Provided with such documents I was informed that the gates of knowledge were more than half ajar for me, without an effort upon my part.

One only portion of all the arrangements I heard with anything like pleasure; it was decided that my man Mickey was to accompany me to Dublin, and remain with me during my stay.
It was upon a clear, sharp morning in January, of the year 18--, that I took my place upon the box-seat of the old Galway mail and set out on my journey.

My heart was depressed, and my spirits were miserably low.

I had all that feeling of sadness which leave-taking inspires, and no sustaining prospect to cheer me in the distance.

For the first time in my life, I had seen a tear glisten in my poor uncle's eye, and heard his voice falter as he said, "Farewell!" Notwithstanding the difference of age, we had been perfectly companions together; and as I thought now over all the thousand kindnesses and affectionate instances of his love I had received, my heart gave way, and the tears coursed slowly down my cheeks.