Page:Selection of amusing and entertaining Irish stories.pdf/20

20 my son Edward!” exclaimed the good woman. And they were instantly locked in each other’s arms. “ My brother Edward?” said Molly; and took her turn for an embrace as soon as her mother gave her room. “ Are you my brother?” said Rose. “That I am,” replied Edward, with another kiss. Little Roger looked hard at him, but said nothing.

News of Edward’s arrival soon flew across the yard, and in came from the barn his father, his next brother, Thomas, and the third, William. The father fell on his neck, and sobbed out his welcome and blessing. Edward had not hands enough for them all to shake. An aged white-headed labourer came in, and held out his shrivelled hand. Edward gave it a hearty squeeze. “ God bless you !” said old Isaac ; “ this is the best day I have seen this many a year.” “ And where have you been this long while?” cried the father. “Eight years and more,” added the mother.

His elder brother took off his knapsack, and Molly drew him a chair. Edward seated himself, and they all gathered round him. The old dog got within the circle, and lay at his feet. “ Oh, how glad I am to see you all again !” were Edward’s first words. ‘‘ How well you look, mother ! but father grows thinner. As for the rest, I should have known none of you, unless it were Thomas and old Isaac.”

“ What a sun-burnt face you have got! but you look brave and hearty,” cries his mother.

“ Ay, mother, I have been enough in the sun, I assure you. From seventeen to five and twenty, I have been a wanderer upon the face of the earth, and I have seen more in that time than most men in the course of their lives. Our young landlord, you know, took such a liking to me at school, that he would have me go with him on his travels. We went through most of the countries of Europe, and at last to Naples, where my poor master took a fever and died. I never knew what grief was till then ; and I believe the thoughts of leaving me in a strange country went as much to his heart as his illness. An intimate acquaintance of his, a rich young West Indian, seeing my distress, engaged me to go with him, in a voyage he was about to take to Jamaica. We were too short a time in England before we sailed, for me to come and see you first; but I wrote you a letter from the Downs.”

“ We never received it,” said his father.

“That was a pity,” returned Edward ; “ for you must have concluded I was either dead, or had forgotten you. Well : we arrived safe in the West Indies, and there I stayed till I had buried that master too ; for young men die fast in that country. I was very well treated, but I could never like the place ; and