The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1848-02-18
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From the Odd Fellews' Offering.
The Irish Daughter.
BY GRACE GREENwooD.


she is, even for love and you, Mary; but if
you'll not forget me, in the far country
you're going to, when God wills, I'll fol-
low you'
ooh, jamie, jamie this parting is quite
breaking my leart--but don't ask me to
stay again God bless you, and keep you
thrue.
James Burke was the only child of a
poor widow, living in the northern part Of
Ireland. Mary Conway was the youngest
daughter of an intelligent and respecta-
BILE family, neighbors of the Burkes -
James and Mary had been lovers from
childhood, and at the time when they are
introduced to our reader, all who knew
them were smiling approyingly upon their
fitting bethrothal.
James was just ones ideal of warm.
hearted, high spirited, frank, and hand
some lrishman. Mary was a fair, blne-
eyed girl of eighteen, with much more OF
delicate fragility of figure than often be-
iop5e " hSi Sohu'i o"Su'
Some four years previous to the period
Of the parting scene, with which we com
mehced this sketch, Mary's only brother,
! Willie Conway, went out to America, to
seek his fortune, where he succeeded sc
/ well in business that he became anxious
to be joined by his family. This consis.
| I,, a.
orphan-boy of an elder sister, a fine little
fellow Of eight or nine years. The noble
young man sent home nearly all his earn
ings to defray the expenses Of the voyage
and promised his friends snug and happy
home, on their arrival in the stranger-laDd
From their age aud many nGrmities, biz
parents were long averse TO going, but
huaIly yielded to his earnest solicitations
Poor Mary! the same sense of filal duty
which bade her so with her parents, for
bade her urging her lover to accompany
!. her,sfor cid M.s. eutSe couhil not risk TIA
n voyage, having been an invalid for man,
ears; and SO they parted, and the emi
grams tOoh sDl LOT lkUeOeC.
For he first week of the voyage all wa
fair above and calm below; but then cam,
on squally and tempestuous weather, an,
the mad waves tossed about the stout shil
like toy, and the fierce winds drove he
wildly on her way. Our poor emigrant
had much to endure; Mary, i'll herself, W a
yet unceasing in her attendance on he
aged parents, who became so wasted ant
enfeebled by sea sickness, as at last hard
ly able to get from their berths. One night
when they had been about four weeks a
sea, Mary, alter watching till her dea
ones slept, laid her aching head on its un
easy pillow, for briefrest. The tempes
which had ragged throughout the day haC
somewhat abated, but heavy fog lay on
the deep like milk white rob, on th
stormy bosom Of Medea. The ship still
rolled, and plunged, and groaned, llk,
some huge monster In the death-agony
and for once, in her life of simple piety
sweet Mary knelt no in her prisons But
to use the expression of one of her coun
trywomen, she went on the knees of he
heari. and from the berth where she lay
fervenlly arose the prayer of subduet
and trusting spirit. She fell asleep wit
tear on her cheek, and her heart wit
love and old Ireland.
She was awakened by a rush of feet oil
deck, and the cry Of Let go the anchors
succeeded by the ratt lie of chains--a heav
plunge silence as of death
ard then joyful shout, She holds! sh
holds!-then wild cry of'She drDisr an
then the ship seemed lifted out of the wa
ter, with fearful crash, and a shock lik
that of an earthquake! She had struck
Then followed shuutings, and hurry ing L
and fro, the cries OF terror, the clear
quick, tones of command, and the shar
crack of breaking timbers. The vesse
had been driven upon large rock, an
was parting in the middle, the stern bein
highest out of the water. Word was give
for all TO seek that part of the ship, as th'
only hope of safety but before this objec
could be accomplished. many poor crea
lures persisted, from missing their way il
the darkness, or from that sndden insanit
which danger often engenders. But Mar
Conway, with matchess GOODNESS an,
courage, conducted her parents an,
nephew. bewildered age aud teriile
childhood, safely up 10 the crowded stern
and saw them, one by one, let down b
ropes To the rock beneath. Morning " a
just breaking as sire herself descended an,
she lifted her blue eyes TO heaven, with al
involuntary ejaculation of thank fulness
Alas! she had seen but the beginning o
sorrow. ], was Intensely cold, aad sh
found her feeble parents shivering an,
tire milling in their thin garments. Morn
ing adv aneed, but the weather grew a.