Page:Selection of amusing and entertaining Irish stories.pdf/22

22 “ Having remained here a considerable time, I gladly, at length, set my face homewards, and joined, a company who undertook the long and perilous journey to Europe overland. We crossed vast tracts, both desert and cultivated ; sand plains parched with heat and drought, and infested with bands of ferocious plunderers. I have seen a well of muddy water more valued than ten camel-loads of treasure ; and a few half-naked horsemen strike more terror than a king with all his guards. At length, after numberless hardships and dangers, we arrived at civilized Europe, and forgot all we had suffered. As I came nearer my native land, I grew more and more impatient to reach it; and when I had set foot on it, I was still more restless till I could see again my beloved home.

“Here I am at last—-happy in bringing back a sound constitution and a clear conscience. I have also brought enough of the relics of my honest gains to furnish a little farm in the neighbourhood, where I mean to sit down and spend my days in the midst of those whom I love better than all the world besides.”

When Edward had finished, kisses and kind shakes of the hand were again repeated ; and his mother brought out a largo slice of harvest-cake, with a bottle of her nicest currant wine, to refresh him after his day’s march. “You are come, ” said his father, “at a lucky time; for this is our harvest supper. We shall have some of our neighbours to make merry with us, who will be almost as glad to see you as we are ; for you were always a favourite among them.”

It was not long before the visitors arrived. The young folks ran to meet them, crying, “ Our Edward’s come back—our Edward’s come home! Here he is—-this is he;” and so, without ceremony, they introduced them. “Welcome! welcome ! God bless you! ” sounded on all sides. Edward knew all the elderly ones at first sight; but the young people puzzled him for a while. At length, he recollected this to have been his school-fellow, and that his companion in driving plough; and he was not long in finding out his favourite and play-fellow, Sally, of the next farm-house, whom he left a romping girl of fifteen, and now saw a blooming full-formed young woman of three-and-twenty. He contrived, in the evening, to get next her; and, though she was somewhat reserved at first, they had pretty well renewed their intimacy before the company broke up.

“ Health to Edward, and a happy settlement among us ! ” was the parting toast.—-When all were retired, the Returned Wanderer went to rest in the very room in which he was born, having first paid fervent thanks to Heaven for preserving him to enjoy a blessing, the dearest to his heart.