The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-29
IRISH HEARTS.
AN rrrEnr.rruo AND fHtrHtut SKETCH.

'he iish PeoPie engtOSo 50 large snare OF
public sympathy, the following sketch froLl
an Irish chart ncter may not be found uninter.
resting To US II seems touching and truth.
ful. The story teller pfefaces the incident
by stating that he found an Irish famlly--a
husband. wife and several children, on one
Of four Lake steamers, They were in great
destitution; and the beauty Of the children
the theme for the admiration of their
'ellow-trayelers. At the request of a LADY
Passengerwho having no children Of her own
was desirous of taking one of the little irish.
ers and adopting III the narrator addressed
himseft to the head of the family. We do
not know the author Of the sketch, and give
it as we find it,-U. s. Gas. ,-Ea
Although, says the story teller, had con-
siderable doubts as 10 the result offered nv
services as negdtiator, ana proceeded i'm.
mediately upon my dcticate diplomacy find.
ing my friend on deck, | thus opened the af.
fair. 81
'You are very poor! a a T 5
His answer was Characteristic
Poor, sir! said he; aye, il there's poor
er man than me troublin' the world, God
pity both of us, for we'd be about aiqual.'
'Then how do you manage to support
your children?'
lis it support them, sir! Why don't
support them any way; they get supported
some way or another. It'll be time enough
for me TO complain when they do'
Would it be relief for you to part with
one Of them!'
1t was too sudden; he turned sharply
round.
"A what, sir!' he cried; "a relief 10 part
from me child! Would it be q rliefto have
the hands chopped from the body, or the
heart torn from my breast! A relief, indeed!
God be good to uz, what do you mane!'
'You don't understand me- Ireplied; il
now, it were in cne's power to provide com.
fUrtubly for one of your children would you
stand in the way of its interestst'
mo SIR said he; the. heavens know that
lwould willingly cut the sunshine away
from meself; that they might all warm of it;
but do tell uz what you're driven a,r H..r
| then told him that lady had taken
fancy to one OF his children; and if he would
consent to it, it should be educated and fin.
ally settled comfortable in life.
This threw him into fit of graduation. -
He scratched his head, and looked the pic
ture of bewilderment. The struggles be-
tween fathers love and child's interest
was evident and touching, at length he said:
%, ,murther, wouldn't it be great thing
for the baby! But | must go and talk with
Mary--that's the mother of them; an It
wouldn't be right to be giving away her
children qfore her face, and to know. moth
ing at all about it, z.
Away with you them said I, 'and bring
me an answer back as soon as possible.'
In about halt nm hour he returned, lead.
ing two of his children. His eyes were
red and swoolen, and his face pale from ex.
citement and agitation.
We'll, l enquired, what successi"
'Bedad, it was hard struggle. sir, said he.
But I've been talkin' TO Mary, an she
says, as it's for the child,s good, maybe the
heavens above will giveus strength to bear
it, ii%+EaHs tEf. sffa
VERY we'll, and which of them is it to
bel'.o' a.frsS I Gg a- ~ s r
A'Faix and / don know sir,' and he run
obviously over BOTH Here's little Norah-
she's the oldest, an won't need her mother
so much--but then--O O.! teal, an aigers--it's
myself that can't tell which I'd rather part
with least, so that the first one that comes
wild a blessing There, sir and he handed
over little Notwithstanding back he snatch.
her up in his arms aud gave her one long,
hearty father's kiss, saying through his
tearss ..yS ., dfrs.ss se.. ,f,. IA
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 hand,
he walked away, leaving Nordh with me.
I took her down into the cabin, and we
thought the matter settled. Itmust be con-
afessed, to my great indignation, however, in
about an hour's time saw my friend Pat al
the window. AS soon as he caught my eye
he commenced making signs for me to come
out. h ! did so--and found that he had the
other child in his arfIs. aisgtee las ID
Whats the matter now!' asked I.as
well SIR said be, Il ak your pardon 70,
troubling you about so foolish thing as Z
child or two, but we were thinking thai
maybe it'd make no idiffer--you see sir, I'rs
been talking to Mary, am she says she can
part with Norah, because the creatures Ia.
q look oy me; but here's little Bibby, she',
purtyer far. an, av you please, sir. will yor
swap?' eg4
Certainly said |, whenever yon Iiks.'
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
1t was some recovered treasure. and Iartet
away with her. leaving little Bibby. who re.
manned with Us an night; but 10! the mo.
Iment when We entered the cabin in The
morning, there was Pa.smakipg his mysse.
Iriods siena again dt the window, and thil
| time Re had the Youngest This arms