habitable globe, I verily believe that that of the Irish is the most
profound and unfathomable; and the most difficult on which to form a
system, either social, moral, or religious.

It would be difficult, for example, to produce a more signal instance of
energy, system, and perseverance than that exhibited in Ireland during
the struggle for Emancipation. Was there not flattery to the dust?
blarney to the eyes? heads broken? throats cut? houses burned? and
cattle houghed? And why? Was it for the mere pleasure of blarney--of
breaking heads (I won't dispute the last point, though, because I
scorn to give up the glory of the national character),--of cutting
throats--burning houses--or houghing cattle? No; but to secure
Emancipation. In attaining that object was exemplified that Irish method
of gaining a point.

"Yes," said Jemmy, "to the divil I pitch slavery! I will come home able
to rise yez from your poverty, or never show my face in the parish of
Ballysogarth agin."

When the lad's determination was mentioned to his mother and the family,
there was a loud and serious outcry against it: for no circumstance is
relished that ever takes away a member from an Irish hearth, no matter
what the nature of that circumstance may be.

"Och, thin, is it for that _bocaun_ (* soft, innocent person) of a boy
to set off wid himself, runnin' through the wide world afther larnin',
widout money or friends! Avourneen, put it out of yer head. No; struggle
on as the rest of us is doin', an' maybe yell come as well off at the
long run."