Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-03-08
SELECT TALE.
THE IRISH DAUGHTER.
RY GRACE GREENWOOD.

THE IRISH DAUGHTER.
RY GRACE GREENWOOD.
aAnd 90 you ,oen't go with us, Jamie?"
sHush, darling-you know I cannot
leave ray ould mother, lone widow that she
10, even for love and you, Mary but if you'll
not forget me, in the far country you're GO
ing to, when God wills, I'll follow you!"
~Oh, Jamie, Jamie, this parting is quite
breaking my heart-but don't ask me to
stay again-God bless you, and keep you
thrue."
James Burke was the only child of a
peor widow, living in the northern part of
Ireland. Mary Conway was the youngest
daughter of an intelligent and respectable
family, neighbors of the Burkes. James
and Mary had been lovers from childhood,
and at the time when they are introduced
to cur readers, all who know them were
smiling approvingly upon their fitting be-
, trothal.
James was just ones ideal of warm
hearted, high spirited, frank, and handsome
Irishman. Mary was fair, blue-eyed
girl of eighteen, with much more of deli
cate fragility Of figure than often belongs to
her country-women.
Some four years previous to the period of
the parting scene, with which we commenc-
ed this sketck, Mary's only brother, Willie
Conway, went out to America, to seek his
fortune" where he succeed so we'll in bnsi-
ness that he became anxious to be Joined
by his family. This consisted only of his
parents, Mary, and the orphan-boy of an
elder sister, a fine little fellow of eight or
- bo
home nearly all his earnings to defray the
expensessof the voyage, and promised his
friends snug and happy home, on their ar
rival in the stranger-land. From their age
and many infrmities, his parents were long
a.erse to going, but finally yielded to the
earnest solicitations. $50
Poor. Mary! the same sense of flial duty
which bade her 60 with her parents, forbade
her urging her lover to accompany her, for
old Mrs. Burke could not risk the voyage,
having been an invalid for many years and
10 they sarted, and the emigrants took ship
for Quebec. H
For the first week of the voyage all was
fair above and calm below; but then came
on squally and tempestuons weather, and
the mad waves tossed about the stout ship
like toy, and the fierce winds drove her
wildly on her way. Our poor emigrants
had much to endure; Mary, i'll herself, was
yet unceasing in her attendance on her aged
parents, who became so wasted and enfee-
bled by sea sickness, as at last hardly able
to get from their berths. One night, when
they had been about four weeks at sea,
Mary, after watching till her dear ones
slept, laid her aching-head on its uneasy
pillow, for a brief rest The tempest which
hadraged throughout the day had some
what abated, but a heavy fog lay on the
deep, like milk white robe on the stormy
bosom Of a Medea. The ship still rolled,
and plunged, and groaned, like some huge
monster in the death-agony, and for once, in
her life of simple piety, sweet Mary knelt
not in her prisons. But, to use the express
Jon Of one of her countR-women, she "went
on the knees of her heart" and from the
berth where she lay, fervently arose the
prayer Of a subdued and trusting spirit. She
fell asleep with tear on her cheek, and her
heart with love and old Ireland.
She was awakened by a rush of feet ON
deck, and the cry of sLet go the anchors!"
succeeded by the rattle Of chains-a heavy
plunge -another-a silence as of death, and
then a joyful shout, HShe holds she holds!"
then wild cry of 3She dr;jfs!" and then
The ship seemed lifted out of the water, with
. fearful crash, and shock like that of an
earthquake! She had struck! Then fol-
lowed shouting, and hurrying to and fro,
the cries of terror, the clear, quick tones of
command, and the sharp crack of breaking
timbers. The vessel had been driven upon
4 large rock, and was parting in the middle,
the stern being highest out of the water
Word was given for all to seek that part OF
the ship, as the only hope Of safety; but be-
fore this object could be accomplished many
poor creatures perished, from missing their
way In the darkness, or from that sudden
insanity which danger often engenders.-
But Mary Conway, with matchless cool
ness and courage, conducted her parents
ana nephew, bewildered age and terrified
childhood, safely up to the crowded stern
and saw them, one by one, let down by
Srrtonpes to the rock beneath. Morning wa.
lust breaking as she herself descended, anc
''1shes slifted her blue eyes to heaven, with al
'iinnyvoluntary ejaculation of thankfulness
'o;Alast she had seen but the beginning o
sorrow. It was intensely cold, and sh
found her feeble parents shivering ant
trembling in their thin garments. Morning
advanced, but the weather grew no milder
and the sea-winds yet blew bitter chill. !"
am dying with cold, said the poor old faith
er,, as be, sat, shrinking and bending unde
the keen gusts; his long, white locks satura
E.ted with spray" Mary turned suddenly to
wards the rocking ship.
Where: are you goingas said the mothe