THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S, 71 



is money," he said; " an' I'll just take one of these 

 horses. I wonther which one of the lazy rogues I'd 

 bether take." 



Dick whinnied, as much as to say, "I'll go.'* 



"Ah! ye rogue, would ye thry yer ould thrick an' 

 run away wid me ? But ye're the fastest one of the lot, 

 an' I'll thry ye anyhow." 



He harnessed Dick, and hitched him to the bugg3\ 

 Once in the highway, Dick skimmed over the ground 

 like a bird and soon brought the physician to Mrs. 

 Shane's bedside. 



" It was just a case of overwork and lack of sleep," 

 said the physician. "Too much hard work in the day, 

 and sitting up of nights, and all she needed was com- 

 plete rest." 



Mr. Tracy came over that day to see Shane. 



" Things are worse than ever, now, neighbor Tracy," 

 said Shane, and he related his new misfortune in his 

 wife's sickness. "Wh}^, I never thought about her 

 overworkin' herself," he said. 



"Well, if you'll allow me to speak plainly to you, 

 neighbor Shane, you should have seen that your wife 

 was breaking down under the strain of increased duties 

 that have been put upon her since your sickness." 



"I admit it," said Shane; "but I had so many 

 things to think of that I never thought of it." 



"Why, my dear friend, is there anything more im- 

 portant to 3^ou than the health and happiness of your 

 family? The happiness of those who are dependent 

 upon you should be the uppermost thought in your 



