1 mother1 spake as if 
,i had thried to anger in the room o'   
plasing ye4 ,i'm sure ,i've thried to   
plase you all ,i could4  ,so ye have1   
mavourneen2 so ye have1 said ,biddy1 her

 voice softening as she turned to look  
at the chicken and other things that    
,annorah had brought4 ,it's not yer     
mother1 honey1 that has a word to say   
against you2 but when ,father ,m',clane 
talks o' yer being a heretic1 it angers 
me4 ,this ,bible that he frets about1   
what is it1 ,norah8  ,it's ,god's truth1
 mother1 that he has given to teach us  
all2 and a brave book it is4 ,father    
,m',clane has one himself2 and what     
frets him is1 that the heretics1 as he  
calls them1 can read it for themselves  
and find out ,god's will2 for only the  
praste has it with us4  ,well1 then1 an'
 the praste tells us the same1 it saves 
us a world o' bother1 shure4  ,but if   
the praste is not a good man1 he can    
tell us whatever he likes2 and how do we
 know what is ,god's ,word8 ,now1       
mother1 in all ,god's ,word there is    
never a bit about confessing to a       
praste1 but a great deal about praying  
and confessing to ,god himself4 ,but1   
you see1 if all our people knew that    

same1 sorra a bit o' money would go to  
the praste's pocket in comparison to    
what he gets now4 ,it's that1 mother    
dear1 that makes him so afraid we shall 
learn4 ,he can't get the money from     
those who can read ,god's ,word for     
themselves4  ,are you sure it's all     
thrue8 asked ,biddy1 her eyes wide open 
with astonishment4  ,it is the truth of 
,god4 ,an' it's this same learning      
that's got out of the holy ,book that   
makes the difference between            
,protestants and ,catholics4 ,they go to
 the ,word itself1 an' we take on       
hearsay whatever the praste tells us4   
,an' there is no word in all the ,book1 
mother1 about praying to ,mary the      
mother of ,jesus1 or to any of the      
saints4 ,everybody is invited to pray   
straight up to ,god himself4  ,the      
girl's downright heresy1 and her        
contempt for the mummeries of the       
,romish communion1 troubled her mother4 
,but what could she do8 ,the change for 
the better in the child's temper had    

prepared her to look favourably upon the
 change in her religion4 ,she listened  
to ,annorah's continued account of what 
she had learned from the ,bible with the
 greatest interest1 feeling every moment
 more and more disposed to accept its   
teaching1 and less and less disposed to 
blindly submit to the priest4 ,annorah  
stayed till a late hour with her mother1
 repeating over and over again the      
truths so interesting to herself1 and   
obtaining permission at last to bring   
the ,bible itself on her next visit4    
,she was strictly cautioned1 however1 to
 bring it privately1 lest ,father       
,m',clane should hear of it1 and1 in    
,biddy's language1 kick up a scrimmage4 
,there were more ideas in the old       
woman's head than had ever found room   
there before1 when1 after ,annorah had  
gone1 she sat down by herself before the
 fire4 ,she was both ambitious and      
imaginative1 and long vistas of future  
greatness opened before her1 all        
commencing with the wonderful fact that 

her child could read and write4  ,an'   
it's not all a queer drame1 she said2   
,i'll hear her for meself coom next     
,saturday ,och6 what a row it will make 
an' ,father ,m',clane1 and ,teddy       
,muggins1 and ,mike ,murphy get wind o' 
a heretic ,bible being brought to the   
place6 ,but ,i'll hear and judge for    
meself1 that ,i will2 an' if the praste 
be right1 small harm is there to be     
shure2 and if he be wrong1 the better   
for me poor sowl1 and a saving o' money4
     ,,chapter ,v4  ,,phelim ,,brings   
,,bad ,,tidings ,,to ,,annorah4         
,annorah's troubles were not ended by   
the unexpected encouragement received   
from her mother4 ,her brothers and      
sister1 and ,irish acquaintance         
generally1 soon heard that she no longer
 went to mass or to confession2 and     
great was the uproar among them4 ,the   
unsparing rebukes of ,father ,m',clane1 
whenever he met with any one supposed to
 have any influence over her1 soon      
fanned into life not only a vehement    

hatred of the ,protestants1 but a bitter
 feeling of enmity toward the poor girl 
herself4 ,those who had been most       
cordial now either passed her in sullen 
silence1 or openly taunted her upon her 
defection2 and the very children in the 
lane hooted after her1 when she made her
 usual weekly visit to her mother4      
,annorah often found these things very  
hard to bear4 ,her quick ,irish blood   
was up with the first insulting word2   
but she sought for strength from above  
to control it1 and no outbreak of       
passion was suffered to mar the sweet   
lesson that her patience and kindness   
toward all was insensibly teaching4     
,she was getting ready for her usual    
,saturday evening's visit to her        
mother's cottage1 when her attention was
 attracted by the low whistling of a    
familiar ,irish air in the yard below4  
,looking out1 she observed her lame     
brother1 ,phelim1 making signs for her  
to come out4 ,a little alarmed lest some
 evil had befallen her mother she       

hurried out to meet him4  ,what is it1  
,phelim8 ,what is the matther1 dear8    
,matther1 do you ask8 ,well1 the matther
 is1 that ye're not to coom home till   
ye're sent for4 ,are ye not ashamed to  
make such a row8  ,i don't know what you
 mean4 ,sit down1 ,phelim dear2 you're  
over weak to keep standin' so4 ,does the
 new liniment no help ye at all8 ,and ye
 must carry home the money to mother1   
and the tea1 and the sugar1 and some    
nice warm woollen stockings that ,mrs4  
,lee showed me how to knit for yerself1 
darlin'2 and ,heaven grant that it's no 
a bad turn o' pain ye will get in yer   
bones by cooming to tell me4 ,there's a 
cranberry-pie that ,mrs4 ,lee was to    
send for your own self1 ,phelim dear2 it
 will relish better than our mother's   
plain cooking4  ,the thought of eating  
the dainty so thoughtfully provided1    
produced a choking sensation in the     
boy's throat1 as if it had there come   
into a collision with his wrath against 
heretics4 ,but he said nothing1 and     

,annorah went on3--  ,i've been making  
some caps for mother2 but ye're no able 
to carry so many things at once1 poor   
fellow4  ,still ,phelim did not speak1  
but he gazed earnestly into her face4   
,the moon was up1 and he could plainly  
see the traces of tears on her cheek1   
and the sad but loving expression of her
 eyes as she returned his gaze4  ,an'   
it's the ,protestant religion that makes
 you so good and kind1 ,norah1 he said  
at length2 our ,lady help me1 and ,i    
could just be a heretic wi' ye6  ,it's  
little ,i know yet o' the truth1 but1 ,o
 ,phelim1 it's a lovely way to heaven2  
and the swate1 blessed feeling that     
fills up the heart when ,i pray straight
 up to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ himself1
 is better than to have all the diamonds
 in a queen's crown4 ,it makes me so    
light and happy2 so contented intirely4 
,it quiets the bad temper into perfect  
peace2 and ,i love1 as ,i never dreamed 
of doing before1 all my friends and     
enemies too4 ,it's little ,i know yet1  

,phelim1 but all the gould in the world1
 and all the world's hate too1 shall not
 hinder me from learning more o' ,god's 
wonderful way to save sinners4 ,but     
hurry home now1 ,phelim1 mavourneen2 the
 raw night air is no good for ye4  ,they
 may say what they will1 ,norah1 said   
the boy1 but ,i'm sure ,i will love ye  
for ever4 ,an' ye'll tache me to get    
those heavenly feelings1 ,i'll jist     
follow the road ye have taken4 ,i've    
plenty o' time1 as ye know4  ,do ye     
mean1 will ,i teach you to read8  ,yes4 
,i'll speak to ,miss ,annie about it4   
,hurry home as fast as you can4         
,good-night1 and ,god bless you4  ,with 
an affectionate kiss they parted2 and   
,annorah went slowly back to her young  
mistress's room4  ,how is this1         
,annorah8 asked ,mrs4 ,lee1 as she      
entered4 ,how happened you to return so 
soon8  ,i have not been home1 an' ye    
please1 ma'am4  ,are you not going      
to-night8 asked ,annie1 raising her head
 from her pillow1 and noticing1 with a  

little anxiety1 the unusual expression  
of her attendant's face4  ,it's ,phelim1
 my brother1 miss1 has been here1 and   
it's a house full o' company there is at
 home4  ,and they want you to spend the 
holy ,sabbath to-morrow in visiting     
them1 ,i suppose4  ,no1 ,miss ,annie4   
,what then8 asked ,mrs4 ,lee1 after a   
moment's silence4  ,nothing to speak of1
 ma'am4 ,leastways nothing to trouble ye
 about4  ,but ,i can see that it is     
something that troubles you1 ,norah1    
said ,annie1 taking the rough hand of   
,annorah in hers1 and drawing her       
nearer4 ,is it something that you would 
rather ,i should not know8  ,indeed no4 
,but it's loath ,i am to add my bit     
troubles to yours1 when ye suffer yer   
own so patiently4 ,it's only that all my
 relatives1 and the praste1 and the     
,catholic neighbours1 are waiting for me
 to come home1 to bring me back to the  
ould ,church by force4 ,an' ,phelim1    
poor boy1 came to tell me to keep away4 
,it's worse he'll be for the damp air2  

and it's angry they'll be for my staying
 away4  ,ah6 ,annorah1 my dear nurse1 ,i
 was afraid that rougher times awaited  
you4 ,i was afraid they would persecute 
you4  ,but they haven't yet1 ,miss      
,annie4  ,perhaps it is not what you    
would call persecution1 but it is sad to
 have those we love turn against us4    
,you must trust in ,god1 my poor girl4  
,he will give you grace to bear it all4 
,,chapter ,,vi4  ,,the                  
,,confessional--,,an ,,irish ,,frolic4  
,great was the uproar in ,biddy         
,dillon's cottage when it was found that
 ,annorah was not coming to make her    
usual ,saturday evening visit to her    
mother4  ,preparations had been made by 
,father ,m',clane for holding a regular 
confessional2 and an hour before sunset1
 he had taken his seat in the little    
darkened chamber1 behind a table on     
which four tallow-candles were burning1 
with an uncertain1 flickering light4    
,it had been decided in the council of  
relatives and friends that ,annorah's   

only chance of salvation lay in speedy  
confession1 and it was very reasonably  
supposed1 that could she be brought back
 to that ,popish duty1 a great point    
would be gained in the way to her       
perfect restoration4  ,it was1          
therefore1 no affectionate1 loving      
circle that had now assembled to bear a 
hand in ,annorah's restoration to the   
faith4 ,one after another went          
reverently on their knees up the short1 
steep stairway1 and came down lighter in
 purse1 and1 as the priest wickedly     
taught them1 absolved of all offences1  
but swelling with wrath against the poor
 girl whose coming was so long delayed4 
,and when1 at last1 it became apparent  
that she would not come1 a storm of     
abuse was poured upon ,biddy1 who1 it   
was evident to all1 did not cordially   
join in their violent measures4  ,now1  
,biddy ,dillon had too much of the      
national character to sit down quietly  
and receive their abuse1 and soon a     
regular quarrel ensued1 which would have

 speedily become a fight1 but for the   
descent of ,father ,m',clane into their 
midst1 and his imperative command that  
each one should sit down quietly and    
hould his tongue4  ,whisht6 whisht6 ,of 
what are ye thinking1 ye silly gossoons8
 ,will ye bring down the peace officers 
upon ye1 and take out the bit o' the    
night in the prison1 instead o' drinking
 me health1 as ye may1 and me helping to
 do that same8 ,arrah6 ,why should ye   
glower and snarl at each other1 like a  
kennel o' mad puppies1 when it's the    
brave frolic ye may have together8 ,it's
 the soft looks and the fine words ye   
must use1 an' ye would win the young    
heretic back2 ye may fight over her till
 the great day o' all1 and it will be   
but a sorrowful waste o' the powther1   
barrin' the swate chance ye are losing  
now o' a comfortable frolic4 ,arrah1    
now1 ,dennis darlin'1 a sup o' the      
whisky for me1 a thrifle sthrong1 an' ye
 plaze4 ,it's a could night to be out   
wi' an empty stoomach4  ,stay till the  

morning1 father1 said ,biddy1 coming up 
to him with an anxious face2 we cannot  
kape peace an' ye do not bide wi' us2   
the frolic will be all the better an' ye
 stay to the orderin' o' it1--and the   
best bed is waitin' yer riverence's     
convanience4 ,there's ,sandy and ,mike  
will fight an' ye lave1 and ,katy there 
is ready to tear out the eyes o' big    
,nelly ,murphy4 ,it's quarrelling       
they've been the whole blessed day4     
,bide with us1 lest the dear childer who
 is the cause o' it all should be kilt  
and murdered intirely1 an' she sthrays  
home to-night4  ,she spoke in a low     
voice1 and he replied in the same tone1 
drawing her back from the crowd1 who    
were all talking together4  ,look here1 
,biddy ,dillon1 he said2 the girl must  
lave that grand house and come home to  
live here with you4  ,lave ,miss ,annie1
 do ye mane1 sir8  ,small hope for her  
sowl an' she do not4  ,and few are the  
pennies ,i can bring to yer riverence   
when the child has no wages to bring    

home o' a ,saturday4 ,sorra a hap'orth  
to spare will ,i find2 it's no me two   
hands alone can find bread for the      
mouths o' all1 and--  ,stuff and        
nonsense6 interrupted the priest2       
there's many another place can be had   
for a sthrong1 likely lass like her4    
,good servants are not over plenty1 and 
she can be better placed4  ,but where1  
,i would like ye to tell8 ,it's in a    
,protestant family she must be1 an' she 
goes out to service at all4  ,yes2 but  
they'll let her alone in some houses4   
,sorra a bit do the most o' them care   
what becomes o' the sowl1 an' the work  
be done to their liking4 ,our ,lady be  
praised6 it's to the far counthrees that
 the ,protestant missionaries are sent1 
and the silver is given2 for one-half o'
 the pains taken wi' the poor crathurs  
who work in their kitchens would have   
ruined us all4  ,yer riverence spakes   
thrue1 to be shure1 said ,biddy2 but for
 all that1 it will never be a bit o' use
 to thry to make a good ,catholic o'    

,norah1 now that she can read the big   
books and talk so bravely herself4 ,an' 
it were to be the savin' o' her life1   
she would never confess to a praste     
again1 or take the holy wafer from his  
hands4 ,but if ye would take it aisy and
 lave it to me1 and persuade these      
meddlesome boobies to mind their own    
particular business1 and throuble us no 
more1 it's meself would be sure to bring
 the handsome sum to yer riverence when 
,i come to confession4 ,contrariwise1   
you see1 and you kape fussing1 and they 
kape fussing1 it's all loss it is to ye1
 and no gain4  ,the priest's countenance
 brightened perceptibly4 ,he seemed much
 impressed with ,biddy's view of the    
case1 and was not slow to perceive its  
worldly wisdom4 ,so1 after addressing   
the waiting company to some purpose1 he 
left them4  ,but ,biddy sat thoughtfully
 in a corner1 with her lame boy4 ,she   
had1 in her conversation with the       
priest1 cunningly hit on an expedient to
 propitiate him for a time1 but she was 

ill at ease4 ,she could not at once     
throw off the chains of teaching that   
had bound her all her life2 and so dim  
was the light that she had received1    
that she dared not yet follow it4  ,oh1 
then1 it's a jewel she is1 core o' me   
heart1 ,norah dear6  ,the last two words
 were whispered so loud that ,phelim    
heard them1 and he said1 ,i've seen her 
to-night1 mother4  ,who8 ,spake aisy1   
mavourneen4  ,our ,norah4  ,when8       
questioned his mother1 with an anxious  
glance at the unheeding revellers4      
,afther dusk4 ,i thought ye would like  
her to kape away to-night4  ,now        
blessings on ye for a handy callant as  
ye are1 said ,biddy1 patting his        
shoulder approvingly4 ,an' how is she8  
,well as ever1 mother1 and kind-tempered
 and good too4 ,a power of good things  
she has sent1 and they're safe hid in   
the cellar4 ,the money is in me coat    
pocket1 mother4 ,shall ,i give it ye8   
,not now4 ,kape it till all be gone4    
,was she sorry or mad1 ,phelim8  ,mad8  

,not at all4 ,sorry8 ,i don't know at   
all4 ,her voice was all courage and     
kindness2 but ,i saw big tears on her   
cheek1 for all that4  ,the mother and   
son sat silently looking into the fire  
for a few moments4 ,at last ,phelim     
spoke4 ,mother1 said the boy1 ye'll not 
have them abuse her and torment her1    
just for changing into such a dear      
crathur8  ,she's a heretic1 lad4  ,what 
o' that8 ,she's good1 any way1 said     
,phelim stoutly4 ,i would ,i were a big 
man4 ,we'd see who would throuble her   
then4 ,it's a thrashin' they'd get1 an' 
it's manners they'd learn1 and no       
charges made for the teaching4  ,whisht1
 lad6 it's careful and sly we must be4  
,an' do ye not bother yer poor head wi' 
yer sister's new notions4 ,it's a nation
 o' throuble ,i'd have with a pair o' ye
 at once2 and ye're no earning money1   
,phelim1 boy1 to buy off the praste4    
,kape a still tongue1 lad1 an' ye bite  
it in two2 an' don't go for to meddle   
wi' matters concerning yer sowl4 ,the   

praste an' yer poor mother will kape a  
sharp look-out2 an' it will go hard1    
shure1 if between us ye are not saved at
 last4  ,but1 mother1 where is the harm 
if ,i look for meself a bit8 ,who can   
see ,norah1 so gentle and loving1 so    
careful o' you and me1 so pleasant to   
every one1 and not want to know more o' 
the way she has taken8  ,yes1 yes1 lad2 
but have ye no sense at all8 ,what if ye
 have been tould a secret1 can ye not   
kape it the same8 ,now mind1 once for   
all2 ye're not to know it at all1 if    
,norah brings home the ,word o' the     
,lord to read to her ould ignorant      
mother 7it's a swate voice she has71 and
 ye shall hear the big ,book as well2   
only mind1 ,phelim1 acushla1 ye're to   
know nothing at all1 let who will spake 
to ye o' the same4  ,yes2 but1 mother1  
what if ,i myself learn to--            
,hush6--,is it o' me ye are spaking8    
asked ,biddy1 turning to a cluster of   
people who had drawn near them4 ,it's no
 hearty ,i feel to-night1 and poor lame 

,phelim is kaping me company4 ,is it    
room for the dance ye are wanting8 ,the 
other is the roomiest1 and the floor is 
the plainest4  ,hurrying out with ready 
good-will to assist in the needful      
preparations1 ,biddy soon removed any   
suspicions that might have been         
entertained in the minds of any of her  
neighbours of any leaning on her part   
toward heresy4     ,,chapter ,,vii4     
,,biddy ,,dillon ,,becomes ,a ,,heretic4
   ,several months passed quietly by4   
,it was winter1 and the heaviest snow   
that had fallen within the memory of    
that personage so universally known and 
respected--namely1 the oldest           
inhabitant--now lay upon the ground2 and
 all in town and country who were       
partial to the exercise of skating could
 enjoy it freely4 ,but the severe cold  
confined the delicate invalids to their 
heated rooms1 and fair ,annie ,lee again
 found herself shut up to the tiresome  
routine of sick-room pleasures1 only    
varied by intervals of suffering4 ,the  

pleasure1 however1 predominated4 ,she   
seemed almost to forget her pain and    
increasing languor in her unceasing     
efforts to instruct her young nurse4    
,annorah1 on her part1 thirsted for     
knowledge1 especially for the wisdom    
that cometh from above4 ,she improved1  
too1 rapidly enough to satisfy a less   
partial teacher4 ,in the varied arts of 
housewifery1 and in the more intricate  
use of the needle1 she had also become  
quite expert1 and1 to use ,mrs4 ,lee's  
own words1 was quite a treasure in every
 part of the house4  ,little lame       
,phelim came for an hour each afternoon 
to ,miss ,annie's room to be made a     
schollard1 shure2 and every ,saturday   
evening found ,annorah1 with her ,bible1
 seated by her mother's fireside1       
reading1 and in her own earnest but     
uncouth manner expounding the truths she
 read4  ,one ,sabbath evening in ,march1
 ,father ,m',clane set out for a walk to
 ,mrs4 ,dillon's cottage4 ,his prospects
 and reflections had been of a grave and

 sad character throughout the day1 and  
his threadbare coat and lean purse had  
been more than usually suggestive of the
 great truth1 that all earthly comforts 
are fleeting and transitory4  ,for the  
first time ,biddy had that day absented 
herself from the ,catholic chapel4      
,annorah had lately added to her        
,scripture reading1 ,kirwan's ,letters  
to ,archbishop ,hughes4 ,she read it to 
her mother whenever a spare hour enabled
 her to run home4 ,biddy had been       
greatly interested in the appeals and   
arguments of her talented countryman1   
and deeply impressed by his life-like   
delineation of the follies and          
superstitions of the ,romish ritual4    
,it's rasonable he is intirely1 she     
said1 and a bright son o' the ould      
counthree1 blessin's on it6 ,it's him   
who spakes well o' the poor ruined      
crathers1 and praises us all for the    
natural generous-sowled people we are4  
,he knows us intirely1 ,norah dear4     
,shure he's a wonderful man and a bould1

 let alone the thrue son o' ould        
,ireland1 for doing the beautiful thing4
 ,read us one more letther1 mavourneen1 
before ye are off1 and lave the book    
here4 ,mayhap ,phelim will spell out a  
morsel or so when the ,sabbath even is  
coom4  ,you will not go to confession   
to-morrow1 dear mother8 said ,annorah4  
,not ,i1 replied ,biddy firmly4  ,it    
goes to my heart1 mother1 that the money
 we earn so hardly1 and which should be 
kept to comfort your old age1 should go 
for nothing1 or worse4  ,i will do it no
 more4 ,make yer heart aisy1 honey4     
,never a penny o' mine will the praste  
hould in his hand again4  ,he will visit
 you1 mother4  ,an' what o' that8 ,let  
him coom4 ,he is welcome an' he minds   
his own business1 and only dhraps in for
 a bit o' gossip2 but an' he interferes 
in me private consarns1 it's soon he'll 
find himself relaved o' all throuble on 
account o' us4  ,annorah saw that there 
was no reason now to fear that her      
mother would be overawed by the priest2 

but she still lingered anxiously4 ,her  
mother saw the shade on her face1 and   
asked1--  ,what is it1 ,norah8 ,are you 
in throuble8  ,do not quarrel with him1 
mother1 replied the daughter4  ,let him 
be dacent1 and it's ceevil treatment    
he'll get2 but no man shall browbeat me 
on me own floor1 said ,biddy1 in a tone 
which declared the firmness of her      
purpose4  ,it was on the night          
succeeding this conversation1 that      
,father ,m',clane visited the cottage4  
,as he approached the house he paused at
 the unusual sound of a voice reading4  
,it was ,phelim imperfectly spelling out
 to his mother and a few of the         
neighbours one of the letters of        
,kirwan4 ,the priest1 who was not       
remarkably well versed in the books of  
the day1 did not know the work1 but     
supposed that it was the ,bible to which
 they were so profoundly listening4 ,his
 face grew as dark as the night shades  
around him4  ,i've caught ye at last6 he
 exclaimed1 as1 without ceremony1 he    

burst into the room4 ,this tells the    
story4 ,it's not that ye are ill in bed1
 or hindered by the rain1 or the could2 
it's because ye are heretics all1 that  
ye shun the confession and the holy     
mass4 ,do ye know what the ,church has  
power to do wi' the like o' ye8 ,arrah6 
it was the heavenly and not the mortal  
wisdom that made the hot fires o'       
purgatory for such4 ,small help will ye 
get from me when the flames are         
scorching ye4 ,never a mass shall be    
said for a sowl o' ye1 unless ye repent 
at once4  ,and what call have ye to     
spake the like o' that1 said ,biddy1 and
 me sitting peaceably by me own fire wi'
 the neighbours8 ,she spoke in a low1   
uncertain tone1 for his sudden          
appearance had startled her4 ,a hush had
 fallen on the little assembly1 and     
signs of terror flitted across the faces
 of the most timid1 as the familiar     
voice of the priest recalled their old  
,popish fears4 ,he was not slow to      
perceive this1 or to take advantage of  

it4  ,and who taught yer lame boy to    
read at all8 ,who brought the heretic   
,bible into yer house8 ,and who gathered
 the poor neighbours together to hear   
the false words that lead to perdition8 
,answer me that1 ,misthress ,dillon1    
said the priest in a tone of anger4     
,biddy did not reply1 though she had    
quite regained her usual courage4  ,i'll
 ask ye a plain question1 ,biddy        
,dillon1 and ,i want a straight answer4 
,will ye1 or will ye not1 give up these 
heretic doings1 and stay in the         
communion o' the holy ,church8  ,an' it 
plaze yer riverence1 replied ,biddy1 no 
ways disconcerted1 yer blessed saints   
are nothing to me2 an' ,i shall do as ,i
 plaze4  ,hear the woman6 ,do you hear  
the bould blasphemer8 he exclaimed4     
,an' what if they do hear8 ,it were a   
sore pity they should be sthruck deaf to
 plaze ye1 replied ,biddy1 her eyes     
flashing with excitement4 ,i would ye   
were in ould ,ireland1 or1 for the      
matther o' that1 in purgatory itself4   

,we would-- said the priest4  ,no doubt 
o' it4 ,but it's here ,i am1 at yer     
service1 interrupted ,biddy4  ,yes1 and 
it's here ye've been bought for a wee   
pinch o' tae and a few poor1 lean       
chickens4 ,sowl and body ye've been     
bought1 and a mighty poor bargain have  
the blind purchasers made o' it4        
,plazing yer riverence1 ye know nought  
o' what ye are saying1 and small        
throuble ye'll make wi' yer idle words4 
,it's not a turkey1 duck1 or hen could  
buy ,biddy ,dillon4 ,ye've tried it     
yerself1 father1 and so ye know4  ,it's 
a black heart ye have1 said the priest1 
whose courage was hardly equal to his   
anger1 and whose valour speedily cooled 
before resolute opposition4 ,it's       
blacker than ink ye are1 ,biddy ,dillon1
 with the wicked heresy4  ,like most    
,irish women1 ,biddy was well skilled in
 the art of scolding1 and among her     
neighbours was considered rather more   
expert in the business than themselves4 
,when angry1 abusive epithets seemed to 

fall as naturally from her tongue as    
expressions of endearment when she was  
pleased4  ,a black heart1 did ye say8   
she cried1 rising and facing the priest1
 who involuntarily retired a step from  
her2 the same to yerself6 ,an' ye were  
bathed in ,lough ,ennel1 and rinsed in  
the ,shannon at ,athlone1 it would not  
half clane out the vile tricks ye are so
 perfect in4 ,a black heart has ,biddy  
,dillon8 ,an' ye were ducked and soaked 
over night in the ,liffey mud at        
,dublin1 ye were claner than now8 ,a    
black heart8 ,an' yerself an ould       
penshioner1 idle and mane1 stirrin' up a
 scrimmage in an honest woman's house1  
and repeating yer haythenish nonsense1  
an' ye able and sthrong to take hould o'
 the heaviest end o' the work6 ,are ye  
not ashamed8 ,what are ye good for8     
,the saints preserve us6 what a tongue  
the woman has6 exclaimed ,father        
,m',clane1 making a futile effort to    
smile1 as he turned his face1 now pale  
as death1 toward the company4 ,but ,i   

have no time to stay longer4 ,i warn ye 
all1 my friends1 to kape away from this 
accursed house1 and to turn a deaf ear  
to all that is said to ye here4 ,your   
souls are in peril4 ,ye are almost      
caught in the snare4 ,ye should run for 
yer lives before ye perish entirely4 ,i 
shall remember you1 ,biddy ,dillon4  ,in
 course ye will4 ,an' ye show yerself   
here again1 barrin' as a peaceable frind
 or ould acquaintance1 ye'll find       
yerself remimbered too1 honey4  ,there  
was a silence of some minutes after the 
priest left the house4 ,it was broken by
 the most timid of the party4  ,afther  
all1 ,biddy1 my heart misgives me4 ,of  
what use are all the prayers on the     
beads1 the ,hail ,marys1 and the        
penance1 the fasting from meat on       
,fridays1 or even the blessed salt o'   
our baptism1 if we anger the praste1 and
 he refuse to give us the holy oil at   
the last8 ,what will become o' us then8 
,what can a wicked ould praste do to    
help us8 ,it's ,god alone can strengthen

 us then4 ,i wouldn't give a penny for  
the oil4 ,it's a betther way1 darlin'1  
that ,god has provided for us4 ,it's a  
brave story that ,phelim is waiting to  
read to us4 ,there's thruth and sense in
 it1 too1 ye will find4--,it's a fine   
counthree is this1 ,masther ,barry1 and 
a free1 added ,biddy1 turning to a stout
 man1 who1 with scarcely a whole article
 in his apparel1 was lounging in the    
shade of a corner4  ,thrue for ye1 he   
replied1--though it's little ,i get out 
of it1 barrin' the sup o' whisky wi' my 
supper4  ,but ye might--the more shame  
it is4 ,ye are weel-conditioned and     
hearty4 ,it's no the counthree is to    
blame1 neighbour1 nor ,katy indade4 ,she
 works night and day for ye an' the     
childer4 ,ye are better here than over  
the sae4  ,oh1 then1 ,i don't know4     
,when ,i came to this counthree1 ,i had 
never a rag to me back1 an' now1 faith1 
,i'm nothing but rags4 ,a fine1 illigant
 counthree6  ,lave the liquor alone1    
,peter ,barry1 and ye may have the best 

of the land for yerself4 ,an' ye would  
give up the dhrinking1 a better lad     
could not be found1 nor a handsomer4    
,it's too sthrong for me4 ,it's many a  
day have ,i given it up for ever1 and   
been drunk as a beast in an hour4 ,but  
to-night1 says ,katy to me1 ',it's the  
heretic ,bible as is read at ,mrs4      
,dillon's has a cure in it for weak     
sinners like you1 ,peter dear4' ,so ,i  
came to hear a bit o' the ,bible1 an' ye
 plaze4  ,so ,kirwan's ,letters were    
laid aside1 and a ,new ,testament       
brought out4 ,phelim read very poorly1  
and was often obliged to spell over the 
long words1 and did not always succeed  
in giving the correct pronunciation2 but
 no fault was found by his eager        
listeners4 ,he read how ,christ healed  
the leper1 and poor ,peter ,barry found 
in the story a word of encouragement for
 him4 ,he read of the ,saviour's        
gracious compassion for the hungering   
multitude2 and his ignorant auditors    
praised the divine ,being who so        

sympathized with mortal infirmities4    
,phelim was often interrupted by remarks
 or approving comments1 but these in no 
way diminished the interest of the      
sacred story4     ,,chapter ,,viii4     
,,annie',s ,,death--,,annorah',s        
,,prospects4   ,on every pleasant       
evening ,biddy ,dillon's cottage was    
thronged by those who came to listen to 
the ,word of ,god4 ,it was in vain that 
,father ,m',clane opposed these         
meetings4 ,his threats and arguments1   
once so potent1 seemed now but to lessen
 his power4 ,he even secured the        
services of a neighbouring priest1 and  
with him visited each ,irish family in  
succession1 coaxing and flattering where
 his authority was not acknowledged4    
,but1 alas for him and his prospects6 he
 could do nothing with the people4  ,the
 ,protestant clergyman of the village1  
when he heard of the interest felt in   
lame ,phelim's reading1 readily came to 
their assistance1 and joyfully read and 
explained the divine lessons4 ,as their 

knowledge of the right way increased1   
their impressions of its importance to  
them personally were deepened1 and      
,annorah soon had the happiness of      
seeing not only her mother and brother  
bowing at the foot of the cross of      
,christ1 but many others earnestly      
seeking the salvation of their souls4   
,the little ,irish neighbourhood had    
been named ,new ,dublin4 ,it stood quite
 by itself1 a thick belt of wood and the
 narrow mill-stream isolating it from   
the large village1 where ,mr4 ,lee's    
residence stood4 ,nothing but the smoke1
 which in summer as well as in winter is
 ever pouring from ,irish chimneys1     
revealed to a visitor the existence of  
their pleasant hamlet4 ,still it was not
 so far retired but that1 when a wake   
was held for the dead1 the noise of the 
revelry seriously disturbed their       
quieter neighbours2 and when a row      
ensued1 as was often the case1 the      
distant uproar alarmed as well as       
annoyed the timid women and children4   

,but no one thought of interfering4 ,the
 wealthy owners of the iron-works and   
factories in the vicinity were glad to  
secure their labour1 because of its     
cheapness1 and never troubled themselves
 about an occasional noise1 if the      
general interests of their business were
 not neglected4  ,there were not wanting
 those who pitied their low estate1 and 
who would have sincerely rejoiced in    
their elevation2 but until poor invalid 
,annie ,lee began to instruct ,annorah1 
no one had dreamed of winning them1 by  
self-sacrifice and kindness1 to a       
knowledge of the truth4 ,annie herself1 
while patiently explaining over and over
 again what seemed to her as simple and 
plain as possible1 little imagined the  
glorious results that were indirectly to
 grow out of her feeble efforts4 ,but   
,god watches the least attempt to do    
good1 and fosters the tiniest seed sown2
 and ,annie1 without knowing it1 was    
sowing seed for a plenteous harvest4    
,but while the good work prospered1 she 

herself was rapidly ripening for heaven4
 ,she knew that she was hastening to a  
better land1 even a heavenly2 and she   
strove to improve every moment of the   
time that remained1 in efforts to give  
stability to ,annorah's religious       
feelings4 ,many were the conversations  
that they had together on the condition 
of the poor ,irish people1 and countless
 almost were the directions that        
,annorah received in regard to the best 
methods of winning their love and       
confidence4 ,young as she was1 ,annie   
had learned that all efforts to benefit 
the unfortunate or ignorant are vain so 
long as the cold shoulder is turned     
towards them4 ,she had proved in        
,annorah's case the magic effect of     
loving words and sympathy4  ,as the     
spring advanced1 ,annie grew weaker4    
,the mild air seemed to enervate rather 
than to brace her system1 and she grew  
daily more emaciated4 ,her paroxysms of 
pain were less frequent1 and she        
suffered most from languor and          

drowsiness4 ,it was apparent to all but 
her fond parents that her days were     
numbered4 ,they watched over her with   
the tenderest affection1 hoping when    
there was no hope1 and persuading       
themselves and each other that she would
 rally again when the ripe summer       
brought its gentle breezes and beautiful
 blossoms4  ,she is so fond of flowers  
and of the open air1 said ,mrs4 ,lee to 
,annorah1 when1 after an unusually      
restless and painful day1 ,annie had    
fallen asleep at last1 and both left the
 room to breathe the fresh evening air4 
,when the weather gets settled so that  
she can let you draw her little carriage
 down by the mill-stream again1 she will
 brighten up and get stronger4 ,it is   
enough to make a well person ill1 to be 
shut up so long4  ,ye know best1 shure1 
said ,annorah1 in her grief resuming her
 national accent and brogue--,ye know   
best1 but it's thinner and weaker she's 
getting1 and is a baby for weight in me 
arms4 ,och6 the dark day it will be for 

poor ,norah when she looks her last on  
that swate angel face6 ,and the poor    
girl burst into tears1 and covered her  
face with her apron4 ,after a few       
moments she went on to say1--,it'll go  
hard wi' ye all1 ,mrs4 ,lee3 ye'll miss 
her dear ways an' her heavenly smiles2  
she is yer own blood1 were she not an   
angel intirely4 ,but oh1 ma'am1 she's   
been to me what no words can tell2 and  
the short life o' me will seem without  
end till ,i go to wait on her above4    
,oh1 what'll ,i do without her1 when the
 whole world is dark as night8  ,mrs4   
,lee could not reply1 for she1 too1 was 
weeping4 ,there was something in        
,annorah's desolate tone that went to   
her heart1 and inspired a pitying       
affection for the plain-looking girl by 
her side1 which she would once have     
thought impossible4 ,she began to       
comprehend the mystery of ,annie's      
caressing manner to her young nurse4    
,annorah1 my poor girl1 she faltered at 
length4  ,ah1 ma'am1 in all me troubles1

 and when ,i was wickedest1 was it not  
her voice that was full and sweet with  
the pleasant encouragement8 ,oh1 core o'
 me heart1 acushla1 what'll ,i do8      
what'll ,i do8  ,we must trust in ,god1 
,annorah4 ,if he takes her from us1 it  
will be for the best1 and we must learn 
to say1 ',his will be done4' ,she will  
leave us her lovely example to guide us1
 and we shall not forget how she strove 
to do good4 ,we shall be lonely2 but is 
it not selfish in us to wish her to stay
 here and suffer8 ,god knows what is    
best for us all4  ,it was but a little  
time that they were permitted to hope4  
,fair ,annie ,lee's appointed work was  
done1 her mission of love was           
accomplished1 and she was ready to      
depart4 ,shut up by her protracted      
illness from all the ordinary paths of  
usefulness1 she had found out a way to  
work in her ,saviour's service4 ,long   
will it be ere her gentle acts of       
kindness will be forgotten1 or her      
precious influence cease to be felt by  

those who knew her4  ,she died suddenly1
 perhaps unconsciously at last4 ,annorah
 had placed her couch so that she could 
see the beautiful changes in the rich   
,june sunset2 and when she returned     
after a moment's absence to her side1   
she found that1 with a sweet smile of   
joyous triumph on her lips1 she had     
fallen asleep in ,jesus4         99     
99       99       99       99  ,annorah1
 although greatly refined by reading and
 association with educated people1 and  
especially improved by the happy        
influence of true religion1 yet retains 
enough of the characteristics of her    
nation to make her an acceptable visitor
 in the humblest cottage in ,new        
,dublin4 ,it was long after the death of
 her young mistress before she regained 
her usual cheerfulness4 ,but time1 the  
great healer of sorrow1 has gradually   
softened her grief1 and made her        
cherished memories of ,miss ,annie1 like
 beautiful pictures1 very pleasant to   
look upon4   ,,finis     ,transcriber's 

,note  ,minor typographic punctuation   
errors have been corrected without note4
  ,the frontispiece illustration has    
been moved to follow the title page4    
,there is a large amount of dialect in  
this book1 which all remains as printed 
in the original text4 ,this includes    
some variable spelling1 e4g4            
crather--crathur1 plase--plaze4  ,page  
#ee--,sharron amended to ,shannon--444  
and rinsed in the ,shannon at ,athlone  
444