after-breakfast pipe, looking upon their little cares, and their
struggles for precedence in being decked out with their humble finery;
now rebuking an elder boy for his impatience and want of consideration
in not allowing his juniors to get first dressed, and again soothing a
younger one until his turn came.

"Barney, troth you ought to have more sinse, avick, than to be
quarrellin' wid poor Jemmy about gettin' an you. Don't you know he's
but a child, an' must of coorse get his little things an before you,
espishially as this is the first Sunday of the crathur's new jacket an'
throwsers. Blood alive, Barney, be manly, and don't make comparishment
wid a _pasitah_ (child). I hope you've got off your lesson in the
catechiz this mornin', and that you wont have to hang down your head wid
the blush of shame among the _bouchaleens_ (little boys) in the chapel
to-day. Go 'way, avick, and rehearse it, an' whin your mother finishes
him, and Dick, and little Mary, she'll have yourself as clane as a new
sixpence."

Then came the moment when the neat and well-dressed groups issued out
of their happy homes, and sought in cheerful companionship with those
of different creeds, their respective places of worship; for, gentle
reader, the inhabitants of Ballydhas were, in point of religion, some
Protestant, some Roman Catholic, and others Presbyterian. Many a time
have we seen them proceed together in peace and friendship along the
same road, until they separated either to church, to meeting, or to
chapel; and again return on their way home, in a spirit equally cordial
and kind. The demon of political discord and religious rancor had not
come among them. Each class in the parish worshipped God after its own
manner. All were happy, and industrious, and independent, for they had
not then been taught that they were slaves and natural enemies groaning