“Very well,” said the father, “now let us hear, Art; come, alanna, what are you on for?”
“I'll not take any trade,” replied Art.
“Not take any trade, Art! why, my goodness, sure you knew all along that you war for a trade. Don't you know when you and Frank grow up, and, of course, must take the world on your heads, that it isn't this strip of a farm that you can depend on.”
“That's what I think of,” said Frank; “one's not to begin the world wid empty pockets, or, any way, widout some ground to put one's foot on.”
“The world!” rejoined Art; “why, what the sorra puts thoughts o' the world into your head, Frank? Isn't it time enough for you or me to think o' the world these ten years to come?”
“Ay,” replied Frank, “but when we come to join it isn't the time to begin to think of it; don't you know what the ould saying says—ha nha la na guiha la na scuillaba—it isn't on the windy day that you are to look for your scollops.” *
* The proverb inculcates forethought and provision.
Scollop is an osier sharpened at both ends, by which
the thatch of a house is fastened down to the roof. Of
a windy day the thatch alone would be utterly useless,
if there were no scollops to keep it firm.
“An' what 'ud prevent you, Art, from goin' to larn a trade?” asked his father.
“I'd rather stay with you,” replied the affectionate boy; “I don't like to leave you nor the family, to be goin' among strangers.”
The unexpected and touching nature of his motive, so different from what was expected, went immediately to his father's heart. He looked at his fine boy, and was silent for a minute, after which he wiped the moisture from his eyes. Art, on seeing his father affected, became so himself, and added—