In the meantime the boy gave no symptoms of returning life, and the master, after desiring a few of the scholars to bring him oat to the air, became pale as death with apprehension. He immediately withdrew to his private apartment, which joined the schoolroom, and sent out his wife to assist in restoring him to animation. With some difficulty this was accomplished. The unhappy boy at once remembered what had just occurred; and the bitter tears gushed from his eyes, as he knelt down, and exclaimed “Merciful Father of heaven and earth, have pity on me! You see my heart, great God! and that what I did, I did for the best!”
“Avourneen,” said the woman, “he's passionate, an' never mind him. Come in an' beg his pardon for callin' him a liar, an' I'll become spokesman for you myself. Come, acushla, an' I'll get lave for you to stay in the school still.”
“Oh, I'm hurted!” said the poor youth: “I'm hurted inwardly—somewhere about the back, and about my ribs!” The pain he felt brought the tears down his pale cheeks. “I wish I was at home!” said he. “I'll give up all and go home!” The lonely boy then laid his head upon his hands, as he sat on the ground, and indulged in a long burst of sorrow.
“Well,” said a manly-looking little fellow, whilst the tears stood in his eyes, “I'll tell my father this, anyhow. I know he won't let me come to this school any more. Here, Jemmy, is a piece of my bread, maybe it will do you good.”
“I couldn't taste it, Frank dear,” said Jemmy; “God bless you; but I couldn't taste it.”
“Do,” said Frank; “maybe it will bate back the pain.”
“Don't ask me, Frank dear,” said Jemmy; “I couldn't ate it: I'm hurted inwardly.”
“Bad luck to me!” exclaimed the indignant boy, “if ever my ten toes will darken this school door agin. By the livin' farmer, if they ax me at home to do it, I'll run away to my uncle's, so I will. Wait, Jemmy, I'll be big yit; an', be the blessed Gospel that's about my neck, I'll give the same masther a shirtful of sore bones, the holy an' blessed minute I'm able to do it.”
Many of the other boys declared that they would acquaint their friends with the master's cruelty to the poor scholar; but Jemmy requested them not to do so, and said that he was determined to return home the moment he should be able to travel.
The affrighted woman could not prevail upon him to seek a reconciliation with her husband, although the expressions of the other scholars induced her to press him to it, even to entreaty. Jemmy arose, and with considerable difficulty reached the Curate's house, found him at home, and, with tears in his eyes, related to him the atrocious conduct of the master.