God bless you, a _colleen machree_, an' make you what you ought to be!" Sarah, during many a long day, had not heard herself addressed in an accent of kindness or affection; for it would be wrong to bestow upon the rude attachment which her father entertained for her, or his surly mode of expressing it, any term that could indicate tenderness, even in a remote degree.

She looked, therefore, at the woman earnestly, and as she did, her whole manner changed to one of melancholy and kindness.

A soft and benign expression came like the dawn of breaking day over her features, her voice fell into natural melody and sweetness, and, approaching her companion, she took her hand and exclaimed-- "May God bless you for them words! it's many a day since I heard the voice o' kindness.

I'll get the box, if it's to be had, if it was only for your own sake." She then passed on to her neighbor's house, and the next appearance of her companion was that in which the reader caught, a glimpse of her in the house of Darby Skinadre, from which she followed Nelly M'Gowan and Mave Sullivan with an appearance of such interest..