Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FIRST CRIME. vs.
q TILE or IRISH FAuLNE.
BY ELIzABErn w. TRACY.

and although the sun had set, the heat of the
summers day remained in all its oppressive
feryor. Brian O'Sullivan looked around up
on his wife and helpless family, and a mo-
mentary CLEAN of ferocity flashed from his
sunken eye for the first time, the murmer
OF Impotence rose from his lips. The cry
for food had died away; but when he met
the subdned glancts Of his poor starving
children, his heart swelled with intolerable
anguish. No sound was heard, save occs-
sionally the stifed groan Of the youngest
child, the little Norah, who laid on a straw
pallet resting her fevered head upon her mo-
theirs breast. Thus hours passed, unmark-
ed by any change. Sometimes, but very
seldom, there. was a heart-rending appeal for
food, and the low cry of hunger burst from
the lips Of the younger children. Midnight
came and found the mother still watching by
the bed of her dying child; the inmates Of
the wretched hovel had sunk 10 rest upon the
earthen floor. Mary O'Sullivan sat in breath
less silence, listening to the uneasy and un-
refreshing slumbers Of her helpless family,
and gazing on the wasted face of her %favorite
child. Sometimes a heavy sigh or a low
moan attracted her attention; and directing
her eyes to where the sleeper lay, she would
descry, by the feeble rays of the Pickering
rush-light, a skeleton arm stretched forth, or
the shadowy figure Of some child, who had
arisen TO obtain a little water to cool its
parched lips. At length, from mere exhaus-
ton. she fell into a heavy slumber, from
which she was aroused by the tones of her
husbands voice. She started wildly; for
never before had words of such fearful mean
ing met her ear. -
Mary, acbora, you shall not die if these
hands can get you food I" he exclaimed
81 have been driven to this, not through my
own faults, but from the heartless cruelty and
oppression of those who can and will not
save us. Shall | see my children dying
about Inc, while there is plenty in the land !"
His wife, terrified and amazed, glanced
timidly in her husbands face, and there she
met a look that chilled her very hearts blood
the look of determined guilt and vengeance.
Bursting into tears, and unable TO reply, she
pointed to the sleeping child. O'Sullivan
kissed the little sufferer, and for a moment
the severity of his gaze disappeared but the
emaciated face of his poor, patient wife, re-
called his recollection and the awful thought
that she also was dying for the want Of food
almost maddened him.
"Mary, avilish machree, must | lose You
too f." he exclaimed wildly. God of Hea-
ven, she is dying! And | have crouched up.
on my knees, and begged for a part of the
dogs food, to save you, darling of my heart;
but | was spurned from the oppressor's door,
and told TO be gone, and work for my food.
Even then | could have forgiven the hard
hearts that worked our ruin f; ] could have
blessed them on their beds of down, and
prayed that the chiIls Of poverty might never
reach them; but now The cup of sorrow is
filled, and | will not see my treasures die,
before l have made another effort to save
them"
He arose hastily, and trembling from ex-
haustlon, quilted the cabin. His eldest son,
a boy OF fifteen, rushed after him, and over
taking him a few steps from the door be-
sought oil him to return. They were able to
bear a little longer, he said; and as soon as
morning dawned, he would seek for some
employment.
My poor boy" said the agonized father,
you cannot change my purpose; return
nome and let me away; for If crime must
stain this hand, it must be in the darkness
OF night, when no m eye can see the
blush OF shame on your iather's cheek
, But the eye OF God" said the boy, mild
w., you cannot hide IRON that" -,
W Snawn' say no more was me reply
" uoa WIN forgive me-. Tor lie Knows the
SORE 'iiais l nav" oorhe. 1iH. =,
me coy sun eh'reateo, put IN vans ne
tnen oegged una, ne might De permitted 10
accompany MS la'ner; ou' nrian "ouid NOT
near OF un's. ne codid not near 10 De the
means OF ieauing MS own enid INTO me pain
OF quit ana shame and y! now the strong
hear' OF the unhappy ialhei lhroooed WIN
agony as he thought OF the time, not lar dis
tani' when his children knelt around him,
ana WIN their infant voices Joined In the
prayer, Lead us not into iemptation.'-
Brian O.Suilivan remembered this; and, EN-
bracing his son. he besought him, with tears,
70 'nrn 10 the home OF Innocence and let him
do the errand alone. And thus they parted.
shawn stood tor some moments listening
70 inc SOUND OF his fathers footsteps, as he
fastened on his lonely way. :,
ms mind was strangely, confused by all
pc MAD heard ana witnessed, and he could not