Washington telegraph., 1847-02-24
THE ADOPTED CHILDREN.
ny JOHN nRouGIiAM.

The following We take from tho New
York Albion. fhs narrator, after giving
some previous incidents ol voyage in
steamboat on the great Northern lakes,
says:
1.-The attention ol one oil our lady passen.
gers was directed 10 an honrst.iaeed Irish
labnrer, who, with his wiic and three ehl.
dren, was iourneyins 10 seek his fortune in
the Far West. The children were per.
leelly bcauliiul=-,he eldest was about 81.
soa years of age ani the youngest was ah
infant. They beeame especial hvariles
with all on heard, and were taken frequent.
ly inlo the cabin, faf the purpose of being
made most uucomlofiably comfortable with
sweeimcals, aud other lofeign and inliges.
table dclicaeies.
One day, delighted with her lllle com
paniuns, ous philnsPhic fellow passenger
was struck with luminous idea! Al
dressing herself 10 ne, she said;
81 have taken an immense fancy 10 these
Iililc clean ragged children. | have none
oi my own. This man seems very poor
| wonder If he would feel inclined Ia part
with one OF ihcml would adopt aud rear
/, ns my own"
Although had considerable doubt az to
the result, | offered my services as nega.
liator, and proceeded Immediately upon my
delicate diplomacy, Finding my friend un
deck, thus opened the affair. after somc
bfirflcairfs.
You are very poor, arc you nol"
Ills answer was Characteristic
"poof, SIR said he. "ay IL there
poorer man than me lroublin' the world,
God pity both oy uz. Tor we'd bo about
ai9al."
Then how do yOa manage to support
yanr clilJenlh
"ls it support them sirl Why ! don,
support them any way they get supported
some way or another, ll'll be time
en- ugh ior mr. TO complain when ttcg do"
Would il he rcliri'lo YOU to part with
onn oi theml" inquired.
Ii was too sudden; he turned sharply
rnuni.
y what ir."sho cried, relief 10 part
from me childl Would il be afciiello have
thc hands chopped from my body, or the
heart torn ont of my brcssll And relief
lnierill God bo good 10 Us! what is il You
manel"
"iou don't understand me-" | replied;
I'll now, il were in ones power to provide
comfortably nr onr of your children,
would you stand IN the way OF its inter.
cstsI"
"No, sir" said he; 'fhe heavens know
that Ia Willingly ca, the sunshine away
from myself, that they might get all The
warm Of il, but do tell w what you are
driving all"
| then tod him that a lady had taken
fancy to one Of his children, and. if be
would consent 10 part with il, il should be
educated, and finally settled comfortably in
lie.
This ihrcw hiin INTO a fit Of cogitaiion.
lie scratched bi. head, and looked the very
picture Of bcwildcrmcni. The struggle
between fathers love and ehild's inter.
est, was evident and touching, a, length he
said:
"Oh, muriher! wouldn't that be a great
thing for the bahyl But must go and
talk wild Mary--ihai's tho mother oi them
an ii wouldn't he right 10 be giving away
her children afirc her face, an she 10
know nothing al all about it,"
Away with yoi, them" said !, "and
bring me an answer as soon as possible
10 about a half an hour he returned.
leading two OF his children. His eyes
we're red and swollen, and his face pale
from excitement and agitation.
"Well,"l inquired, "what sIccessl'
"BcdaI Il was a hard struggle, sir, " said
he, "bul I've been tal,in' 10 Mary; an she
says, Il, Il is for the child's good, may be
the heavens above will give US strength to
bear IT,"
"Vrfy well; and which is It to bel"
"Fa1 AN don't know, sir" and he ran
bis eyes obviously over both. Here's
little Nonh--s.h.e's the oIdesl an won't
want her mother so mlch--bul then we've
sIt used to her ways. There's little Bidly
illlh h-HllF hh ~ thhtii 'hfi h't
icars an digers- its myself that cant tell
which I'd rather pad with leasli So take
the frs, that comes wild blcssinl There,
sir,"-and he handed over little Norah--
turning back he snatched her up in his
arm, and gave hor one long hearty hlhcr's
kiss-saying through his tears:
INLAY God be good to him that's good
to you; an them that offers you hurt or
harm, may their sowls never see 81. Pc.
lhcr."
Then taking his other child by The other
Aand, be walked away, leaving Norah with
ne.
took her down in tho cabin, and we
thought tho matter all settled. It must be
confessed, to my grca, Indignation, howeY.
er, in about an hours time, saw my
friend Pat at the wnlow. As soon as he
caught my eye he commenced making
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