on his christenin', aither give him more health or make us love him
betther? It's not the first time; Honora, that I've heard yourself make
little of some of our nabors for goin' beyant their ability in gettin'
up big christenins. Don't be foolish now thin when it comes to your own
turn."

The wife took the babe up, and, after having gazed affectionately on
its innocent features, replied to him, in a voice of tenderness and
reproof--

"God knows, Fardorougha, an' if I do act wid folly, as you call it, in
gettin' ready his christenin', surely, surely you oughtn't to blame the
mother for that. Little I thought, acushla oge, that your own father
'ud begrudge you as good a christenin' as is put over any other nabor's
child. I'm afraid, Fardorougha, he's not as much in your heart as he
ought to be."

"It's a bad proof of love for him, Honora, to put to the bad what
may an' would be serviceable to him hereafter. You only think for the
present; but I can't forget that he's to be settled in the world, an'
you know yourself what poor means we have o' doin' that, an' that if we
begin to be extravagant an' wasteful, bekase God has sent him, we may
beg wid him afore long."

"There's no danger of us beggin' wid him. No," she continued, the
pride of the mother having been touched, "my boy will never beg--no,
avourneen--you never will--nor shame or disgrace will never come upon
him aither. Have you no trust in God, Fardorougha?"

"God never helps them that neglect themselves, Honora."