— You are most ^|2gloriously^2| kind as ever, dear relative, Shaun said. But ^|2'tis time to be up and going. ^|aThis place is not big enough for us now.^{a|2| |2}come Come^2| — ^|2my our^2| good feet^|2, corns and all^2|. ^|2Was not our mother a Runningwater?^2| Farewell awhile till we meet to part no more. So here goes. ^|2|aI bless you all to the west as Whatshisname said to the Kerryboys.^a| Won. Toe. ^|aDry. A dry.^a|2| You watch ^|2my our^2| smoke.

^|2|aAfter poor ^|bShaun the Post's Jaun the Boast's^b| last words ending in smoke^a| Twentyeight & one ^|aof the paddling party^a| came to his assistance but^2| Repulsing all attempts at first aid I perceived ^|2greatly misunderstood^2| Shaun to give himself some sort of a kick or prod ^|2up to sit up & take notice^{2| |2}which acted like magic^2| while all the daughters of February Filldyke voiced their approval in the customary manner by dropping to their knees & clapping together the flats of their hands ^|2as they viewed him away^2|. ^|2Going Easygoing^2| Shaun then I saw to take from the gentlest weeper amongst all the wailers ^|2who were already in half mourning for the passing of the post^2| the familiar yellow label into which he let fall a tear, smothered a sigh, choked a cough, checked a sob, spat a spit & blew his own trumpet. Next he licked its stickyback side and stamped the badge of belief to his brow, ^|2and then having turned the feminine world upside down with a half a glance ^|afrom under his shaggy eyebrows^a|, he^2| waved a hand across the sea as notice to quit, ^|2|xFain too they have followed him dancing most modestly ^|aall the way^a|, praying of him to give them his blessing.^x|2| but
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in selfrighting himself ^|2to exchange embraces with her^2| he toppled ^|2to the left slightly to the off^2| and, making a brandnew start, ^|2|ahe blessed by ^|bblessing making a sign of a cross on^b|a| himself ^|ain a hurry hurriedly^a| &^{2| |2}his hat blew off and he bucketed after &^{2| |2}couriered kingscouriered^2| off ^|2on Shanks's mare (the bouchal, you would say 'twas ^|aon^a| that moment they gave him the legs)^2| adown his ^|2way highroad^{2| |2}apast blank Bridge (which, by the way, he narrowly missed fouling)^2| following which he quickly was lost to sight though still, of course, ^|2all the more on that account^2| to memory dear.

^|2Wethen,^2| May the good people speed you, rural Shaun, ^|2export^2| stout fellow that you are, ay, and heart & soul of Shamrogueshire! May your bawny hair grow fairer & rarer, our own only whiteheaded boy! Just by nature & natural by design had you but been spared to us^|2, Jauny lad,^2| you will be long looked after from last to first as the beam of light we follow receding on your pilgrimage to the antipodes of the past, you, who so often consigned your tidings of great joy into our never toº late to love ^|2box letterbox^2|, ^|2dear dearest^2| Shaun of all, ^|2you of the boots^2| our true pennyatimer! ^|2Thy now paling lamp we may perchanmce ne'er see again. Ah, if it could ^|aonly^a| speak how it ^|acould would^a| splutter! out praises be to thee. For you had — may I say it? — a glow of zeal of service such as ^|aI have rarely seen rarely, if ever, have I seen^a| in any 1 man's bosom.^2| There are men still unclaimed by the death angel who will ^|2pray fervently fervently pray to the Spirit above^2| that they may never depart this earth of ours till ^|2you come Johnny ^|athe Quickest^a| comes^2| marching home. Life, it is true, will
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be a dream without you, a slip of the time between a date and a date from tonight to yesterday morning. But you did your strong 9 furlong mile in slick & slapstick style — a ^|2good^2| deed ^|2man docile, high bouncing serviceman, & one^2| that will be talked of for centuries — And already the sombrer portion of the gloom is gone. Brave footsore Shaun! Hold to! Win out, sir! The silent cock shall crow at last. The west will shake the east awake. Walk while you have the night for the noon cometh wherein every post shall sleep.