Always indeed in some quiet and inoffensive shape was the partiality she bore him observable; and sometimes it consisted in a postponement of his wishes or comforts to those of her other children, because she felt that she might do with him that which she could not with the others--thus calculating as it were upon his greater affection.
But it is wonderful to reflect in how many ways, and through what ingenious devices the human heart can exhibit its tenderness.
Arthur, as Bryan entered, had concluded the devotions he had been reading for her, and relinquished to him the chair he had occupied.

On approaching, he was at once struck by the awful change for the worse, which so very brief a period had impressed upon her features.

On leaving home that morning she appeared to be comparatively strong, and not further diminished in flesh than a short uneasy ailment might naturally occasion.

But now her face, pallid and absolutely emaciated, had shrunk into half its size, and was, beyond all possibility of hope or doubt, stamped with the unequivocal impress of death.
Bryan, in a state which it is impossible to describe and very difficult to conceive, took her hand, and after a short glance at her features, now so full of ghastliness and the debility which had struck her down, he stooped, and, kissing her lips, burst out into wild and irrepressible sorrow.
"Bryan, dear," she said, after a pause, and when his grief had somewhat subsided, "why will you give way to this?
Sure it was on you I placed my dependence--I hoped that, instead of settin' the rest an example for weakness, you'd set them one that they might and ought to follow--I sent for you, Bryan, to make it my request that, if it's the will of God to take me from among you, you might support an' console the others, an' especially your poor father; for I needn't tell you that along wid the pain I'm bearin', my heart is sore and full o sorrow for what I know he'll suffer when I'm gone.

May the Lord pity and give him strength!--for I can say on my dyin' bed that, from the first day I ever seen his face until now, he never gave me a harsh word or an unkind look, an' that you all know." "Oh how could he, mother dear?
how could any one give you that?
Who was it that ever knew you could trate you with anything but respect and affection ?" "I hope I always struv to do my duty, Bryan, towards God an' my childre', and my fellow-creatures; an' for that raison I'm not frightened at death.