The Placer herald., 1856-02-23
Irish Hearts.

he found an Irish famiIy-a husband, wife,
and seven children, on one Of our lake
steamers They were in great destitution;
and the beauty of the children was the theme
for the admiration of their fellow travellers
At the request Of lady passenger, who
having no children of her own, was desirous
of taking one of the little Irishers and
adopting it, the narrator addressed himself
to the head of the family. We do not know
the author of the sketch, and give it as we
find it.
Although, says the story,telIer, had con-
siderable doubt as to the result, | offered my
services as a negotiator, and proceeded i'm
mediately upon my delicate diplomacy. Find
ing my friend on deck, thus opened the
affair:
y on are very poor
His answer was characteristic
Poor, sirn said he; ave, if there's poor
er man than me troublin' the world, God
pity w, we'd be about aiqul.'
Then how DO you manage to support your
children'
is it to support them, sir3 Why, don't
support them any way; they get supported
some way or another I'll be time enough
to complain when they do
Would it not be a relief to YOU to part
with one Of them"
1t was so sudden he turned sharply around:
"A what, sirI he cried: "a relief to part
from my child! Would it be relief to have
the hands chopped from my body, or the
heart torn out Of my breast! A relief in
deed3 God be good to us, what do you
mane"
you don't understand me- replied; If
now it was in ones power to provide COM
fortablv for one of your children, would YOU
stand in the way Of its interestsr
No, SIR SAYS he, the heavens knows that
would willingly cut the sunshine away
from myself, that they might Get all the
warmth of it; but do tell us what you are
driving at|
l then told him that lady had taken a
fancy to have one Of his children, and, if he
would consent to it, it would be educated
and finally settled comfortably in life,
This threw him into fit Of graduation.
lie scratched his head, and looked the very
picture Of bewilderment. The struggle be
tween fathers love and chld's interest
was evident and touching. At length he
said:
och, murther wouldn't it be a great thing
for the baby! But | must go and talk with
Mary-that's the mother Of them; an it
would not be right to be giving away her
children afore her face, an she to know
nothing at all about it,
Away with You then, said |, and bring
me an answer as soon as possible.
In about half an hour he returned, leading
two of his children. His eyes were red and
swollen, and his face pale from excitement
and agitation.
WELL | inquired, what success?
'Bedad, it was hard struggle, sir said he,
but I've been taIkin to Mary. an she says as
it's for the child's good, may be the heavens
above will give us strength to bear it,
Very well, and which Of them is it to beg
rFaiX an don't know, SIR and he ran his
ewes obviously over both. Here's little Nor
ah-she's the oldest, an wont need her mo-
Their so much; but then-O tear an ages
it's meself that can't tell which I'd rather
part with least; so take the first one that
comes wild blessing: There, sir and he
handed over little Norah; turning back he
snatched 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; and them that offers you hurt or harm,
NAV they never see St Pether.'
Then taking his child by the hand he
walked away leaving Norah with me.
took her down into the cabin, and we
thought the matter settled 1t must be con
fessed, to my great indignation, however in
about an hours time | 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.
whats the matter now!' asked [.
We'll, sir said he, 4 AK your pardon for
troublin' you about so foolish thing as a
child or two, but we were thinkin' that may
be it'd make no differ-you see, sir. I've
been talkin' to Mary an she says she can't
part with Norah, because the cratur has the
look ov me- but here's little Biddy she's pur
tyer an av you plaze, sir, will you swap"
Certainly, said l. whenever you like
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
she was little treasure, and darted away
with her, leaving little Bddy, who remained
with us all night, but 10. the moment we en-
tered the cabin in the morning there was
Pat making his mysterious signs again at the
window, and this time he had the youngest
|'a baby, in his arms.
What's wrong now" inquired.
BE the hokey fly, sir, an it's myself that's
almost ashamed to tell you. You see, I've
been takin' to Mary, and she didn't like to
part with Norah because she had the look of
me, and by my soul can't part with Biddy
because she's the model of her mother; but
there's little Paudeen sir; there's lump of
a Christian for you-two years old, and not
a dav more-hell never be any trouble to
anv one. for CIV he takes after his mother
he'll have the brightest eye, an ev he takes