Дублінці
A Mother
Hewassober,thriftyandpious;hewenttothealtareveryfirstFriday,sometimeswithher,oftenerbyhimself.Butsheneverweakenedinherreligionandwasagoodwifetohim.Atsomepartyinastrangehousewhensheliftedhereyebroweversoslightlyhestooduptotakehisleaveand,whenhiscoughtroubledhim,sheputtheeider-downquiltoverhisfeetandmadeastrongrumpunch.Forhispart,hewasamodelfather.Bypayingasmallsumeveryweekintoasociety,heensuredforbothhisdaughtersadowryofonehundredpoundseachwhentheycametotheageoftwenty-four.Hesenttheolderdaughter,Kathleen,toagoodconvent,whereshelearnedFrenchandmusic,andafterwardpaidherfeesattheAcademy.EveryyearinthemonthofJulyMrs.Kearneyfoundoccasiontosaytosomefriend:
“MygoodmanispackingusofftoSkerriesforafewweeks.”
IfitwasnotSkerriesitwasHowthorGreystones.
WhentheIrishRevivalbegantobeappreciableMrs.Kearneydeterminedtotakeadvantageofherdaughter’snameandbroughtanIrishteachertothehouse.KathleenandhersistersentIrishpicturepostcardstotheirfriendsandthesefriendssentbackotherIrishpicturepostcards.OnspecialSundays,whenMr.Kearneywentwithhisfamilytothepro-cathedral,alittlecrowdofpeoplewouldassembleaftermassatthecornerofCathedralStreet.
