Art’s enjoyments, for instance, were always of a social nature, and never either solitary or useful in their tendencies; of this character was every thing he engaged in.  He would not make a ship of water flaggons by himself, nor sail it by himself—­he would not spin a top, nor trundle a hoop without a companion—­if sent upon a message, or to dig a basket of potatoes in the field, he would rather purchase the society of a companion with all the toys or playthings he possessed than do either alone.  His very lessons he would not get unless his brother Frank got his along with him.  The reader may thus perceive that he acquired no early habit of self-restraint, no principle of either labor or enjoyment within, himself, and of course could acquire none at all of self-reliance.  A social disposition in our amusements is not only proper, but natural, for we believe it is pretty generally known, that he who altogether prefers such amusements is found to be deficient in the best and most generous principles of our nature.  Every thing, however, has its limits and its exceptions.  Art, if sent to do a day’s work alone, would either abandon it entirely, and bear the brunt of his father’s anger, or he would, as we have said, purchase the companionship of some neighbor’s son or child, for, provided he had any one to whom he could talk, he cared not, and having thus succeeded, he would finish it triumphantly.

In due time, however, his great prevailing weakness, vanity, became well known to his family, who, already aware of his peculiar aversion to any kind of employment that was not social, immediately seized upon it, and instead of taking rational steps to remove it, they nursed it into stronger life by pandering to it as a convenient means of regulating, checking, or stimulating the whole habits of his life.  His family were not aware of the moral consequences which they were likely to produce by conduct such as this, nor of the pains they were ignorantly taking to lay the foundation of his future misfortune and misery.

“Art, my good boy, will you take your spade and clane out the remaindher o’ that drain, between the Hannigans and us,” said his father.

“Well, will Frank come?”

“Sure you know he can’t; isn’t he weedin’ that bit of blanther in Crackton’s park, an’ afther that sure he has to cut scraws on the Pirl-hill for the new barn.”

“Well, I’ll help him if he helps me; isn’t that fair?  Let us join.”

“Hut, get out o’ that, avourneen; go yourself; do what you’re bid, Art.”

“Is it by myself? murdher alive, father, don’t ax me; I’ll give him my new Cammon if he comes.”

“Throth you won’t; the sorra hand I’d ever wish to see the same Cammon in but your own; faix, it’s you that can handle it in style.  Well now, Art, well becomes myself but I thought I could play a Cammon wid the face o’ clay wanst in my time, but may I never sin if ever I could match you at it; oh, sorra taste o’ your Cammon you must part wid; sure I’d rather scower the drain myself.”