I was deeply moved, but to spare my mother's feelings I kept back my
tears. The conductor's loud voice was heard calling "All aboard." I
hastily entered the car, and taking my seat, the tears I had so long
repressed now flowed freely, till some of my fellow-passengers began to
question me, when I became ashamed of my weakness. To the many pitying
enquiries I replied that I was going a long distance from home and was
grieved at parting with my friends.

"Chare up, me man," said a good-natured Irishman who happened to be
seated near me. "I was jist yer size (only that I was bigger) when I
lift me father and mother in ould Ireland, an' come over to Ameriky."

This remark drew a burst of laughter from several of the passengers,
and, though the tears were not yet dry upon my cheek, I could not help
joining in the laugh. The man was not in the least disturbed by the
merriment of the others, but again turning to me continued:

"As I was a tellin' ye, an older brother an' mesilf crossed the sea to
Ameriky, an' the first year we arned money enough to fetch over the ould
folks, and we are now livin' altogether agin, in the city uv Montreal,
where we have a nate little home uv our own as your two eyes could
light upon." The friendly talk of the Irishman both amused and cheered
me. How true it is that kind and sympathizing words never fail to cheer
the desponding heart.




CHAPTER VIII.