Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-26
MISCELLANEOUS
THE IRISH HEART.
a TRUE STORY.
BY LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

nj LII u MARIA MI
Ir was a pleasant sight to look on James
and Nora in their early childhood theil
cheeks were so rosy, their hair so sunny, and
their clear blue eyes so mild and innocent
They were the youngest of a ca5in-full oil
children and though they did now and then
get a cuff from the elder ones, with the hasty
words, SECT out of the way, you spalpeen,''
they were the pets and playfnates Of them all.
Their love for each other was extreme; and
though James, early in his boyhood, evinced
the Irish prediction for giving knocks, he
was never known TO raise his hand against
his little sister. When she could first toddle
about, it was his delight to gather the May
gowans that grew about the well, and put
them in Nora's curly hair and then he would
sit before her, with his little hands resting on
Ills knees, contemplating her with the great
est satisfaction. When they were older, they
might be seen wedding the "pathies'* side
by side, or hand in hand gathering berries
among the hawthorn bushes. The greatest
difference between them seemed TO be, that
James was all fun and frolic, while Nora was
ever serious and earnest.
When the young maiden was milking the
cows, her soft low voice might be heard, war
bling some of the mournful melodies of Ire
land. But the p~laintive tones were rarely
heard from James. He CAM home from his
daily labor whistling like a black-bird, mock
ing the cuckoo, or singing, at the top Of his
clear ringing voice, the merry jingle of ST.
Patrick's Day in the Morning, or the face
tious air of Paudeen O'Rafferty. At dane
ing, too, he excelled all the lads of the neigh
borhood. He could dance Irish jigs, three
part reel, ~four-part reel, or rowly-powly, to
the tune Of The Dusty Miller, or The Rakes
of Bally-shanny, with such a quick ear for
the music, that all the lassies declared they
could IS see the tune upon his feet" He was
a comely lad, too, and at weddings and Christ
mas carousals, none of the rustic handles
looked more genteel than he, with his buff
colored vest, his knot Of ribbons at each knee,
and his c%aubecnt set jauntily on one side OF
his head. Being good-nalured and mif,hful,
he was a great ~favorite at wakes and dances,
and festivities Of all sorts and he might
have been in danger of becoming dissipated,
had it not been for the happy consciousness
oil belonging to an honest industrious family
and being the pride and darling of Nora's
heart.
Notwithstanding the natural gayety of his
disposition, he had a spirit of enterprise, and
Il love of earning money. This tendency led
him early 10 think of emigratIng to America,
the Eldorado of Irish imagination. Nora
resisted the first suggestion with many tears.
But James drew fine pictures of farm of his
own In the new country, and COWS and hor.
SEES, and a pleasant jaunting car; and in the
farmhouse and .he ~iaun.ine car, Nora was
ever BY his side; Tor with the very first gum
cas- that crossed his hand, sure he would send
for her. Tit afTectionate sister, accustomed
TO sympathise with all his plans, soon began
TO help him TO build his castles in America
and every penny that she could earn at hel
splnnlng-wheel, was laid away for passage
money. But when the time actually arrived
for him to GO to Dublin, it was a day of sor
row. All the married sisters, with their lit
tie ones. and ~neighbors from far and near
came 10 bid him farewell, and give their part
ing blessing. The good mother was busy Il
the last, storing away some little comfort il
his sea-box. Nora, with the big tears in he
eyes, repeated, for the thousandth lime
"And Jimmy, marOurneen,t if you grow
grand there in the new country, you'll not b
after forgetting me? You wiH send for you
own Nora soon!"
Forget you!" exclaimed James, Will
he pressed her warmly 10 his bosom "Whe
the blessed sun forgets to rise over the gree
earth, maybe III forget you, mavournee
j, dheehsh."S
Amid oft repeated words of love and bless
ing, he parted from them. Their mutual Sol
row was a little softened by distant vision
of a final reunion Of them all in AMERICA
But there was a fearful uncertainty about this
The big sea might swallow him up, he nigh
sicken and die among strangers, or bad eS
amples might lead him into evil paths wors
than death.
To this last suggestion, made by an eide
sister, Nora replied with indignant earnest
ness. Lied into evil coorses, indade ., sb
exclaimed "Shame be on you for spakin
that same! and he the dacentest and best be
haved boy in all the county Longford. Yo
don't know the heart of him, as | do, or you'
never be after spanking of him in that fashion
, It's a shame on you, and indade it is. Blu
" och. wurrah Meehsh,D let him not sicken an
die there IN the strange country and the siste
not there to do for him ~ And, overcom
by tpe picture her own imagination ha
drawn, she burst into a passionate flood
tears.
In a few weeks, came a brief letter froI
James, written on board the ship in which i
sailed from Dublin. About seven montl
later, came a~Tletter, dated New York, sayir
he had obtained work at good wages, an,
by Gods blessing, should soon be enable
TO send for his dear sister. He added a hi
that one of these days, when he had a houi
of his own, perhaps The father and moth
would be after coming over. Proud we
they in the Irish cabin, wien this letter W;
read aloud to all who came to inquire aft
the young emigrant. All his old cronies al
swered, "Throth, and he'd do well anywher
Divif a man in the ten parishes could dane
the Baltihorum jig wild him, any how"
Potatoes. + Cap.
Darling. Sweet darling.