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Manners, J. Hartley, 1870-1928

"Peg O' My Heart"

"
"London!"
"Aye. She's with an aunt o' hers bein' educated an' the like"
"Is it English ye're goin' to bring her up?" cried the doctor in
horror and disgust. "No, it's not, Docthor McGinnis--an' ye ought to
know me betther than to sit there an' ask me such a question. Bring
her up English? when the one regret o' me life is I never knew
enough Gaelic to tache her the language so that we'd be free of the
English speech anyway. Bring her up English! I never heard the like
o' that in me life"
"Then what is she doin' there at all?"
"Now listen, McGinnis, and listen well--an' then we'll never ask
such a question again. When the good Lord calls me to Himself it's
little enough I'll have to lave little Peg. An' that thought has
been throublin' me these years past. I'm not the kind that makes
money easily or that kapes the little I earn. An' the chance came to
give Peg advantages I could never give her. Her mother's people
offered to take her and it's with them she has been this last month.
But with all their breedin' an' their fine manners and soft speech
they've not changed Peg--not changed her in the least. Her letthers
to me are just as sweet an' simple as if she were standin' there
talkin' to me. An' I wish she were standin' here--now--this minnit,"
and his eyes filled up and he turned away.


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