During the few days that intervened between our hero’s birth and his christening, Fardorougha’s mind was engaged in forming some fixed principle by which to guide his heart in the conflict that still went on between avarice and affection.  In this task he imagined that the father predominated over the miser almost without a struggle; whereas, the fact was, that the subtle passion, ever more ingenious than the simple one, changed its external character, and came out in the shape of affectionate forecast and provident regard for the wants and prospects of his child.  This gross deception of his own heart he felt as a relief; for, though smitten with the world, it did not escape him that the birth of his little one, all its circumstances considered, ought to have caused him to feel an enjoyment unalloyed by the care and regret which checked his sympathies as a parent.  Neither was conscience itself altogether silent, nor the blunt remonstrances of his servants wholly without effect.  Nay, so completely was his judgment overreached that he himself attributed this anomalous state of feeling to a virtuous effort of Christian duty, and looked upon the encroachments which a desire of saving wealth had made on his heart as a manifest proof of much parental attachment.  He consequently loved his wealth through the medium of his son, and laid it down as a fixed principle that every act of parsimony on his part was merely one of prudence, and had the love of a father and an affectionate consideration for his child’s future welfare to justify it.

The first striking instance of this close and griping spirit appeared upon an occasion which seldom fails to open, in Ireland at least, all the warm and generous impulses of our mature.  When his wife deemed it necessary to make those hospitable preparations for their child’s christening, which are so usual in the country, he treated her intention of complying with this old custom as a direct proof—­of unjustifiable folly and extravagance—­nay, his remonstrance with her exhibited such remarkable good sense and prudence, that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to controvert it, or to perceive that it originated from any other motive than a strong interest in the true welfare of their child.

“Will our wasting meat and money, an’ for that matthur health and time, on his christenin’, aither give him more health or make us love him betther?  It’s not the first time; Honora, that I’ve heard yourself make little of some of our nabors for goin’ beyant their ability in gettin’ up big christenins.  Don’t be foolish now thin when it comes to your own turn.”

The wife took the babe up, and, after having gazed affectionately on its innocent features, replied to him, in a voice of tenderness and reproof—­

“God knows, Fardorougha, an’ if I do act wid folly, as you call it, in gettin’ ready his christenin’, surely, surely you oughtn’t to blame the mother for that.  Little I thought, acushla oge, that your own father ‘ud begrudge you as good a christenin’ as is put over any other nabor’s child.  I’m afraid, Fardorougha, he’s not as much in your heart as he ought to be.”