The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-25
State of Ireland.
Letter from an american Lady.


State of Ireland.
Letter from an american Lady.
DUBLIN, Feb. 1, 1847.
Dear Sir I hasten with grateful heart,to
acknowledge the receipt OF your letter, with
donations from yourself and those kind friends.
Tell them ten thousand times 60 L thank them
for the blessed boon of having it Iii my power
yes Of bearing the most humble part, IN re-
lieving the dying sufferers around me. L had
Just spent the last shilling, and was obliged
to lock the gate that leads to the domain-
where | was stopping a week or two with
the servant, while the family are from home
The applications are so pressing, the counten-
ances so disconsolae, and the skin so shrivel-
ed and dried, that no eye could see them but
the oppressors that C0u5d or could be unaf-
fected had sold all ofmy books in my own
possession and my means for doing exhausted
and was asking, " Lord what wilt thou have
,ne to do !" and now let me tell you what |
what did this morning 1t was ten o'clock
when the parcel arrived which contained
your letter, and though it made me but ten
dollars richer, yet had it been thousand, l
could not have been happier for | saw SO
much of God in it, that | could not doubt
but what when that was distributed, He would
send more. There are two men cracking
stones near the gate, who are actually in
state of lingering starvation. One has a
family of eight-had pawned all of their chol-
cest wearing apparel for food. He has seven
shillings and six pence week, pays shil-
lings weekly for rent, which leaves him five
shllings and sixpence with which to feed
and warm himself and family upon till the
next Saturday night. Judge &C. In adj
Io bol eip1- for Iofo
this temporary work was offered, and fearing
he should lose the opportunity, he undertook
it when he was quite unable. One child
died last Monday night. The poor man
came to me and said what can do? have
nothing to wrap it in-no coffin, nor can
die in the house, not farthing Of money or
a mouthful of food, but little Indian meal.
A little money was given him. A carpenter
went into the cabin and made a coffin. A
few laboring men went before it was sunrise
and carried the child to its happy rest--a
child of four years And this time must be
taken, because the father must not lose an
hours labor. The other man is as destitute,
but has not so large family.
This morning bought two large loaves of
bread-made a portion OF Indian meal stir
about-sent the servant to ask them in
and now my friends who purchased this break
fast, had you seen these men you would never
wish to see the like again. They have sub
sisted about ten days on breakfast of stir
about which | had made each morning, but
the last six days l had no means to furnish
it,and they had worked six days on four days
scanty eating, twice a day, on thin cruel
some times little stir-about, The sick man
has become so shriyelcd that his skin is dried
adhering fast to his cheek bones, his eyes
are prominent, and he was so weak that he
appeared unable to walk, and finally said
''Last night could scarcely reach home /
had not one mouth1ul to cat and had worked
in hard rain all day" 1t was enough. left
the rooms did just as any other weak woman
would do-fcll to weeping. Recovering a
little took up the New York Tribune, and
met the sentence" Effort for hclGad" l
read it and wept again. praised the Faith
err Of Liohttnat there are yet feeling hearts
in my country. Cursc,, as she Is with the
God-hating sin Of Slavery, yet me- nulSe can
beat for poor, oppressed, neglected lrelanr
felt like flying across the Ocean and falling
on my knees before the audince in Tammany
Hall, in the name Of the dying fathers, moth
.ers, brothers, and sisters of this abused peo-
pie Could angels weep they would do it
now No wonder that the Immaculate Son
vi OOu SWCdt uIO)S VI UlOOu III Cidt llltulO41DlO
Garden if he had sins to bear like this--f
the black guilt and foul denominations of the
Rich Aristocracy of Great Britain were up
on him Do you ask who are the great suf-
ferers? The Roman Catholics of course
and to their honor be it said, they bear this
grievous burden with the most unheard of pa
thence. Not one single reproach have ever
heard from priest to peasant, upon the proud
Protestants, though l have mingled with
them in almost every condition. The priests
are indefagitable by night and by day-both
by doing and givng-not Ainching from the
most loathsome places of filth and putrefaction
and the Sisters Of Charity need not be ma
med-their self denying, persevering labors
may we'll put to the blush those who look up
on them with contempt
What more shall | say-but beg Of you to
be instant in season and out of season--in
keeping alive this subject. Platter not your
self that the spring will make things more
tolerable; it can only do this help the starry
ing sufferer few days longer by not adding
cold to hunger-for though labor may be
more plenty, yet this Goddess of the world,
this Kingly Government, this Church and
State combination, are determined that the
great gulf they have fixed between this 'pur-
pie and fine linen" shall never be lessened
and the price of labor shall not be increased.