Only an Irish Boy | Page 5

America
with her two children, and did so. That was five years before. They had
lived in various places--but the little sum she had left over, after the
passage of the three was paid, had long since melted away, and she was
forced to get a living as she could.
Since she had come to Crampton, leaving Andy at work for a farmer in
the place where they had last lived, she had obtained what sewing she
could from the families in the village, and had besides obtained a
chance to help about the ironing at Colonel Preston's. Washing was too
hard for her, for her strength was not great.
At the time of our introduction she was engaged in making a shirt, one
of half a dozen which she had engaged to make for Dr. Plympton, the
village doctor. She had no idea that Andy was so near, having heard
nothing of his having left his place, but it was of him she was speaking.
"I wish I could see Andy," she sighed, looking up from her work.
"So do I, mother."
"The sight of him would do my eyes good, he's such a lively lad, Andy
is--always in good spirits."
"Shure, he's got a good heart, mother dear. It wouldn't be so lonely like
if he was here."
"I would send for him if there was anything to do, Mary; but we are so
poor that we must all of us stay where we can get work."
"When do you go to Colonel Preston's, mother? Is it to-morrow?"
"Yes, my dear."
"I'm always lonely when you are away."
"Perhaps you would come with me, Mary, dear. Mrs. Preston wouldn't

object, I'm thinkin'."
"If Andy was at home I wouldn't feel so lonely."
While she was speaking Andy himself had crept under the window, and
heard her words. He was planning a surprise, but waited for the last
moment to announce himself. He waited to hear what reply his mother
would say.
"I think we'll see him soon, Mary, dear."
"What makes you say so, mother?"
"I don't know. I've got a feeling in my bones that we'll soon meet. The
blessed saints grant that it may be so."
"Your bones are right this time, mother," said a merry voice.
And Andy, popping up from his stooping position, showed himself at
the window.
There was a simultaneous scream from Mary and her mother.
"Is it you, Andy?" exclaimed Mary.
"It isn't nobody else," said Andy, rather ungrammatically.
"Come in, Andy, my darling--come in, and tell me if you are well," said
his mother, dropping the shirt on which she was at work, and rising to
her feet.
"I'll be with you in a jiffy," said Andy.
And, with a light leap, he cleared the window sill, and stood in the
presence of his mother and sister, who vied with each other in hugging
the returned prodigal.
"You'll choke me, Sister Mary," said Andy, good-humoredly. "Maybe
you think I'm your beau."

"Don't speak to her of beaux, and she only eleven years old," said his
mother. "But you haven't told us why you came."
"Faith, mother, it was because the work gave out, and I thought I'd pack
my trunk and come and see you and Mary. That's all."
"We are glad to see you, Andy, dear, but," continued his mother, taking
a survey of her son's appearance for the first time, "you're lookin' like a
beggar, with your clothes all in rags."
Andy laughed.
"Faith, it's about so, mother. There was no one to mend 'em for me, and
I'm more used to the hoe than the needle."
"I will sew up some of the holes when you're gone to bed, Andy. Are
you sure you're well, lad?"
"Well, mother? Jist wait till you see me atin', mother. You'll think I've
got a healthy appetite."
"I never thought, Andy. The poor lad must be hungry. Mary, see what
there is in the closet."
"There's nothing but some bread, mother," said Mary.
Indeed bread and potatoes were the main living of the mother and
daughter, adopted because they were cheap. They seldom ventured on
the extravagance of meat, and that was one reason, doubtless, for Mrs.
Burke's want of strength and sometimes feeling faint and dizzy while
working at her needle.
"Is there no meat in the house, Mary?"
"Not a bit, mother."
"Then go and see if there's an egg outside."
The widow kept a few hens, having a henhouse in one corner of the

back yard. The eggs she usually sold, but Andy was at home now, and
needed something hearty, so they must be more extravagant than usual.
Mary went out, and quickly returned with a couple of eggs.
"Here they are, mother, two of them. The black hen was