Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-05-31
THE EMIGRANT.
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BY MRS. v. G. RAMSAY.

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i The love of hcme and country is always
strong but nowhere is ii stronger Than in
The warm heart which beats beneath the
coarse gray ffock of the Irish peasant.-
He loves the green land of his birth, cursed
abough Il is with beggory ard starvation;
and stern in the necessity whicliidrives him
forth to seek home among strangers!
never look on one Of these poor, despised,
degraded sons of Erin, but my heart warns
towards him, and think of one whose sad
and carly fate deserves brief memorial.
James Noreen was born in the north of
Ireland, in one Of those miserable dis.
tricts where hunger and nakedness seem
the OILY inheritance of the children of the
soil-7,wheIe the priest and the landlord
step in 70 divide what should be the reward.
Of honest industry; land those who have
earned their bread with the sweat of their
brcWs.g are left to perish for want.a.. The
homo of his childhood was hoyel-a mis-.
erable hovel, without "A hoor---the crazy
fuinous walls, and the mouldering roof of
tbatch, were trail protection against the
winter winds and summer rains, and vel,
With allgils squalid poverty, ,-he loved it, for
love was there-a blessing oaentimes de-
nied the place. His mother had been.fa
in giflhooG-very fais-and though. the
bloom had forsaken her cheek before James
could remember her, there was still melt
ing tenderness in her, soft blue eye, ard u
loving smile on her lip, which seemed to
lllumine the naked, dripping walls when
the wintry storm beat in upon them. And
there were. days Of summer sunshine
blessings indeed to the poor-when the
wreathlng vine, hid the rough exterior. Of
the cottage and The wild flowers. grew
about The door, sweet aEd beautiful as if
planted in Q palace garden. Thank .heav..
enl there arr. .ssme things which the rich
ard proud cannol monopolize. The great
est blessing which God confers on man,
he has nude universal and unalienable.-
The poorest wretch who walks. the, earth,
may look up 10 The fair blue sky. above
him, and lhe glorious garnilqre Of suns and
81 stems which adore il, and drink in. The
mystery AID beauty Of the scene as freely
as the Monarch on his throne. The.
zephyr will fan hi. cheek as softly, und The.
flowers, earth's fairest and sweetest adorn.
ing, will unfold their petals beieaih bis
eye, ard pour their fragrance as gently
around him. - -
Such was the. home in which James
Moreen grew up 10. manhood. Though
fortune had been niggardly, nature Was
iprodigal in her giIls 10 him, and many a
pursesproud afistocrat would have gladly
exchanged his gold for ihe manly form
and handsome face Of the poor peasant.--.
But this fair exterior was moi his highest
endowmen,. He possessed not only the
lively and irrepressable vii which charac>
lerizes his nation, but a noble, generous
heart. Tho curse Of drunk enness and sen
sualny was all around, But, il fell not on
him. The sweet influence Of his mothers
smiles kept him from degradation. -.
Mary C'Brian was noighbor's daugh-
ter. They had grown up together, and as
they met day after day, il was no. strange
thnt d mutual affection sprnng up between
them; and when Mary's father and mo.h-
.er died, lenving her homeless and friend
less, he offered her oil he possessed, an
honest heart, a strong hand, and q home.
under the poor roof which sheltered him.
Hitherto James had borne his lot with
seeming Indifference. He had labored
hard all day, and returned at night to
supper of oal meal cruel, and couch Of.
straw without murmur. But since his
marriage, change had come over him.
"A restless desire to better his condition had
taken possession Of his soul. He had heard
of America, that blessed land, where the
hand Of Industry could earn bread enough
and TO spare. He.revolved itday and night.
At evening when his work was done, he
would torn away from the scanty and taste.
less meal which rewarded his toll, with i'll.
concealed impatience, and sitiwith cloud.
ed brow, gazing on the tottering walls, and
reeking, mouldering thatch which sheltered
bin.
What ails ye Janieer his mother VOID
sometimes say. sCome cheer up, darling,
don't be so sober like. God knows we
have trouble enough-don't bring gloomy
face 10 add to IL Ply ~ 'sstif'es
God knows we have too much sorrow
and want, he would reply. .tHe never
made his children who tillthe soil TO starve.
Why should yop. mother, and Mary, who
deserve q palace, dwell under such roof
as this. God help me TO find the land
where honest industry is rewarded, and
you shall have bread and d better houseto
shelter ye.' g as'F