My father did persevere, and to his great joy, he got three premiums.
"I cannot tell how it has happened, wife," said he, "I have certainly acquired the premiums, but O'Brien's tulips were, to my notion, far more beautiful than mine; and you yourself saw how much larger his salad was; and then the early strawberries—I had the greatest quantity, but his were the largest."
My mother certainly was glad that my father's spirit was elated, but she was of a timid, nervous temperament, and she could not bear excitement of any kind. She therefore trembled very much whilst he stood talking to her, nor was she the less agitated when Patrick O'Brien entered the room.
"Right glad am I, neighbour Pan, that you have the three prizes this day," said honest Patrick, "and you must try your luck again, for there's to be a great prize given next year. Early peas, my boy. Arrah, but won't I try for them; and you have a fine warm spot for them too. But, mistress Pan, for what are you not wishing your husband joy this bright day, seeing he has what he so long wished for?"
"Mr. O'Brien," said my mother, the next day, "it must not be done again; my husband will find it out, and he will die of vexation. Pray discourage him from making the attempt next spring, for he will not bear a disappointment so well then as he has hitherto done. Did no one see you put the large strawberries in his dish?"
"No, never a creature, and I'm wondering you'll mention a thing to me that I have almost forgotten. I was frightful, though, about the Parrot tulip, for one of the gentlemen would keep talking about it, and I had to keep saying, 'It's not a Parrot, your honour, it's a Bijou.'"
