Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-02-18
From the London Christian Miscellany.
The Irish Boys Lament.

o, thin, don't shut the door awhile; won't
some OF ye listen TO me, for tits a sorowtgl
story I've to tell! The shining beams Of the
blessed heaven on Yer head, my lady! and
let me spake a minite while the hunger
leaves ms strength. Och! little | tho't I'd
ever be driven from the Strangers thraslal.
For | wasn't always houssless and friend
less. 1t vast long since | was happy an
continted in my fathers house in the noun
tains bpvant, but wirra true lis empty an
desolate now. The fire has gone out on our
hearth stone, ar my hand will never be
strong enough to kindle it again. Many i
night | sat by it, listening To ouId stories, or
hearing my mother sing; and the red light
dancing up and down her face. an her voice
rising an falling so beautiful, till in spite O
me, my eyes filled up wild tears. That was
the pleasant crying; but many is the bitter
one from 'em since.
The blight of the hard year fell on our
crops, my lady, an thin come starvation
where full and plenty wur afore. a woe
some change came over us all; everything
was sold to gather the rint; even my own
little goldinch; sure 'tisn't that | grudged it.
Mother didn't sing thin, and when she tired
20 spake joyful, to cheer my father up, there
was a shake in her voice, and her lip trem-
bIed; and they both had a frightened look;
no wonder, wild famine staring 'em in the
face. For we'd be a whole day, an more,
maybe, widout tasting food, and couldn't get
it anyhow; an I'd 90 to bed sickan' idintlng
like; hut | didn't mind myself at all at all,
only my little sister, Norah. In all the coun-
try round there wasn't a prettier child, wild
her cheeks Of pink and snow, an her white
forehead, wild the yellow hair on it, like gold
rings, only 4 softer dale; an shining eyes,
the color of the sky in June.
o dear! the hunger bore heavy OH the in
nocent child, an rubbed out all the ]dimples
in her face an faded the red blush, an her
eyes sunk back in her head as ii all the tears
she cried put out the light in 'em. An Oh,
lady! it would have gone 10 your hearts hear
, 10 see her hold out her long thin hand, an
/, hear her young small voice, that used to be
laughing all day, axing for bread, an none
, 10 the fore. Then mother 'uld soothe her Il
, sleep, an her face working all the time. The
/ sob would be on Norah's heart, an she a,
sleep. But one night after being stupid like
i long while, she reused up 10 say, "lm We
t ~ hungry" an before the words Swere out
of her mouth, she stretched herself on or
mothers lap, and died. Well; | TUX or
= grately at that; but mother said God had ia,
; ken her from the misery, an she wouldn't be
hungry again, for the angels in hiven woI
feeding her. Thin thought only for moth,
h er, I'd like to SO too. Father berried her
= widout a coffin.
d She was the first | liver saw die; but twas
) Mt to be long a strange thing to me. NJ,
father got work at last, hut the power 10 dol
was going fast. And mother I'D keep til,
last bite an sup in the house for him, whei
he'd com in, and make him believe that sh,
" ate atore, and pretind she was giving him he
lavings, an laugh an joke with him. Och
4, but her laugh had a quare sound thin. Jus
like the crushing of her heart; it 'ud max
my flesh creep; but you wor always mindin.
everybody, barring yourself, mother dear !
q | heerd 'em say no one conld dhrive a spad
f. deeper nor my father once, but hunger
IL 'SthrOnger nor The strong man; when that
tug2ing at the inside, thin the arm is yer
ps wake. lie fainied over his spade. an wa
IL soon lying down in the fever. We wor OF
e. Of the doctors way, an the priest was AWAY
nv out, an a weight Of sickness on my tathe
nd an nothing 10 quinch the THIRST that was ne
in ishing him, barringa can Of cold wather fro
the strame afore the door.
q Day an night mother sat beside the viii,
of straw that kept him from the floor. O
nd but his face was hot and red. his two ey,
,p- like lighting Goals, an a puff of his brea
ost 'ud burn ye, an he saying such o~ut-o'-th
i'd, way things in his wanderings. Well, v
thought he was getting cool; butsure enour
twas Deaths own cold fingers upon him.,
-, he got quite sensible, and said to moth,
" ''Norah acushla ma chrse, put your hand II
der my head, IAN raise me; the sight is le
re- wing my eyes. but let me feel ye kissing me
'ne and then he died of quite aisy, just as t
day dawns; an the spirit died in me too, b
me- | couldn't help staring at mother. As so
IN as she had stroked the body, she stated h
Vo' self %forninst it. and hardly stirring for 1
days maybe. thought all her tears 10
used up; Tor her eyes wOr dry as dust. Tn,
wor the torruEIl dars