Going to Maynooth: Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume ThreeCarleton, William
General
Going to Maynooth: Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“Then, throth, we're sorry for what has happened, poor man. But the
never a one o' me, Denis, saw the laste sign of liquor about him.
Throth, we will make it up wid him, thin. An' we'll be kind to his
daughter, too, Denis.”
“Then as a proof that you will follow my advice, I lay it on you as a
duty, to let me know how they are, whenever you write to me.”
“Throth, we will, Denis;--indeed will we. Come in now, dear; this is
the last night you're to be wid us, an' they're all missin! you in the
house.”
On that night no person slept in Denis O'Shaughnessy's, except our hero,
and his mother and sisters. As morning approached a heaviness of spirits
prevailed among the family, which of course was not felt by any except
his immediate relations. The more distant friends, who remained with
them for the night, sang and plied the bottle with a steadiness which
prevented them from feeling the want of rest. About six o'clock,
breakfast was ready, Denis dressed, and every arrangement made for his
immediate departure. His parents--his brothers, and his sisters were
all in tears, and he himself could master his emotions with great
difficulty. At length the hour to which the family of our candidate had
long looked forward, arrived, and Denis rose to depart for Maynooth.
Except by the sobs and weeping, the silence was unbroken when he stood
up to bid them farewell.
The first he embraced was his eldest brother, Brian: “Brian,” said he,
but he could not proceed--his voice failed him: he then extended his
hand, but Brian clasped him in tis arms--kissed his beloved brother, and
wept with strong grief; even then there was not a dry eye in the house.
The parting with his other brothers was equally tender--they wept loudly
and bitterly, and Denis joined in their grief. Then came his sisters,
who, one by one, hung upon him, and sobbed as if he had been dead. The
grief of his youngest sister, Susan, was excessive. She threw her arms
about his neck, and said she would not let him go; Denis pressed her
to his heart, and the grief which he felt, seemed to penetrate his very
soul.
“Susan,” said he, “Susan, may the blessing of God rest upon you till I
see you again!”--and the affectionate girl was literally torn from his
arms.
But how came the most affecting part of the ceremony. His parents had
stood apart--their hands locked in each other, both in tears, whilst
he took leave of the rest. He now approached his mother, and reverently
kneeling down, implored in words scarcely intelligible, her blessing
and forgiveness; he extended both his hands--“Mother,” he added, “I
ask--humbly and penitently, I ask your blessing; it will be sweet to me
from your beloved lips, dear mother;--pardon me if I ever--as I feel I
often did--caused you a pang of sorrow by my disobedience and folly. Oh,
pardon me--pardon me for all now! Bless your son, kindest of mothers,
with your best and tenderest blessing!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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