The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-06

two of his children. His eyes were red and
swollen, and his face pale from excitement
and agitation.
Well" enquired what success ?"
Bedad, it was hard struggle, SIR" said
he, " but I've been takin' to Nary an she
says, as its for the child's good maybe the
heavens above will give us strength to bear
it,"
every well, and which of them is it to
BE- ?"
"Faix an don't know, sir" and he run
his eye obviously over both. Here's little
Norah-she's the oldest an won't want her
mother so much-but then-oh tear an
aigers-its myself that cant tell which I'd
rather part with Taste so take the first that
comes wild a blessin'. There, sir,"-and he
handed over little Norah--turning back he
Snatchcd her up in his arms, and gave her
one long hearty fathers kiss, saying through
his tears
"May God be good to him that's good to
you; an them that offers you hurt or harm,
may their souls never see st. Pether."
Then taking his other child by the other
hand, he walked away, leaving Norah with
me.
I took her down in the cabin, and we
thought the matter settled. 1t must be con-
fessed, to my great Indignation, however, in
about an hours time l saw my friend Pat at
the window As soon as he caught my eye
he commenced making signs for me to come
out. | did so-and found he had the other
child in his arms.
"What's the matter now" said /.
well, sir" said he, {" AK your pardon
for throubling you about SO foolish thing as
a child or two, but we were thinkin' that !
maybe it'd make no diflcr-you see, sir, I've
been talkin' to Mary, an she says she can't
part with Norah, because-thc crathur has
a look ov me-but here's Biddy, she's pur-
tycr far, an av you please, sir, will you
swap"
"Certainly," said I, " whenever you like"
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
it were some recovered treasure, and darted
away with her, leaving little Biddy, who re-
NAMED with us all night; but 10 the moment
we entered the cabin in the morning, there
was Pat making his mysterious signs again at
The window, and by this time he had the
baby, in his arms.
whats wrong now ?" enquired.
/" Be the hockey fly, sir, an it's myself that's
almost ashamed to tell you. You see I've
oeen talkin' to Mary, and she didn't like to
Dart with Norah, because she had look ov
ne, and be my soul, can't afford to part
with Biddy, because she's the model of her
mother, but there's little Paudicen, sir.
There's lump of Christian for you, two
ears DID, and not a day more-he'll never
)e any trouble to any one, for av he takes az
err his mother, he'll have the brightest eye,
IN av he takes after his father, he'll have ;
inc broad pair of shoulders to push his way
through the world. VIII you swap, sir ?"
With all my heart" said I, otis all the
anne to me'-and SO little Paudieen was left {
With US.
All, ah,' said I to myself, as looked into
lis big laughing eyes, " the affair is settled
1t last" but it wasn't, for ten minutes had
carccly elapsed when Pat rushed into the !
.abn without sign or ceremony and snatch
ng up the baby in his arms, cried out
cts no use, I've been tallin' to Mary, an
We can't do it. Look at him, sir-he's the
'oungest and best of the batch. You wouldn't
AVE the heart to keep him from US. You
&c, sir, Norah has a look ov me, and Biddy
las look ov Mary; but be me soul, little b.
'audicen has the mothers eye an my nose,
m little bits ov both ov w all over No, sir,
10; we can bear hard fortune, starvation, and
Misery, but we can't bear to part from our
hildrcn unless it be the will of Heaven to :
axe them from US"