The Poor Scholar Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three

"The Poor Scholar" by William Carleton is a story set in 19th-century Ireland about a young boy named Jemmy M'Evoy from an impoverished family who dreams of a better life through education. The beginning shows Jemmy and his father, Dominick, working hard in tough conditions, highlighting their struggles and resentments towards the wealthy Protestant landowners. Driven by a strong desire to lift his family out of hardship, Jemmy decides to travel to Munster to become a scholar and eventually a priest, hoping to return and support them. The book hints at important topics like poverty, big dreams, love within families, and the difficulties faced by the Irish working class. It starts with a sad but hopeful goodbye, as Jemmy leaves his loving parents to pursue a brighter future.