Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-06-24

he cried wildly, III have brought you food. Bu;
Father Of Merces what is ihis y touching the
ileless hand of his child. "Deadi o, my dar-
lug, and are you gone foreverl But your sorrows
are over ! and perhaps IL IS better" he continued
mildly. "far better that no forbidden food has STAIN
ed those spoiless lips. would not have that de-
parted spirit proclaim her fathers sin among the
angels in heaven. No, ahcgNrl your eyes cannot
now upbraid him, aud your ears are deaf TO the
voices that mourn your early death"
The elder children, aroused from their stupefac.
ton by tile sight of food FASTENED TO spread the
scaniy fare, consisting Of few cold potatoes they
would not touch the miserable food, until they had
prevailed their father aud mother to share il with
them. Brian O'Sullivan lifting his eyes to heaven,
ferrenily returned thanks to God for his mercies,
and besongh blessing on their scanty meal he
had for moment. forgotten the means by which
the food was procured, but when the remembrance
Of his guilt crossed his mind, he was paralyzed
with horror, that he should presume TO lll his hand
TO heaven. he who had broken the commandment
Of God. The blood rushed 10 his temples aud,
covering his face with his hands he burst into tears
Deep sobs were only heard aud bitterly did they
reproach themselves for having given way to one
word Of complaint, and thus causing their father
such agony Of soul.
His feelings becoming more composed. he sirove
TO speak some comfort TO his children and with fal-
looked at each other ia silence, and their souls re.
coiled from the idea Of touching il; had il been
the deadest poison they could not have loathed il
more. Poor and humble they we're, they had
been nourished on the bread of honesty, and they
dared not violate their sacred principles
Father" said the eldest boy, 1--WE canno, touch
that, we would sooner die; we do not blame you.
father, maUoWneen; il was not done for your own
sake, though the hunger sore you, but for
the sake Of your starving children"
"Now can thank God with an unblushng
face" said Brian. Il can thank Him for his mef-
cy in keeping you untouched by guilt among SO
many trials and temptations, and may he pardon
me for my many sins"
The latch Of the door was raised "Il is the
soggarth," exclaimed Brian, Fastening TO meet his
beloved pastor Joy illumineJ the coontenance of
all on beholding their only friend, into whose faith
fol bosom were poured their sorrows. and although
poor himself, he lost no time in supplying their
wants but one young heart was sied forever Z;
no human aid could make it lhrob again. Not in
the secrecy Of The confessional did Brian OSulli-
van relate the fearful adventure Of the previous
night, but in his lowy cabin, by the bed whereon
his dead child slept he on his knees, confessed 10
the minister ol God that crime, which TO him APP
peared of awful magnitude. The good priest was
deeply moved, for never before had the lips Of that
humble penitent man breathed forth such decla-
ration; before had the soul Of the PROSTATE
sinner been stained with guilt and as he, in agony
Of spirit, "smote upon his breast and prayed aloud
for mercy. the glance Of displeasure faded from the
priests face and, as tie tears rolled down his aged
cheeks, he whispered in the poor peniients ear
the welcome tidings that the broken and contre
heart is not despised 10 heaven. By the voice OF
the world, Brian OSullyan would be branded as a
thief, midnight robber o, il those who would
thus cody and heedlessy condemn him could but
have entered his poor home, how would their hearts
have melted into sorrow Could they have but
gazed on the hleless remains Of the child whose
spirit was with God, as she lay on her ragged bed
holding in her close grasp bunch Of wild roses
affections offering TO the deadand listened 10 the
voices that arose TO heaven seeking the forgiveness
the cold world would deny, surely in such scene,
they would have read their own condemnation.
The charitable and anxious priest FASTENED 10
restore the stolen food TO its owner, and 10 obtain
from him forgiveness Of the crime, without expos.
ing the criminal, and thus O'Sulliyan was saved
from the consequences Of that guilt into which
want and starvation had plunged him.
This is no exaggerated picture Of the sufferings
or the virtues Of the Irish peasantry. Surely a
brave. moral, and religious people will no longer be
permitted, in the midst of plenty to endure such
suferings. We might have turned a still darker
page, and yet not have dealt in exaggeration we
might have consigned the victim to loatlsome
prison. and leil him to rot there, without shadow
of hope. We might have followed his wrelched
family through lonely vanderngs. and seen then
spurned from the door Of plenty by panpered me
malls. Surely such asiate of things cannot las
forever Surely, the peace and comfort, nay. the
very lives of the community, not 10 be sacrl6c
| ed for the Children Of prosperity II is time tina
the great ones of our land would consider the caus'
/ Of the people Fearful is the calamity impendin!
over them; and unless active steps are taken 4
avert the threatening ruin, we fear much that thu
1 virtue Of our poor counirymen will fall sacrifice
1.-The virtue that no trials could hitherto overcome
You, who shudder at The recital Of the crimes com
mted by the Irish peasants. bestir yourselves Il
endeayor to remove the cause Of those crimes No
for the love Of guilt do our poor countrymen re
sor, TO the wild justice of revenge" aud you
who thoughllessy condemn them, know but littl
Of the struggles oIien endured before they stumble
in The path Of virtue.
DEAFNEss.--A gentleman called upon US yeslel
H., .l,,.t .bt oh h.