Domestic Happiness in the Irish Cabin. 349 



rate vicious habits, to the destruction of all 

 the true felicities of life. The sacrifice of 

 domestic happiness in the cabin may be the 

 price of fine clothes for children ; or, in other 

 words, the multiplication of wants, though 

 justified by augmented earnings, is no security 

 for the uninterrupted continuance of that 

 sincerity of affection which now lightens 

 the misery of the wet mud floor, by a par- 

 ticipation in the wretchedness endured. The 

 exposed cottier on the bog, unsheltered and 

 unpossessed of comforts when at home, partakes 

 more of the substantial blessings of man, than 

 the well protected, well appointed artisan in the 

 city with treble his earnings. The former is 

 far removed from the casualties, which are 

 closely impending over the head of the latter ; 

 and when those to which he is obnoxious 

 threaten or assail him, he is better provided, by 

 being aware of their approach. Compare the 

 indulging, happy mother, existing only in her 

 wretched cabin, with the high-fed alluring damsel 

 partaking the luxuries of any great town. The 

 exterior of the latter far surpasses that of the 

 former but how do they contrast in every 

 quality that constitutes individual earthly happi- 

 ness, and contributes to command respect ? 



: 

 On this view of the subject, I cannot but 



