Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-24
from thc ic"ples JOuTn1.
THE FIRST CRIME.
A TALE or IRISH FAMINE


ed their lips. 1t was now evening aud although
the sun had set, the heal OF the summers day re.
maned in all its oppressive fervor. Brian OSulli-
van looked around upon his wife and helpless iami-
ly, aud momenlary CLEAN Of ierocity flashed from
his sunken eye--for the first time, the nurmur Of
I Impotence rose from his lips The cry for food
had died away but when he met the sudden glance
of his poor starving children his heart sweiled with
intolerable anguish No sound was heard, save DC.
casionally the siiled groan of the youngest child
the little Norah. who lay on q straw pallet, resting
/ her ieyered head upon her mothers breast; thns
I the hours passed, unmarked by any changc. Some
! times, but very seldom, there was heart.rendiDg
appeal for food, aud 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 wretch
ed hoyel had sunk TO rest upon the earthen floor
Mary O'Snlliyan sat in breaihless silence listening
to the uneasy and unreireshing slumbers of her
helpless family. and gazing on the wasted face Of
her fayore child. Sometimes heavy sigh, or
| low moan, attracted her attention aud directing
her eyes TO where the sleeper lay she would descry
by the feeble rays of the Pickering sushlight skel
eton arm stretched forth, or the shadowy figure OF
some child who had arisen 10 obtain little wafer
TO cool bis parched lips. Al length from mere ex.
haustion, she fell into heavy sumber, from which
she aroused by the tones OF her husbands
voice. She started wildly; for never before had
words Of such fearful meaning met her
"Mary, aekora, you shall not die. il these hands
can get you food" he exclaimed IL have been
driven TO this, not through my faults, but from
the hearess cruelty and oppression OF those who
can, and viii not, save. Shall see my children
dying about me- while there is plenty in the land p
His wife, terrified and amazed, glanced timidy al
her husbands face, and there she met look that
chilled her hearts blood the look OF determined
guilt aud vengeance. Bursting into tears, aud un.
able TO rspy, she pointed 10 their sleeping child
O'Sulliyan kissed the little sufferer and for
ment the severity Of his gaze disappeared but the
emaciaied face Of bis poor, patient wife, recalled
his recollection and the awful thought that she
also dying for want Of food almost maddened him
MARY, apiiiish mGchree, must lose you TOO v
he exclaimed wildly. "God of heaven she is dying
Aud have croucbed upon my knees, aud begged
for part of the dogs food crumb Of bread to
saEe you, darling Of my heart, bot was spurned
from the oppressor's door and told to be gone, aud
work for my food. Even then could have forgot
ten the hard hearts that worked our ruin ] could
have blessed them on their beds OF down, aud pray
ed that the chills ofpoycry might never reach them
but now the cup Of sorrow is filed, and will not
see my treasures die, before have made another
effort TO them"
He arose hastily and, trembling from exhaustion,
quilted the cabin His eldest son, a boy Of fifteen,
rushed after him, and osertaking him few steps
from the door, bescught Of him 10 return as they
were able to bear little longer. he said; and as
soon as the morning dawned he would seek for
some employment.
"My poor boy said the amazed father, you
cannot change my purpose; return home. and let
me away for If crime mus, stain this hand, il
must be in the darkness OF night, when human
eve can the blush OF shame on your fathers
cheek"
"But the eye OF God" said the boy. mildly, "you
, cannot hide that"
! 30, Shawn, say no more, was the reply. "God
will forgive inc, for he knows the sore trials ]
have borne"
The boy still enireated, but in vain he then
begged that he might be permitted 10 accompany
his father but Brian would not hear 10 this. lie
could moi bear TO be the means of leading his own
children into the path Of guilt aud shame and o
how the strong heart Of The unhappy father throb-
bed with agony as he thought Of the time, not far
. distant, when his children knell around him, and
with their infant voices joined in the prayer, Lead
4 US not into temptation" Brian O'Sulliyan remem.
| bered this and, embracing his son, he besoughl
: him with tears, TO turn 10 the home OF innocence
r and let him do the errand alone. And thus they
y parted.
Q Shawn stood for some moments, listening to the
sound of his fathers footsteps, he fastened on
i his lonely way. His mind was strangely confused
IS by all he hau hearu anu Witnessed, ana ne could
not bring himselfto believe in the possibility of hi.
i fathers committing a crime that father who hat
seemed, TO his young imagination, the very emblem
Of all that was good and holy, He coudn't beliey,
that the God he had served faithfully would deser
l. him now, in the hour Of trial and danger
IS The summers morning dawned, and brightly
h The sunbeams fell upon the home Of misery Home
s. did say 7 Alas how many such homes darken gu
= beautiful aud fertile land how countless IRE sucl
1. scenes Of desolaion The happy birds, fliitern,
e nmonglhe green branches. sung their song ofprais
d and the fragrant breath of the fresh flowers aros
N on the breeze TO heaven Without all was Joy
IS peace, aud contentment; but within the wretche
ID hoyel, there was deep sorrow--sorrow that Nigh
'e moi be controlled
u Where is father y demanded low, swes
= voice. 20, mother, there is something tearin
"a me z placing her hand upon her wasted breast.
Is "llushr draish, hush !" whispered her weepin
Il mother. you will be free from pain, arRoOui
u She knew not how truly her words would be vel
Or fled One Of the children arose, and fastened !
the door, hoping to obtain some tdngs of her fail
er. Gloomy and disappointed he returned to b
u place by Noralfs bed. conyulsige spasm shoe
the childs frail body aud again her brother spran
ID to the door, 10 look IN vain for his fathers return
les The dying sufferer casped her litle hands in ag
'as nyj she srove but fruitessy reach her moihe
that she might embrace her. Her head fell bacl
he and the glazed eye and parted lip told that all w
ers over. Just then a step was heard the thres
e. hold aud Brian OSullivan strobe, or rather tote
,is ed inio his wretched home, ningng small bag
Of potatoes the ground he rushed TO the bedsid
~ "Mary--Nofah--atu agus ashore m0ckree